PROTECTFP Radioprotection of the environment in France: IRSN current views and workplan K. Beaugelin-Seiller, IRSN Vienna IC, June 2007

PROTECTFP Our involvment The national context IRSN = technical support of the French national authority Research programmes and studies on health and environmental radiological risks => foundation to ensure a high quality of our work Currently, wide research programme devoted to radiological chronic risks for human health and environment (ENVIRHOM) Operational issues in combination  Conception/improvement of risk assessment methods  Conception/improvement of models and associated parameters

PROTECTFP Our involvment The international context EC projects: FASSET ( ) ERICA ( ): risk characterisation (theoretical & experimental aspects) PROTECT ( ): concept review and method applicability FUTURAE ( ): feasibility of a network of excellence in radioecology ICRP: comittee 5 IAEA: EMRAS BWG ( ), action plan… UNSCEAR

PROTECTFP The ERICA approach The 4 steps classical and consensual approach human and non-human, chemicals and radionuclides Three tiers Tier 1: screening Tier 2: generic assessment Tier 3: site-specific assessment Some limitations Finite list of radionuclides (in 2005, but not more true) Finite list of exposure scenarios

PROTECTFP « ERA » for the French NPPs A source term well defined Radionuclides absent from the initial ERICA list Annual releases known Dilution conditions Release characteristics Temperate ecosystems (FW, SW and T) Water and air Chronic (routine) or acute (accident) Possible underestimation of the radiological risk/ERICA

PROTECTFP Our solution A method (initiated in 2005) Limited to screening Exposure: unified dosimetric calculation, wathever the ecosystem and the organism (EDEN) Effects: SSDs Backcalculation of concentrations in media (air, soil/sediment, water) for the 95% percentile of exposure A tool, CARREN (av. end of 2006) Excel file immediate access and results

PROTECTFP SCREENING general menu Terrestrial ecosystem Marine ecosystem Freshwater ecosystem Terrestrial ecosystem Marine ecosystem Freshwater ecosystem Terrestrial ecosystem Marine ecosystem Freshwater ecosystem Terrestrial ecosystem Marine ecosystem Freshwater ecosystem Chronic exposure Acute exposure Weighted dose conversion coefficients (relative biological effectiveness of  and  radiation included) customised dose and dose rate only Non weighted dose conversion coefficients About CARREN SCREENING: risk assessment through comparison between exposure concentrations and reference no effect concentrations (tabulated values) objectives Methodology principles application area Calculation Select the ecosystem in association with the adapted calculation conditions * Tool not yet available in English, screen translated for the meeting needs

PROTECTFP Calculation conditions Results risk per media risk (RN, organism) Limiting organisms Input data dosimetric benchmark media concentrations

PROTECTFP Data gaps and limitations Screening approach Conservative approach Equilibrium assumption Use of Kds and CRs Based on available data Size of data set (exposure as well as effects) highly dependent on: The radionuclides The organisms ERICA present knowledge: robust ERA possible for RNS But gaps on fate within ecosystems and effects of RNs on NHB Experimentation: fate and effects for chronic low-level RN exposure for NHB Extrapolations If not passed?

PROTECTFP Solutions Key issueEffect analysis acute-high dose vs. chronic-low dose rate Desktop study: Acute to Chronic Ratio (ACR) derivation on the basis of effect data for a given wildlife group (eg vertebrates, invertebrates, plants). external vs. internal Experimental refinement also combined with statistical analysis of existing Relative Biological Effectiveness per type of effects. One species to another Desktop study: Species Sensitivity Distribution among a given trophic level or wildlife community (e.g. fish). Individual vs. population Experimental refinement also combined with population dynamic modeling. Population vs. higher organizational levels Desktop study: Prey-predator interaction modeling and/or safety factors Single RN vs. multi-contaminants Experimental refinement for mixtures and to delineate the relative contribution of chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity for radioactive substances with low specific activity (e.g. U) Intra-generational to multigenerational Experimental refinement coupled with quantitative genetic analysis to evidence adaptative responses of chronically exposed populations.

PROTECTFP Solutions IRSN R&D 2007 Mining context (screening level) Chemotoxicity and radiotoxicity Comparative risk: concepts and method Dosimetric calculation EDEN 1.5 available free of charge since september 2005 EDEN 2.1 available in 2007 Possible upgrade in 2007 FREDERICA data treatment To update SSDs with new data To mathematically process data previously ignored as exhibiting hormetic pattern

PROTECTFP Publications EDEN: Health Physics, 90 (5): Comparative risk: -SETAC may paper in 2007 U ore mining - paper in 2007