Protection of the environment from exposure to ionising radiation

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses protection of the environment from exposure to ionizing radiation. it summarizes recent developments in this area, sets out likely future developments and trends, identifies potential implications for both regulators and operators, and provides, as an example, an impact assessment for an estuarine site in England using the Environment Agency's current assessment methodology. This example highlights the overall tiered assessment approach being adopted in several assessment methodologies and indicates the knowledge gaps and limitations inherent in the assessment process. Future work is likely to address some of the knowledge gaps, particularly, with reference to the biologic effects of radiation on different nonhuman species and revolve around the testing and refinement of dosimetric methods through case studies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recently established a working group under its Environmental Modeling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) program to encourage nonhuman species dosimetric model testing and validation.