RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

20.9 International work and dissemination of information
Standards, methodology and legislation are being discussed in the international work within e.g.
the IAEA, EU, ICRP and NKS. In addition, new findings are being presented within radiation
biology, nature conservation and environmental protection, and systems ecology research that
are of importance for the biosphere work. It is also important to disseminate SKB’s knowledge
internationally in order to obtain viewpoints and scientific peer review.
Conclusions in RD&D 2001 and its review
See section 20.2.
Newfound knowledge since RD&D 2001
The international Biomass project under the IAEA was concluded in the autumn of 2000 and
produced several reports. SKB participated actively in the work under Theme 1 (Radioactive
Waste Disposal) and Theme 3 (Forest and Fruits Working Group) /20-49, 20-95, 20-96/. Even
though the main purpose of Biomass was to work with radioecological issues in connection with
radioactive waste, it only produced limited new knowledge for SKB. The results from the Forest
Working Group were the scientifically most fruitful ones.
SKB participated in a three-year EU project within the Fifth Framework Programme, Fasset,
which was concluded in November 2003. The purpose of Fasset was to compile knowledge
concerning radiological effects of ionizing radiation on the environment, i.e. flora and fauna,
and propose a framework for how such matters can be handled by industry and regulatory
authorities. 14 organizations participated in the work with representatives from radiation
protection authorities and national radiation protection research bodies from several countries.
SSI was the coordinator of the project. SKB participated, along with the Department of Systems
Ecology at Stockholm University, in the working groups that are studying migration models in
various ecosystems, biological effects, and the framework itself. The results of Fasset have been
reported by the EU. Notable results include a dose model for various geometries of organisms,
a literature database (Fred) of effects on organisms, and new ideas concerning how the exposure
of animals can be scaled according to the size of the animals. A very important consequence of
Fasset is that other international organizations have been stimulated to take an interest in environmental
effects, for example the IAEA, the ICRP and the IUR. This has also affected progress
in national programmes, for example the Environment Agency /20-97 to 20-99/, and been discussed
at international conferences, for example Ecorad 2001, the IAEA Stockholm conference
2003, IUR in Monaco and SPEIR 3 in Darwin. Unfortunately, there has been limited discussion
of effects at higher organizational levels than individuals, i.e. populations and ecosystems,
which are the levels that are usually intended to be protected. Furthermore, there has been no
discussion of problems with regard to possible releases far in the future, which are important
questions to which SKB needs answers in order to be able to implement the knowledge. SKB is
also participating in Erica, the successor of Fasset in the EU’s 6th Framework Programme.
Together with KSU, SKB lent its support to a project aimed at shedding light on a proposal for a
changed view of the ICRP’s recommendations /20-100/ with examples from Swedish questions
/20-101, 20-102/.
The working group Bioprota was started in the autumn of 2002. A technical secretariat is funded
by the participating organizations: Andra, BNFL, Ciemat, Enresa, Nirex, Numo, Posiva and
SKB. Other organizations that are contributing to the work are e.g. Ecomatters and Studsvik
Alexandria Sciences, and ones that have shown an interest in the work are e.g. Nagra, Ondraf,
the NRC and Ontario Power Generation. The purpose of Bioprota is to examine important issues
for a waste repository under different themes. SKB is a member of the steering committee and
is participating actively in compiling a radionuclide database, developing irrigation models and
developing protocols for site investigations.
286 RD&D-Programme 2004