RADIOECOLOGY , RADIOACTIVITY AND ECOSYSTEMS A short presentation of a publication of the Union Internationale de Radioécologie

E. Van der Stricht 1, R. Kirchmann 2

1 -UIR fellow, Honorary Director of the European Commission, Luxembourg 2 -UIR Honorary General Secretary, University of Liège, Belgium

1 INTRODUCTION After the Second World War, considerable progress was made in the field of Radioecology, as there was a pressing need to provide answers to a host of practical questions raised by the military and civilian use of nuclear power in matters such as: S The risk of environmental radiocontamination from military nuclear fuel cycle activities (i.e., plutonium reactors at Hanford in the US and similar installations in the former USSR; S The health and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons testing and of the resulting global radioactive fall-out, (concerns about this led eventually to the 1963 treaty banning testing in the atmosphere and the ocean); S The potential consequences of nuclear war such as the destruction of the radiosensitive boreal forests (not to speak of the 'nuclear winter' and the resulting food shortage at the global level); S The environmental impact of peaceful applications of nuclear energy, mainly electricity generation (routine operations and reactor accidents), nuclear excavations (especially in the former USSR but also in the USA). This book is the outcome of a long-standing project of the International Union of Radioecology (registered name, UIR, Union Internationale de Radioécologie). The project was launched in 1992 by the late UIR President Stan Myttenaere, with the help of a number of dedicated members. Norman Pattenden was the editor and he did the fundamental initial work of setting up discussions with the contributors as well as taking the responsibility to write two sections. Sadly, he also didn't live to see the book published. Inevitable delays ensued. They have been beneficial for one thing. It allowed including recent advances. But, surely enough, the book retained most features of the initial endeavours and it is in this respect a testimony for the continuing evolution of thoughts in radioecology. It sees the light at the crucial time of the now outstanding re-evaluation of radioecology as such.

2 ABOUT THE BOOK The present textbook is designed to help in the education of trainee radioecologists. The target reader is considered to be a student having obtained his first degree. Thus the book is meant as an introduction to Radioecology, intended to provide a broad radioecological background. However, it includes more than 800 references to the original research papers and to the advanced literature. The book aims at maintaining and safeguarding expertise acquired in the field of radioecological studies. Emphasis is put on theoretical and technical aspects such as environmental sampling techniques and modelling of dispersion and transport of radionuclides in the environment. This expertise should remain of essential concern to authorities and operators in the nuclear energy sector. The book should also provide guidance to those in charge of radiation protection and environmental radiation monitoring programmes. Furthermore, the book intends to assist decision-makers, authorities at national and local level, in the evaluation of post-accidental radiological situations. The book should help to put into perspective the appropriateness of the counter-measures enforced after large-scale environmental contamination events. Therefore it addresses in particular agronomists, soil scientists, zootechnicians, phytotechnicians and others concerned by the reduction of the radioactive contamination of the food web and hence the reduction of exposure of man and biota. It may also help individuals carrying responsibilities in the follow-up of the doses delivered to living organisms in the vicinity of radioactive waste disposal sites. Finally the book provides reference reading for nuclear industry managers as well as engineers and scientists who want to increase their knowledge with respect to Radioecology. Lecturers and readers in the life sciences may find it a useful source of information. Radioecology is such a broad area of study, encompassing many of the life, earth and physical sciences that it would be difficult to find an individual capable of writing with authority on the subject as a whole. For this book, it has been possible to obtain the services of many authors with international reputations in their own field, most of them IUR members, to write the various chapters and sections of the book. Chapter I starts with an historical perspective of the development of radioecology followed by a description of the principles underlying radioactivity and ecology. Chapter II describes the main sources, both natural and artificial, of the radioactivity with which the subsequent chapters are concerned. Thus Chapters I and II are largely introductory in scope and provide a background to the subject. Chapters III, IV, discuss in some detail Radioecology in the terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments and hence constitute the backbone of the book. They include descriptions of transport mechanisms between different media and organisms in each environment. The effects of radiation on different organisms and ecosystems are discussed in Chapters V, VI, and VII. Chapters VIII and IX deal with topics of considerable interest, which require the application of some radioecological principles in order to understand the governing mechanisms. They include the pathways of radioactivity and radiation to man, the management of the releases of radioactivity to the environment and possible countermeasures designed to minimise effects of radioactivity spills. Decision aiding techniques are introduced. Practical information is provided in the appendices. Appendix 1 and 2 give some analytical, measurement and sampling techniques. The remaining appendices include among other, material from the recent publication 65 of ICRU and a glossary. A short synopsis is given in table 1 Table 1: Outline and authors Foreword Ph. Bourdeau Preface A. Cigna Chapter I Introduction. 1.1 Historical perspective A. Cigna, R. Kirchmann, R. Alexakhin 1.2 An introduction to ecology J. Calembert 1.3 An introduction to Radioactivity N. Pattenden Chapter II Sources of ionising radiation in the environment 2.1 Natural radioactivity N. Pattenden 2.2 Manmade Radioactivity A. Aarkrog Chapter III Dispersion and transfer in the terrestrial environment 3.1 Atmospheric dispersion and deposition B. Smith 3.2 Chemical forms of radiocaesium and radiostrontium in Chernobyl deposition A. Konoplev 3.3 Chemical forms of radionuclides and their quantification in environmental samples J. Hilton, R.Comans 3.4 Transfers in agricultural and semi-natural environments 3.4.1 Transfer in Soil-Plant systems G. Shaw, J. Bell 3.4.2 Transfers in the forest ecosystem W. Schell, I. Linkov 3.4.3 Transfer to animals B. Howard, G. Voigt , N.A. Beresford Technetium transfer C Vandecasteele, G Gerber Tritium transfer R. Kirchmann 3.5 Environmental behaviour of tritium 3.5.1 Tritium transport processes from stack to soil C. Bunnenberg 3.5.2 Tritium transfer into plants and animals Y. Belot Chapter IV Dispersion and transfer in the aquatic environment Introduction L. Foulquier, JP. Baudin, M. Pally 4.1 Dispersion 4.1.1 Fresh water environment J. Hilton 4.1.2 Marine environment L. Léon Vitro, P. Mitchell, S. Nielsen 4.2 Transfers 4.2.1 Transfers in the continental water environment 4.2.1A Field studies, monitoring L. Foulquier, JP. Baudin, M. Pally 4.2.1B Radionuclide accumulation in aquatic organisms. Concepts R. Blust and models 4.3 Microbial activity and the fate of radionuclides in the river system J. Remacle, F. Hambuckers-Berhin 4.3.1 The role of micro-organisms in the fluxes of radionuclides 4.3.2 Experimental approaches Chapter V Effects of ionising radiation on aquatic and terrestrial organisms F. Harrison, J. Knezovich 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Stages in the development and modification of radiation injury 5.3 Effects of high doses and high dose rates of radiation on individuals 5.4 Effects of low doses and low dose rates on individuals 5.5 Standards for the protection of wildlife Chapter VI Effects of ionising radiation on ecosystems R. Alexakhin 6.1 Health of populations and ecosystems 6.2 Response to exposure 6.3 Radioecological situations for study of effects 6.4 Radioecological investigations following nuclear accidents 6.5 Irradiation under controlled conditions 6.6 Influence of combined effects of environmental factors 6.7 Radio-resistance ranges and dose limits 6.8 Conclusions Chapter VII Assessing the radiological impact of releases to the environment M. Thorne 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Modelling radionuclide distribution and transport 7.3 Estimating radiation exposure 7.4 Effects of ionising radiation on man 7.5 Bibliography Chapter VIII Management of radioactive releases to the environment P. Coughtrey 8.1 Sources of artificial radionuclides from the nuclear industry 8.2 Routine releases 8.3 Conclusions Chapter IX Accidental releases and countermeasures 9.1 Experience obtained from previous accidents P. Coughtrey 9.2 Countermeasures P. Coughtrey 9.3 Special circumstances P. Coughtrey 9.4 Environmental management and countermeasures P. Coughtrey 9.5 Decision aiding techniques J. Lochard, Th Schneider Appendices Appendix 1 Detection and measurement of radioactivity N. Pattenden Appendix 2 Principles of sampling and analytical methodology B. Wilkins Appendix 3 Soil horizons classification and descriptions The editors, based also on ICRU doc. 65 Appendix 4 Indexed list of Quantities and Indexed list of Symbols The editors, based also on ICRU doc. 65 Appendix 5 Acronyms and abbreviations The editors, based also on ICRU doc. 65 Appendix 6 Terms in Radioecology The editors, based also on ICRU doc. 65 Appendix 7 Alphabetic list of scientific names with corresponding common names The editors, based also on ICRU doc. 65 Appendix 8 Conversion tables The editors

The authors are or were attached to the following institutions Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département de Protection de l'Environnement, Service d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les Transferts dans l'Environnement, IPSN/CEA, B.P. 1, 13108 Saint-Paul-lès-Durance Cedex, France Centre d'étude sur l'évaluation de la protection dans le domaine nucléaire, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, France CEA, Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, France Imperial College Centre for Environmental Technology, 48 Princes Gardens, London SW7 2PE, United Kingdom Imperial College Centre for Analytical Research in the Environment, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United Kingdom Institute of Freshwater Ecology, River Laboratory, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset LA22 OLP, United Kingdom Institute for Terrestrial Ecology, Merlewood Research Station, Windermere Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6JU, United Kingdom Institute for Radiation Hygiene, Ingolstädter Landstrasse, 1 D-85764 Oberschleissheim, München Institute of Experimental Meteorology, 82, Lenin St., Obninsk, Kaluga Region, 249020, Russia Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Health & Ecological Assessment Division, P.O. Box 5507, Livermore, CA 94550, USA Menzie-Cura and Associates, One Courthouse ln, Suite 2, Chelmsford, MA 01824, USA Mouchel & Partners Ltd, West Hall, Parvis Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6CZ, United Kingdom National Radiological Protection Board, Environmental Assessments Department, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 ORQ, United Kingdom Netherlands Research Foundation (ECN), P.O.Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands Risø National Laboratory, Environmental Science and Technology Department, P.O. Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, (RIARAE) Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Obninsk, Kaluga Region, 249020 Russia SCK CEN, Radioecology Laboratory, Radiation Protection Research Unit, Boeretang 200, Be-2400 Mol, Belgium University of Antwerp (RUCA), Department of Biology, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Be-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium University College Dublin, Department of Physics, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Universität Hannover, Zentrum für Strahlenschutz und Radioökologie, Hannover De-30419, Germany Université de Liège, Ecologie Microbienne, Département de Botanique, B-22, Sart Tilman, Be-4000 Liège, Belgium University of Pittsburgh, Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, RIDC Park, 260 Kappa Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, USA

During the Board meeting of 10 January 1992, chaired by Stan Myttenaere the decision to write a book on Radioecology was taken. Norman Pattenden accepted the chair of the Steering Committee for publications and he was the first editor of this book. The general outline was prepared and agreed on 08 May of the same year. Unfortunately UIR lost both shortly afterwards. It has taken UIR time to recover from the immense setback. UIR has a great debt of gratitude towards both of them whereby, in the framework of this project, special tribute is to be paid to Norman who managed with unabated commitment and great competence to score decisive progress. This work is now here to honour their memory and bear witness of their endeavours. At the request of the UIR Executive Committee the present editors re-activated the project in 1996. For purchasing details contact René Kirchmann: e- mail: [email protected]

3 ABOUT UIR The International Union of Radioecology is a non-political, non-profit making international organisation. It was registered in Belgium in June 1978. It thus is subject to Belgian law. Its registered name is UNION INTERNATIONALE DE RADIOECOLOGIE (UIR). The UIR has a membership of more than 600 professional scientists throughout the world. It is dedicated to promoting the study of Radioecology, the science of the relationship between radioactivity and living things in the environment. It is particularly concerned to encourage co-operation and the exchange of information between scientists throughout the world, including trainee scientists, who work in the field of Radioecology and in associated fields, and between radioecologists and the population as a whole. It makes every effort to protect the freedom and independence of these scientists to express interpretation and publicise the results of their studies without being constrained by political or unlawful pressures.

The origins of UIR The International Symposium of Radioecology, held in Cadarache (France) in September 1969, provided an opportunity for scientists working in the field of radioecological research to discuss ways to keep one another informed about their respective work and to develop collaborative research. There, as stated in the original resolution, a "working group in radioecology" including representatives of countries in Continental Western Europe was set up, which would meet informally every year to establish a permanent liaison among the research teams in this field. The first meeting was held, in May 1970, at the premises of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), the host being Prof. P. Lerch. Representatives from Belgium (R. Kirchmann), The Netherlands (E. Levi), France (P. Bovard and A. Grauby), Germany (F. Fuhr), ltaly (Mrs L. Cigna-Rossi and A. Antonelli), Switzerland (J.J. Geering and P. Lerch) attended. Mrs. Alvarez-Ramis (Spain) apologised. This Working group met also informally in September 1971 during the International Symposium "Radioecology applied to the protection of Man and his Environment" organised by the Commission of the European Community in Rome. Meetings were held at various institutions in Europe by the group now calling themselves members of the "Club des Radioécologistes Européens". 1974 saw the publication of the progress report about the joint actions, stating recommendations for the future. During the sixth meeting, held in West-Berlin and hosted by Dr. G. Kistner, the basis of the Statutes of the future Union were discussed, and in 1978, the "Union internationale des Radioécologistes" was registered in Brussels, governed by Belgian Law (Moniteur belge 8 June 1978). Dr. Pierre Bovard was the elected President of the new scientific non-profit- making, apolitical, international Association. Under the presidency of Arrigo Cigna the statutes were modified in 1996. Byelaws were added. The association was renamed Union Internationale de Radioécologie, the English name being " International Union of Radioecology". The English text is to be found in the Directory published in 1997 (Ref: UIR-DOC- 97 010). Today's president is Gilbert Desmet; Officers of the Executive Committee are: Vice Presidents, Maria Belli and Gennady Polikarpov; General Secretary, Per Strand; Treasurer, Brenda Howard. For the details contact the General Secretary: Per Strand NIRPA, Environmental Protection Dept. Grini Naeringspark 13, P.O.Box 55 N- 1332 Østerås Tel: + 47 67162564 fax: + 47 67145444 Email: [email protected] or UIR's website is http//www.iur-uir.org UIR thanks the greater part of its achievements to the individuals listed below

Past Presidents P. BOVARD (1978-1982) S. AUERBACH (1982-1986) A. AARKROG (1986-1990) S. MYTTENAERE (1990-1992) A. CIGNA (interim 1992-1994) (1994-1998)

Honorary Members AUERBACH Stanley BOVARD Pierre GOLDMAN Marvin KIRCHMANN René LAFONTAINE Alphonse MYTTENAERE Stan PATTENDEN Norman SCHULTZ Vincent

Fellows AARKROG Asker KUTLAKHMEDOV Yuri BENES Petr LINSLEY Gordon BUNNENBERG Claus LUYKX Felix CIGNA Arrigo SCHELL William COUGHTREY Peter VAN DER STRICHT Etienne DESMET Gilbert VANDECASTEELE Christian FOULQUIER Luc WHICKER Ward FRISSEL Martin WOODHEAD Denis GERZABEK Martin HOWARD Brenda

UIR Membership After a more or less linear growth up to the year 1988 when the membership numbered 175, the Association's membership expanded abruptly with the opening of the former USSR's borders. Today's UIR Membership, totalling more than 600 members in various grades, is spread over 40 countries covering all continents. By essence radioecology deals with matters that require knowledge in a variety of fields. As many as nine scientific disciplines are represented in the membership. Biologists followed by physicists, chemists and engineers make up the larger groups. Veterinary medicine, geography and geology are well represented also. UIR today UIR runs a secretariat responsible for issuing the newsletters, electronic newsletters and for the publishing of all documents as requested by the Executive Committee. The secretariat is the permanent contact link acting as the turn-table for information and communication. The UIR website is http//www.iur-uir.org UIR runs continuous contacts with international organisations such as the European Union, the United Nations family and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

UIR Publications 1982: Report on a Workshop on the Measurement of Soil to Plant Transfer Factors for Radionuclides. Part 1 1982: Report on a Workshop on the Measurement of Soil to Plant Transfer Factors for Radionuclides. Part 2 Proceedings of a Workshop, Wageningen, Netherlands. 1983: Actual and future objectives in radioecology. Proc. of, a Workshop, Brussels 30 March 1982. 1984: Role of microorganisms on the behaviour of radionuclides in aquatic and terrestrial systems and their transfer to man. Proc. of a Workshop, Brussels 25-27 April 1984. 1985: IVth Report of the Workshop on Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors. Proc. of Meeting, Brussels 23-27 September 1985. 1987: Vth Report of the Workshop on Soil-to-Plant transfer Factors. Proc. of a Meeting, Egham 14-16 April 1987. 1989: Vlth Report of the Workshop on Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors. Proc. of a Meeting, Guttannen, Grimselpass (Switzerland) 24-26 May 1989. 1989: Report of the Marine Radioecology (MARECO) Working Group. Proc. of a Meeting, Brugge, 13 June 1989. 1990: IIIrd Report of the Workshop on Plant -to-Animal Transfer Factors. Proc. of a Meeting, Neuherberg, 23-25 April 1990. 1990: VIIth Report of the Workshop on Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors. Proc. of a Meeting. Upsala 27-29 September 1990. 1990: Proc. of a Seminar on "Comparative Assessment on the Environmental Impact of Radionuclides released during three Major Nuclear Accidents: Kyshtym, Windscale, Chernobyl , in cooperation with the Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, October 1990. CEC report EUR 13574 Vol.I and II 1990. Agricultural Countermeasures taken in the Chernobyl Region and Evaluation of Results, April 1990. CEC-UIR 88-ET-006. 1990: Radiological Analysis of the 1957 nuclear accident in the Urals and its possible impact on E.C, Member States, September 1990. 1991: Proc. of a Seminar on "Radioecology and Countermeasures", organized by the UIR Soviet Branch, Kiev (Ukraine) April-May 1991. DOC UIR 1992. 1991: Impact radioecologique de l'accident de Tchernobyl sur les ecosystèmes aquatiques, a) outside the former Soviet Union, September 1989 b) within the former Soviet Union, September 1991. 1992: Proc. of a Seminar on "Intervention levels and countermeasures for nuclear accidents", in cooperation with the Commission of the European Communities and the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Cadarache (France), October 1991. EUR Rep. 14469. 1992: Proc. of a Seminar on "Chemical speciation - Hot particles", in cooperation with the Commission of the European Communities and the Czech Soc. of Radioprotection, Znojmo (Czech Rep.), October 1992. 1992: Activity reports from UIR Working Groups. UIR Pub R-9211-01. 1992. VIIIth Report of the Workshop on Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors. Proc. of a Meeting, Madrid 1-3 June 1992. 1992: Assessment of the strontium-90 content in the agricultural produce originating of the areas of the USSR contaminated by the Chernobyl accident, April 1992.CEC-UIR. 91-TR-024 1993: Behaviour of accidentally released radiostrontium into the environment. Effectiveness of countermeasures, November 1993. CEC-UIR 92-ET-015 1993: Effects of countermeasures on radionuclide transfer to animal products. UIR Pub R-9301-03. - 1994: Proc. of a Workshop on Microbial Aspects in Radioecological Research. Pozzuolo del Friuli, Udine (Italy) 6-10 October 1993. 1994: Proc. of a Workshop on 'Radioecology-. Advances and Perspectives", in cooperation with the Commission of the European Communities, Sebastopol (Crimea), October 1994. 1994: La contamination radioactive du théier. étude de synthèse. UIR Pub R-9410-04. 1994: Handbook of Parameter Values for the Prediction of Radionuclide Transfer in Temperate Environments. IAEA, Tec. Rep. Series No. 364. 1996: Radioecology and the Restoration of Radioactive-contaminated Sites. Proc. of a Seminar, Zarechny (Russia) 19-28 June 1995, NATO Advanced Study Institute. ASI Series 2.Environment-Vol. 13. 1996: Assessment of the relative dose contributions of various pathways under different environmental conditions including semi-natural environments. (Task Force 2) 1996: Assessment of the relative importance of various freshwater exposure pathways and the major parameters influencing pathways. (Task Force 3) 1996: Effects of increased radiation exposure on plants and animals in their natural environment. (Task Force 5) 1998: Parameters for the time dependent transfer of radionuclides in soil-plant systems. UIR Pub R- 98-03 1999: Proceedings, UIR Topical Meeting, Mol, Belgium, 01 - 05 June 1998, pp 350.Ed. Etienne Van der Stricht. 2000: Doses and effects in non-human systems. UIR action group. 2000: Countermeasures, Radiological and social impacts 2001: Textbook "RADIOECOLOGY, RADIOACTIVITY AND ECOSYSTEMS",pp 625. Eds E. Van der Stricht, R. Kirchmann. Fortemps-Radioecology, Rue du Charbonnage, 22, Be-4020, Liège. ISBN 2-9600316-0-1 ABOUT THE EDITORS

Figure 1: EVdS and RK at a meeting with the authors at Imperial College, London, 1997

4.1 Etienne A. A. Van der Stricht, Belgian citizenship, born 3 September 1931, Belgium

Present status Retired as honorary Director of the Commission of the European Community Education 1949-1953: Free University of Brussels, science faculty Graduated as "Licencié en Sciences Chimiques, grade légal Certificates of attendance: 1957, US AEC New-York Operations Office, determination of Sr-90 and Cs-137 in environmental samples; 1971, Argonne Nat. Lab.: Non-destructive testing of nuclear Materials; 1987, Los Alamos labs. Workshop on nuclear materials accountancy in reprocessing plants Professional experience 1956 - 1961 Staff member of the Physics Department of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre at Mol Position: head of the sector monitoring of environmental radioactivity 1962 - 1990 Official of the Commission of the European Community; From January 1962 to January 1970 in the health physics related branches and From January 1970 to October 1990, staff member of the Safeguards Directorate 1 Radiation Protection 1962 - September 1964 Position: head of the group responsible for the monitoring of the environment around the Joint Research Centre at Ispra, Italy. September 1964 - January 1970 Staff member of the Directorate for Health and Safety in Brussels and Luxembourg. Responsible for the preparation of the annual reports of the Commission to the European Parliament on the radioactivity of the environment and of the food chain. Secretary of Member State experts groups convened by the Commission on these subjects. Main interest is intercomparison of the measurement methods used in the Member State laboratories and statistical analysis of data. Invited Rapporteur at the first IRPA Symposium in Rome, 1966.

2. Nuclear Material Safeguards January 1970-October 1990 Duties related to training of personnel, selection of new staff as a competition jury member, improvement of the methods and means used by the inspectors, contacts with the Joint Research Centre establishments to grant adequate technical support. In parallel, in charge of inspection, mainly in the fuel fabrication plants in the former Federal Republic of Germany. As from 1971 involved in the preparation and negotiation of the facility attachments in the framework of the Agreement between IAEA and the European Community. From 1979 on, the activity gradually shifted from a technical nature to one of leading pure inspection organisational activities at the various levels in the hierarchy, up to the function of Head of Division of an inspection division. Member of various working groups of Esarda (European Safeguards Research and Development Association). Leader of the preparation and discussion of the particular Safeguards Provisions for the power reactors in France and Spain. Invited speaker at the third annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society held in San Diego (December 1987) on facility operations and Safeguards interface.

1990 - 2001 Radioecology - UIR Preparation of two UIR (Union Internationale de Radioécologie) reports on the post Chernobyl situation. Chairman of the editorial board (1991 to 1998). Publisher of the newsletters 13 to 33. Publisher of the 1997 directory with constitution and bye-laws. UIR topical meeting at Mol, June 1998: Publisher of the proceedings. Main publisher of the UIR textbook "RADIOECOLOGY, RADIOACTIVITY AND ECOSYSTEMS", UIR, 2001. ISBN 2-9600316-0-1 Membership of professional societies American Health Physics Society (1957 to 1987) Belgian "Association belge de protection contre les radiations" (1964 to date). Member of the board (1991 to 2001) Società italiana di fisica sanitaria (1962 to 1969) Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (1987 to 1993) UIR (1991-2002), present grade fellow

4.2 René J.C. Kirchmann, Belgian citizenship, born 18 May 1927

Current positions and assignments: Scientific Collaborator-University of Liège, Ulg, Belgium SCOPE: Vice-Chairman of "RADSITE" Project Visiting Professor, Department Chem. Biol. Sc., Essex University, 1997 Member of the Belgian "SCOPE" Committee, Belgian Royal Academy of Sciences

Education: Chemistry and Biotechnology Engineer, Faculté Universitaire. des Sciences Agronomiques (FUSA) Gembloux, Belgium Graduated in Nuclear Sciences, University of Liège Certificates: from IISN (Centre Liège), from the Isotope School at Harwell, (UKAEA) and its course on Radio- biochemistry Training Stay at the Department of Biology of the Argonne National Lab., USA

Professional experience: 1952 - 1957 Assistant Professor, Physics Department, FUSA, Gembloux Application of Radioisotopes in Agriculture teaching and research 1958 - 1980 Head of Section Radioecology, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Mol, Belgium Laboratory & Field research projects on the transfer of radionuclides in the environment Radiological Monitoring Programme around Nuclear Power Plants 1972 - 1988 Senior lecturer FUSA, Gembloux, course on Radioecology 1972 - 1995 Senior lecturer, ULg, Department of Botany, Radioecology 1972 - 1995 Director of Radioecology Laboratory at University of Liège and at the FUSA, Gembloux 1980 - 1981 Staff Member of the Waste Management and Environmental Protection Section, Division of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, IAEA, Vienna, Austria 1982 - 1987 Manager of Radiation Protection Programmes, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Mol Other activities: Secretary of the Advisory Committee of the Radiobiology Department, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (1962- 1987) Chairman, working Group on nuclear risks and agriculture, Belgian Public Health Ministry (1990-1993) Nominated Foreign Member of Crimean Academy of Science (1995) UIR, (1970-2002). Present grade: Honorary Secretary General Honours: -Member of the Belgian Delegation to UNSCEAR -Member of the Interministerial "Commission Spéciale Radiations Ionisantes" Publications: -Over 300 publications in the field of radio-tracers in agriculture, radioecology (aquatic and terrestrial) and radioprotection -Scientific Secretary of the IAEA/WHO booklet "Nuclear Power, the Environment and Man", Vienna, 1982 -Scientific Secretary of the Safety Series N°57 IAEA Report “Generic Models and Parameters for Assessing the Environmental Transfer of Radionuclides from Routine Releases”, 1982 -In charge of the preparation and co-editor of the SCOPE synthesis volume on “NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS: IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN POPULATIONS”, SCOPE 59, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd -Co-editor of the textbook "RADIOECOLOGY, RADIOACTIVITY AND ECOSYSTEMS", UIR, 2001. ISBN 2-9600316-0-1