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Current work programme

  • Review of models for Carbon 14 Dose Assessment

    Interest in improved dose assessment methods for long-term releases of C-14 to the biosphere gave rise to a model review within the BIOPROTA programme [BIOPROTA, 2005]. This qualitative review of models concluded that the major difficulty surrounding the conceptual model for C-14 concerns identifying the conditions under which mixing and isotopic equilibrium may reasonably be assumed. Such system understanding needs to take account of the temporal and spatial scale of the assessment, including the nature of the release from the geosphere. Read about the 'Review of models for Carbon 14 Dose Assessment' work programme.

  • Site Characterisation

    The links between site characterisation and the biosphere component of the assessment, including guidance on protocols for obtaining data, have been considered in the Theme 3: Site Characterisation, Experiments and Monitoring report. Experience with characterisation at particular sites is now being gathered from those who have done the work, in terms of recognition of difficult areas as well as successes. Read about the 'Site Characterisation' work programme.

  • In situ Study of the Long Term Sorption of Iodine onto Organic Matter

    Iodine is generally present in environments as an anion (either iodide or iodate) and is therefore soluble in groundwater and migrates relatively quickly through rock and overburden to low-lying landscape positions such as wetlands where it can be retained by the organic matter of soils. An 18 month experimental study has been initiated, which aims to increase understanding of the mechanisms that govern the mobility and transport of iodine in peat bogs, and to acquire values for assessment models such as soil Kd and plant CR (concentration ratio). Read about the 'In situ Study of the Long Term Sorption of Iodine onto Organic Matter' work programme.

  • U-238 Series Modelling

    A project aimed at improving the modelling of U-238 series radionuclides began in 2010. The project is currently focused on the upper part of the decay chain (up to and including Ra-226), with the potential for increasing the scope of the project to the subsequent radionuclides in the decay chain. Read about the 'U-238 Series Modelling' work programme.

  • BIOPROTA database

    The overall objective of the BIOPROTA database is to provide data and supporting information relating to key Features, Events and Processes (FEPs) and the behaviour of key radionuclides in the biosphere to support BIOPROTA forum members in biosphere modelling exercises. Read about the 'BIOPROTA database' work programme.

  • Se-79 Phase II: Improved dose assessment models for Se-79 in the soil-plant system

    A Phase II programme of work on the behaviour of selenium-79 in the environment is currently underway. Read about the 'Se-79 Phase II: Improved dose assessment models for Se-79 in the soil-plant system' work programme.

  • Demonstrating Compliance with Protection Objectives for Non-Human Biota within Post-closure Safety Cases for Radioactive Waste Repositories

    Demonstrating Compliance with Protection Objectives for Non-Human Biota within Post-closure Safety Cases for Radioactive Waste Repositories Read about the 'Demonstrating Compliance with Protection Objectives for Non-Human Biota within Post-closure Safety Cases for Radioactive Waste Repositories' work programme.

  • Reference Approach for Human Intruder Dose Assessment for Deep Geological Disposal

    Human intrusion has been considered an issue in post-closure safety of solid radioactive disposal for many years but is problematic due to the difficulty of justifying assumptions about human behaviour over relevantly long periods of time. Read about the 'Reference Approach for Human Intruder Dose Assessment for Deep Geological Disposal' work programme.