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Work programme themes

The initial BIOPROTA work programme was organised in three themes. Details of these, and the publications within those themes, can be viewed below. The BIOPROTA output is made available for use of others, but the participants and supporting organisations take no responsibility for the use of the material. Please view either of the themes below.

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. Enviros have collated parameter information for inclusion in a database to support BIOPROTA forum members in biosphere modelling exercises.

A number of modelling tasks have been undertaken under the BIOPROTA programme to investigate the mathematical and conceptual modelling assumptions of key biosphere processes. These are detailed below.

Task 1: Irrigation

The objective of this task was to investigate the calculation of doses arising from interception by growing crops using contaminated irrigation water and the consequent contamination of the food consumed by humans. The Task 1 report can be downloaded here.

Task 2: Inhalation

The objective of this task was to investigate further the calculation of doses arising from inhalation of particles suspended from soils within which long-lived radionuclides, particularly alpha emitters, had accumulated. The Task 2 report can be downloaded here.

Task 3: Model Review and Comparison for C-14 Dose Assessment

The objective of this task was to be able to model the transport and fate of C-14 and account for the treatment of C-14 processes, pathways and accumulation in the biosphere, including equilibration times between the newly arriving C-14 and stable C (C-13 and C-12) of the biosphere and its component system/ compartments. The Task 3 report can be downloaded here.

Task 4: Model Comparison for Radionuclide Accumulation in Soils

The objective of this task was to discuss the objectives, definitions and results of an assessment model intercomparison. Focus was given to the long-term accumulation of long lived radionuclides in soils. Two often used scenarios were adapted as means of contamination, the well scenario, where contaminated well water is used for irrigation of agricultural land and a river scenario, where contaminated river water floods the agricultural land. The Task 4 report can be downloaded here.

Task 5: Analogues

Analogue information can increase our conceptual understanding of long term repository behaviour and behaviour of radionuclides in the environment in support of post closure performance assessment. They can also provide quantitative data for Performance Assessment (PA) models and are a communication method to pass on information to a non-specialist audience.

The objective of this Task was to review past and present use and understanding of natural analogues relating to biotically-influenced biosphere processes with the intention of promoting considered application of them in future safety assessments and public communication. The Task 5 report can be downloaded here.

Task 7: Geosphere-Biosphere Interface Zone (GBIZ)

The objective of Task 7 was to support better account of the treatment of radionuclide transfer through the geosphere-biosphere interface zone, and the related accumulation/dispersion/dilution processes which should be considered in order to provide appropriate confidence in PA results. The Task 7 report can be downloaded here.

The objective was to provide advice about the biosphere features of a site which it may be useful to determine because they are especially relevant to the evaluation of radiation exposures over the long term. In addition, advice is also to be prepared concerning the setting up of experiments and field measurements so that the output can be relevantly interpreted for use in radiological assessments. The report can be downloaded here.

A further work programme on site characterisation is ongoing, which aims to take account of experience at particular sites, in terms of recognition of difficult areas as well as successes.