Decision aiding handbooks for managing contaminated food production systems, drinking water and inhabited areas in Europe

Abstract

Three handbooks have been developed, in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders to assist in the management of contaminated food production systems, inhabited areas and drinking water following a radiological incident. The handbooks are aimed at national and local authorities, central government departments and agencies, emergency services, radiation protection experts, the agriculture and food production sectors, industry and others who may be affected. The handbooks include management options for application in the different phases of an incident. Sources of contamination considered in the handbooks include nuclear accidents and radiological dispersion devices; the most relevant radionuclides are included. The handbooks are divided into several sections which provide supporting scientific and technical information; an analysis of the factors influencing recovery; compendia of comprehensive, state-of-the-art datasheets for around 100 management options and guidance on planning in advance. A decision-aiding framework comprising colour coded selection tables, look-up tables and decision trees and several worked examples are also included. The handbooks can be used as a preparatory tool, under non-crisis conditions, to engage stakeholders and to develop local and regional plans. The handbooks can also be applied as part of the decision-aiding process to develop a recovery strategy following an incident. In addition, the handbooks are useful for training purposes and during emergency exercises. To realise their full potential, the handbooks should be customised at national, regional and local levels.

Effects of “Clean Feeding” Management on Livestock Products Contaminated with Radioactive Cesium Due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

“…No radionuclide contamination was detected in drinking water. Intake via water was previously shown to be a small contributor (Nisbet et al 2010). Therefore, in the present study the most important pathway for horses was identified as the ingestion of radionuclide-contaminated feed.…”

“…The hexacyanoferrate compound, Prussian blue, is a radiocesium binder that is added to farm animal feed to reduce the transfer of radiocesium to animal products by reducing its absorption in the gut (IAEA 1997). Ammonium-hexacyanoferrate (AFCF), the commonly used form for remediation, was used extensively after the Chernobyl accident in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus as well as in western European countries, including Norway and Sweden, and was shown to be very effective for animal use (Pearce 1994;Nisbet et al 2010). Moreover, the acceptability of these strategies for Japanese farmers also needs to be investigated.…”

Changes in the Transfer of Fallout Radiocaesium from Pasture Harvested in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, to Cow Milk two Months After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

“…The hexacyanoferrate compound, Prussian blue, is a radiocesium binder, which is added to the feed of farm animals to reduce radiocesium transfer to milk and other animal products by reducing absorption in the gut (IAEA 1997 ). Ammonium-hexacyanoferrate (AFCF), the commonly used form for remediation, was used extensively after the Chernobyl accident in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus as well as in Western European countries, including Norway and Sweden, and was shown to be the most effective for animal use (Pearce 1994 ;Nisbet et al 2010 ). Moreover, the acceptability of these strategies for Japanese farmers also needs to be investigated, and (3) Collateral safety of animal products: to produce milk without disrupting normal farming practices, "Clean feeding" management has been considered feasible and suitable.…”

JRODOS: Platform for improved long term countermeasures modelling and management

“…To deal with this, ERMIN and AGRICP will be enhanced with an optimisation wizard that guides the user through the many possible countermeasure options to select those which might be best in that given situation. The optimisation wizard will be realised as a knowledge data base which contains information from the European handbooks for managing contaminated food production systems and inhabited areas in Europe [8]. In this respect, the two simulation models will be further refined and made more and more user friendly.…”