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Radiological Surveillance in Belgium

Geert Biermans / Jurgen Claes / Lionel Sombré / Stéphane Pépingeert.biermans@fanc.fgov.be

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Overview

• What are our obligations?

• How is radiological surveillance of the environment organized in Belgium?

• Can we draw conclusions for the protection of biota from this surveillance programme?

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What are our obligations?

• National legislation

FANC Law (RD of 15 April ’94) – Art. 21

« L'Agence assure la surveillance et le contrôle de la radioactivité du territoiredans son ensemble, aussi bien dans les conditions normales qu'en cas d'urgence. Dansdes conditions normales, cette mission comprend la détermination régulière de laradioactivité de l'air, des eaux, du sol et de la chaîne alimentaire ainsi quel'évaluation et la surveillance des doses de rayonnements ionisants reçues par lapopulation. A cet effet, l'Agence peut s'assurer le concours d'organismes publics et privéscompétents. »

ARBIS (RD of 20 July 2001) – Art 70 & 71

Surveillance of the environment AND the population

Natural AND artificial exposure

the Agency pays

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What are our obligations?

• International obligations

Euratom 35 & 36 + Recommendation 2000/473/Euratom

Every Member State has to create a monitoring programme + reporting to EC

Monitoring programme has to be representative and independent

Set some minimal requirements

Oslo-Paris (OSPAR)

Protection of the marine environment of the North Sea and the N Atlantic Ocean

Reporting releases (Nuclear, Medical and NORM) + monitoring of coastal area

Bilateral agreements (e.g. ASN-FANC for Chooz)

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Radiological Surveillance in Belgium

• Along which lines is Radiological Surveillance conceived?

- Site surveillance of licensed operators

- General surveillance of the environment

- Specific surveillance programmes

NORM, Radon, Legacy sites

Orphan sources

…

• How is RS organized?

- Environmental monitoring programme by sampling

- Online measurement and alert network Telerad

- Database of portal monitor incidents

- Dosimetry database

- …

Radiological Surveillance of the Territory

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Organization of RS in Belgium

• Site/Source Monitoring of releases

Level 1: Authorisation

Release limits based on a dose criterium + impact assessment (nuclear) or theoretical calculation (medical sites) - Monthly and Yearly limits

Level 2: Reporting

Monthly and yearly reports of gaseous and liquid releases

Incidental releases

dose estimation based on NRC RG 1.109

http://fanc.fgov.be/nl/informatiedossiers/radioactiviteit-het-leefmilieu/radiologisch-toezicht-op-belgisch-grondgebied

Level 3: Independent Verification & Environmental monitoring

Inspections with RS Scope with sampling

Environmental monitoring programme + Telerad

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Organization of RS in Belgium

• Environmental Monitoring Programme

Planning and coordination

FANC Radiological Surveillance on the Territory (GLTOE)

Global surveillance + Site Monitoring

Integration of thematic surveillance and independent verification

Execution

Renewed with a 5-year frequency

2017-2022: Two labs (IRE-Elit and SCK•CEN) + Food Agency

Analysis and Communication

Verify releases and exposure of the population

Report to EC and OSPAR

Annual report http://fanc.fgov.be/nl/informatiedossiers/radioactiviteit-het-leefmilieu/radiologisch-toezicht-op-het-belgisch-grondgebied

8

Atmosphere

9

Agricultural Soil / Grasslands

10

Biota

11

Food chain

12

Surface Water and Sediments

Radiological Surveillance of the TerritoryMonitoring Surface Water Molse Nete 1992-2006

•Onder aanname 730 l waterconsumptie/jaarScreeningsniveau wetgeving drinkwater (KB 31/05/16): 100 000 nSv/jaar

Radiological Surveillance of the TerritoryMonitoring sediment Molse Nete 1998 - 2016

•- Onder aanname 730 L waterconsumptie/jaarScreeningsniveau wetgeving drinkwater (KB 31/05/16): 100 000 nSv/jaar

Radiological Surveillance of the TerritoryMonitoring sediment Grote Laak 1996 - 2015

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1996-01-03 1998-09-29 2001-06-25 2004-03-21 2006-12-16 2009-09-11 2012-06-07 2015-03-04 2017-11-28

Ra-

22

6 (

Bq

/kg)

Date

16

Telerad

Measures continuously

•radioactivity in the air•radioactivity in rivers

www.telerad.be

• national network +station rings around nuclear sites

• measurement cycle: 10 minreported on website: 1 hour

Gamma Dose rate in air (nSv/h)

• 6 sample-based• 2 submerged (Scheldt)• 4 stations in nuclear installations

River Stations

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Can we draw conclusions for the protection of biota from the surveillance programme?

• In general… not really

Sampling points, type and library are not optimized for this framework we need more input

• In specific cases… yes!

Legacy sites (Winterbeek, Laak, Molse Nete,…) A lot of data on most environmental compartments. In general measurements on relevant biota are lacking

e.g. Vandenhove et al.(2015) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.11.001

Nuclear sites: impact study based on licensed release limits for Doel and Tihange - e.g. Vandenhove et al.(2013) http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.07.004

Caterogy A: Vives I Batlle et al. (2016)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.06.002

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Can we draw conclusions for the protection of biota from the surveillance programme?

• What is our current view?

No legal obligation to structurally include non-human biota in radiological risk assessment

However, FANC systematically

- is actively involved in discussions on the subject on the international level

- Keeps track of insights and evolutions on the scientific as well as the regulatory level

• What can we do at this moment?

- We do have a large amount of environmental data which can be exploited and used to make a screening assessment, especially NORM sites.