Periodic Reporting for period 3 - RadoNorm (Towards effective radiation protection based on improved scientific evidence and social considerations - focus on radon and NORM)
Período documentado: 2023-09-01 hasta 2024-08-31
The RadoNorm project addresses the challenge of protecting people from the harmful effects of ionising radiation as well as the radioecological impact of radionuclide contaminations. It aims to lift key uncertainties in risk assessment of low-dose radiation with a special focus on radon and NORM, ranging from the molecular level to the level of human health and the wellbeing of biota in the ecosystem.
In addition, the research addresses the existing knowledge gaps in the development and implementation of operational and remedial strategies focused on radon and NORM exposures in dwellings and workplaces, including NORM-involving industries and legacy sites. Understanding the factors contributing to radon and NORM exposure and gaining knowledge on the efficiency and sustainability of countermeasures will help create effective mitigation strategies and develop solutions that are tailored to individual situations.
Moreover, the project proposes systematic and methodologically sound social scientific approaches to study radon and NORM. It aims to identify, develop, and establish strategies to stimulate engagement of different stakeholders in radiation protection measures and raise their awareness. The education and training of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers is also a main pillar of the project, recognising that there is a need for preserving competence in radiation protection. Ultimately, the project will help to maximise scientific cooperation and integrate research groups throughout Europe in the area of radiation protection.
The knowledge gained through the project will primarily support the implementation of the EU Basic Safety Standards. It will also increase public awareness of radiation risks, and the measures in place to mitigate risks.
In addition, the research addresses the existing knowledge gaps in the development and implementation of operational and remedial strategies focused on radon and NORM exposures in dwellings and workplaces, including NORM-involving industries and legacy sites. Understanding the factors contributing to radon and NORM exposure and gaining knowledge on the efficiency and sustainability of countermeasures will help create effective mitigation strategies and develop solutions that are tailored to individual situations.
Moreover, the project proposes systematic and methodologically sound social scientific approaches to study radon and NORM. It aims to identify, develop, and establish strategies to stimulate engagement of different stakeholders in radiation protection measures and raise their awareness. The education and training of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers is also a main pillar of the project, recognising that there is a need for preserving competence in radiation protection. Ultimately, the project will help to maximise scientific cooperation and integrate research groups throughout Europe in the area of radiation protection.
The knowledge gained through the project will primarily support the implementation of the EU Basic Safety Standards. It will also increase public awareness of radiation risks, and the measures in place to mitigate risks.
Tables to assess annual organ dose coefficients are now available and models are being used to assess doses in various accident scenarios. Uncertainties on the lung dose coefficients for the intake of radon and thoron progeny in underground mines have been calculated. Together, these contribute to the development of more robust occupation protection against radiation.
Moreover, sampling campaigns are underway in legacy mining sites, in collaboration with new stakeholders onboard the project to assess exposure to NORM in such scenarios. Several promising methodologies for remediation of contaminated mining sites have also been proposed. In the context of circular economy, operational values for NORM-containing sludge from water treatment facilities, commonly used as fertiliser, have been elucidated to better monitor environmental contamination from NORM. The soil properties governing the migration of radium in soil have also been elucidated, showing that the threat of radium migration in free soil is generally small. However, environmental exposure to mobile uranium and thorium can be considerably high in areas with alum shale, for instance.
In terms of health effects, the risk of death from cancers other than lung cancer have been finalised and will be published soon. Key variables have been defined and various analytical approaches evaluated for the pooled analysis for studying the association of radon and childhood leukaemia and brain cancer. A gene mutation fingerprint has been elucidated for radon-induced lung cancer in rats and investigations are now underway to this if this is also the case in humans. Laboratory experiments investigating the effect of smoking on radon exposure has found that nicotine in cigarette smoke contributes to increased DNA repair after alpha-particle radiation in bronchial epithelial cells, increasing the likelihood for erroneous DNA repair and thus risk of cancer. Significant progress has been made on developing adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) following radiation exposure through the development of an AO Helper Tool, which can build such pathways based on existing literature.
In terms of mitigation efforts, the most promising building mitigation strategies have now been identified, that prove to be effective even in the long-term. It has also been shown that air exchange rate in buildings needs to be considered when assessing mitigation techniques after an initial analysis. During a workshop on radon diffusion coefficient measurement, it was argued that European-wide harmonisation of requirements for assessing radon barries is needed and determining the minimum value of radon resistance is a crucial parameter. To assess radon exhalation from building material, technology has also been developed in the framework of RadoNorm, which already shows accurate laboratory measurements.
Radon risk communication studies have shown that strategies must employ multiple messages with varying framing at different stages to be effective. Citizen science projects for testing and remediating against radon proved to be highly effective in the local communities they were conducted in. The surveys conducted in 16 European countries have now been analysed and a behavioural map of radon in Europe is being drawn up to show how radon is being perceived.
Stakeholders' perceptions of NORM in alternative building materials showed that there are six factors that come into play when considering the industry’s use of alternative building materials and the end-users’ acceptance of such building materials.
The early career research council has continued to hold meetings and organised a training course on career perspectives in radiation protection. RadoNorm’s outreach has continued to increase on social media and also included more stakeholders from authorities and other institutions in radiation protection.
Moreover, sampling campaigns are underway in legacy mining sites, in collaboration with new stakeholders onboard the project to assess exposure to NORM in such scenarios. Several promising methodologies for remediation of contaminated mining sites have also been proposed. In the context of circular economy, operational values for NORM-containing sludge from water treatment facilities, commonly used as fertiliser, have been elucidated to better monitor environmental contamination from NORM. The soil properties governing the migration of radium in soil have also been elucidated, showing that the threat of radium migration in free soil is generally small. However, environmental exposure to mobile uranium and thorium can be considerably high in areas with alum shale, for instance.
In terms of health effects, the risk of death from cancers other than lung cancer have been finalised and will be published soon. Key variables have been defined and various analytical approaches evaluated for the pooled analysis for studying the association of radon and childhood leukaemia and brain cancer. A gene mutation fingerprint has been elucidated for radon-induced lung cancer in rats and investigations are now underway to this if this is also the case in humans. Laboratory experiments investigating the effect of smoking on radon exposure has found that nicotine in cigarette smoke contributes to increased DNA repair after alpha-particle radiation in bronchial epithelial cells, increasing the likelihood for erroneous DNA repair and thus risk of cancer. Significant progress has been made on developing adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) following radiation exposure through the development of an AO Helper Tool, which can build such pathways based on existing literature.
In terms of mitigation efforts, the most promising building mitigation strategies have now been identified, that prove to be effective even in the long-term. It has also been shown that air exchange rate in buildings needs to be considered when assessing mitigation techniques after an initial analysis. During a workshop on radon diffusion coefficient measurement, it was argued that European-wide harmonisation of requirements for assessing radon barries is needed and determining the minimum value of radon resistance is a crucial parameter. To assess radon exhalation from building material, technology has also been developed in the framework of RadoNorm, which already shows accurate laboratory measurements.
Radon risk communication studies have shown that strategies must employ multiple messages with varying framing at different stages to be effective. Citizen science projects for testing and remediating against radon proved to be highly effective in the local communities they were conducted in. The surveys conducted in 16 European countries have now been analysed and a behavioural map of radon in Europe is being drawn up to show how radon is being perceived.
Stakeholders' perceptions of NORM in alternative building materials showed that there are six factors that come into play when considering the industry’s use of alternative building materials and the end-users’ acceptance of such building materials.
The early career research council has continued to hold meetings and organised a training course on career perspectives in radiation protection. RadoNorm’s outreach has continued to increase on social media and also included more stakeholders from authorities and other institutions in radiation protection.
In the field of radon, progress has been made in developing measures and recommendations for better occupational radiation protection against radon in underground workplaces, encompassing measurement procedures and radon metrology devices. Cellular mechanisms following an exposure to alpha radiation are now more well-known. Lessons have been learned by citizen science campaigns for strategies to test and remediate against radon. More effective strategies in radon risk communication campaigns have been developed.
In the field of NORM, recommendations to harmonise classification of NORM-processing sites have been put forward through the latest NORM e-survey and the resulting survey tool. It would also help in the classification of other NORM-processing sites across the world and lead to improved regulation. The analysis of NORM in the context of circular economy has also been assessed and there are new promising strategies for remediation of contaminated sites.
RadoNorm has managed to bring to the table a variety of stakeholders such as members of the public, companies and regulatory bodies to discuss various issues in radiation protection. Furthermore, it is already helping to bring together the radiation protection scientific community at the EU level to improve coordination of research efforts, which would finally provide clear and transparent guidelines to the general public on how to mitigate risks and deal with exposure to radon and NORM.
In the field of NORM, recommendations to harmonise classification of NORM-processing sites have been put forward through the latest NORM e-survey and the resulting survey tool. It would also help in the classification of other NORM-processing sites across the world and lead to improved regulation. The analysis of NORM in the context of circular economy has also been assessed and there are new promising strategies for remediation of contaminated sites.
RadoNorm has managed to bring to the table a variety of stakeholders such as members of the public, companies and regulatory bodies to discuss various issues in radiation protection. Furthermore, it is already helping to bring together the radiation protection scientific community at the EU level to improve coordination of research efforts, which would finally provide clear and transparent guidelines to the general public on how to mitigate risks and deal with exposure to radon and NORM.