Publication Abstract

Editorial

By D.S Woodhead

Over the past several years,increasing attention has come to be focused on the protection of the environment fromionising radiation, i.e., specifically, the protection of wild plants and animals from thedamaging effects of any increases in radiation exposure arising from radionuclidesreleased into the environment during the course of human activities. This is not to saythat there has been no relevant research, nor that this concern has not been considered byboth International (e.g., IAEA; IAEA; IAEA and UNSCEAR) and National Agencies (e.g., NCRP; Environment and Environment). Rather, this development reflects theincreasing inclusion in International agreements (e.g., United Nations, 1994) and Regional and National legislation (e.g., EC and EC) of specific requirements to demonstrate explicitly that the management procedures forradioactive wastes, including controls on releases, are sufficient to prevent significantdamage to the environment. The ICRP has concluded that its present advice – that canbe paraphrased as: if man is sufficiently protected, then so is the environment ( ICRP, 1991) – is neither transparent norsufficient, and has set up a Task Group to reconsider its position.

From the various initiatives that are currently inprogress, it seems likely that an internationally acceptable framework will include: adiscussion of the appropriate objectives for environmental protection so that relevantcriteria can be developed; methods for making an assessment of the possible impacts, i.e.,the incremental radiation dose rates and their estimated effects; management tools toachieve the defined objectives; and, guidance on the application of the framework,including the issue of determining compliance. The papers in this Special Issue addressvarious aspects of these ongoing developments and, it is to be hoped, will contribute tothem

Reference:

D.S Woodhead. 2002. Editorial. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 66 (1-2)