BORIS, EPORA, LANDSCAPE, MYRRH, SAVE, Sensitivity forum BORIS: Bioavailability of radionuclides in soils The objective of the 5th Framework BORIS project was to improve understanding of the mechanisms governing the transfer of radionuclides to plants. The projects focus was mainly on the role of the biological elements (plants, mycorrhiza, microbes) involved in this transfer. Because of the importance of the chemical nature of the radionuclides involved the bioavailability of four different radionuclides (caesium, strontium, technetium, and uranium) was assessed. The exact role of additional pollutants was also scrutinised. To improve existing predictive models of radionuclide contamination of soils, knowledge acquired from the experimental results was incorporated into two mechanistic models. The experimental results were used in the development of bioremediation methods. The role of additional, non-radioactive, pollutants on radionuclide bioavailability was also assessed. Publications Summary of final report Tamponnet C. et al. (2002) The European programme BORIS : Involvement of biological components in the transfer of radioactive nuclides to plants. Radioprotect., 37, (C1), 331-336. Tamponnet C. et al. (2004) The European programme BORIS : Involvement of biological components in the transfer of radionuclides to plants. IRPA 11, 24-28 Juillet 2004, Madrid, Spain. Norden M. et al. (2004) Bioavailability in the BORIS assessment model. ECORAD 2004, 6-9 September 2004, Aix-en-Provence, France. Tamponnet C. et al. (2004) The European programme BORIS : a global analysis of results. ECORAD 2004, 6-9 September 2004, Aix-en-Provence, France. Norden M. et al. (2005) Bioavailability in the BORIS assessment model. Radioprot., 40, 107-111. Tamponnet C. et al (2005) The European programme BORIS : a global analysis of results. Radioprotect., 40, 169-174. Tamponnet C. & Declerck S. (2008) Editorial. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 773-774. Tamponnet C et al. (2008) Role of biotic and abiotic components on the bioavailability of radionuclides in soils. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 820-830. EPORA: Effect of industrial pollution on the distribution dynamics of radionuclides in boreal understorey ecosystems The main purpose of EPORA was to study the influence of chemical pollution on the behaviour of artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 90Sr, 239,240Pu) in a northern boreal ecosystem. Subsequently, the significance of the findings on the radiation exposure of populations in such areas was assessed. Publications Suomela M. et al. (1999) Effect of industrial pollution on the distribution dynamics of radionuclides in boreal understorey ecosystems (EPORA). STUK-A168 Helsinki: Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. Outola I. (2002) Effect of industrial pollution on the behaviour of 239,240Pu, 241Am and 137Cs in forest ecosystems. Academic dissertation. Thorring H. et al. (1999) A summary of chemical data from the EPORA project. Helsinki: Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, STUK-A167. Bréchignac F. et al. Long-term environmental behaviour of radionuclides. CEC-IPSN Association Final Report. LANDSCAPE: An integrated approach to radionuclide flow in semi-natural ecosystems underlying exposure pathways in man The main purpose of EPORA was to study the influence of chemical pollution on the behaviour of artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 90Sr, 239,240Pu) in a northern boreal ecosystem. Subsequently, the significance of the findings on the radiation exposure of populations in such areas was assessed. Publications Final report Aro L. & Rantavaara A. (2002) 137Cs activity in stumps and coarse roots of pine, spruce and birch trees as affected by fertilization. In: Strand P. et al. (Eds.) Proceedings from the International Conference on Radioactivity in the Environment. 1-5 September 2002, Monaco. Aro L. et al. (2002) Effect of fertilisation on 137Cs in understory spruces on a dryish pine site. Radioprotect., 37, (C1), 427-432. MYRRH: Use of mycorrhizal fungi for the phytostabilisation of radio-contaminated environments Mycorrhizal fungi are major components of the microbial community present in root systems of most terrestrial plants. Through their activities at the interface between soil and the root system they have an important role in the soil-to-plant transfer of nutrients and related chemicals. The potential usefulness of mycorrhizae in agriculture, horticulture and forestry is now largely acknowledged. The research conducted in MYRHH focused on the role of mycorrhizae in the mobilisation and transfer of radionuclides with an emphasis on their application in the long-term management and restoration of contaminated environments. Publications Rufyikiri G. et al. (2004) Comparison of 233U and 33P uptake and translocation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices in root-organ culture conditions. Mycorrhiza, 14, 203-207. Rufyikiri G. et al. (2003) Contribution of hyphae and roots to uranium uptake and translocation by arbuscular mycorrhizal carrot roots under root-organ culture conditions. New Phytol., 158, 391-399. Rufyikiri G. et al. (2002) Uranium uptake and translocation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices, under root-organ culture conditions. New Phytol., 156, 275-281. Dupre´ de Boulois H. et al. (2008) Role and influence of mycorrhizal fungi on radiocesium accumulation by plants. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 785-800. Dupre´ de Boulois H. et al. (2008) Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on uranium accumulation by plants. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 775-784. SAVE: Spatial analysis of vulnerable ecosystems in Europe: Spatial and dynamic prediction of radiocaesium fluxes into European foods The aim of the SAVE project was the identification of areas and communities in Western Europe (the 15 EC countries and Norway) which are vulnerable to radiocaesium deposition and conversely those areas or communities which are resilient to radiocaesium contamination. To achieve the identification of such areas, a software system (SAVE-IT) was developed which dynamically predicts the behaviour of radiocaesium spatially. The key component of this was a soil-plant model parametrised using soil characteristics. The SAVE soil-plant model was subsequently used in the STRATEGY project as part of an approach to identify optimised remediation strategies. Note: The SAVE soil-plant (or 'Absalom') model has recently been revised see: Tarsitano D. et al. (2011) Publications Final report Voigt & Kiefer (1998) Project deliverable: Influence of spatial variation on countermeasures with special regard to animal food products. Skutterud et al. (1999) SAVE Assessment of relative importance of food production systems in Europe. Project deliverable. Gil, J.M. (1998) Food consumption patterns across Western European countries: national and regional variations. European Commission. DG XII, EUR 18341. Wright S.M. et al. (1998) Development of an approach to estimating critical loads for radiocaesium contamination of cow milk in Western Europe. Sci. Tot. Environ., 221, 75-87. Absalom J.P. et al. (1999) Predicting soil to plant transfer of radiocaesium using soil characteristics. Environ. Sci. Technol., 33, 1218-1223. See Tarsitano D. et al. below. Absalom J.P. et al. (2001) Predicting the transfer of radiocaesium from organic soils to plants using soil characteristics. J. Environ. Radioact., 52, 31-43. Gillett G.M. et al. (2000) A review of 137Cs transfer to fungi and consequences for modelling environmental transfer. J. Environ. Radioact., 48, 95- 121. Gillett G.M. & Crout N.M.J. (2000) Temporal and spatial prediction of radiocaesium transfer to food products. Rad. Environ. Biophy., 40, 227-235. Sanchez A.L. (1999) High plant uptake of radiocaesium from organic soils due to Cs mobility and low soil K content. Environ. Sci. Technol., 33, 2752-2757. Sanchez A.L. (2002) Predictions of in situ solid/liquid distribution of radiocaesium in soils. J. Environ. Radioact., 63, 35-47. SENSITIVITY FORUM: Radioecological sensitivity forum The overall aim of this concerted action was to provide a standardised system, i.e. a consensus, in relation to the methodology and terminology used to define 'sensitivity' and 'resilience'. The forum was established to achieve a number of objectives. There were: to promote the dissemination of information on methodology and scientific results; to provide a forum for discussion and synthesis of the concept of radioecological sensitivity (achieved by a combination of working groups and discussion groups); to provide a definition of 'radioecological sensitivity' in the context of radioecology and radiation protection (to aid in the implementation of policy); to define the terminology and methodology to be used in future radioecological sensitivity assessments and finally to provide an input into describing potential studies which might be justified under the next framework. Publications Final report Howard B.J. (2000) The concept of radioecological sensitivity. Radiat. Protect. Dosim., 92, 29-34. Howard B.J. (2002) Estimation of Radioecological Sensitivity. Radioprotection-colloques, 37, (C1), 1167-1173.