Environmental impact assessment for ionising radiation within the Arctic

Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, PO Box 55, 1332 Østeras, Norway

Abstract

The Arctic environment is unique in terms of many factors that may influence the behaviour and fate of contaminants including the presence of permafrost, low temperatures, slow breakdown of organic compounds, short food chains and long recovery times for some species. This study introduces the issues surrounding the development of a bespoke environmental impact assessment methodology specifically for the consideration of radiation impacts on Arctic ecosystems. The approach allows for the impact on plants and animals from exposure to radiation to be quantified in a robust manner through integration of our current knowledge concerning transfer in the environment, resultant dose-rates from the presence of radioactivity within biota and their media and information concerning radiobiological effects on endpoints of concern from an environmental protection perspective.