Radiological emergencies in a tropical climate country: Developing a multi-criteria decision tool

¹ Coordenação de Instalações Nucleares/CNEN, R. Passagem 123, 9° andar, 22290-030 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
² Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria/CNEN, Av. Salvador Allende s/ No., 22780-160 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
³ COPPE/PPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

e-mail: mwassermas@ien.gov.br

Abstract

One of the permanent concerns in the international scenario is the study of the consequences of nuclear and radiological accidents and other events that lead to the contamination of the environment and the exposure of members of the public as a consequence of this contamination. Decision-making in such situations need to be based in solid technical criteria but must also take into account the actual prevailing circumstance in order to reach optimized measures to protect people and the environment. The Multi-criteria Analysis Method is already being used for similar applications in some European countries but it is necessary that the criteria are established taking in account economic, social and climatic aspects that can affect the selection of protective measures applicable to specific regions, and the selection of the different weights to be associated to the different criteria that are to be applied to different social-politic environments. The present work describes the developments to support the decision making process for the implementation of protective measures to protect the public in situations of radiological accidents in Brazil, the steps already developed and the current status of the system under development, discusses the difficulties found and stresses the needs for future developments.