Australia's proactive approach to radiation protection of the environment: how integrated is it with radiation protection of humans?

Australia's regulatory framework has evolved over the past decade from the assumption that protection of humans implies protection of the environment to the situation now where radiological impacts on non-human species (wildlife) are considered in their own right. In an Australian context, there was a recognised need for specific national guidance on protection of non-human species, for which the uranium mining industry provides the major backdrop. National guidance supported by publications of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Radiation Protection Series) provides clear and consistent advice to operators and regulators on protection of non-human species, including advice on specific assessment methods and models, and how these might be applied in an Australian context. These approaches and the supporting assessment tools provide a mechanism for industry to assess and demonstrate compliance with the environmental protection objectives of relevant legislation, and to meet stakeholder expectations that radiological protection of the environment is taken into consideration in accordance with international best practice. Experiences from the past 5-10 years, and examples of where the approach to radiation protection of the environment has been well integrated or presented some challenges will be discussed. Future challenges in addressing protection of the environment in existing exposure situations will also be discussed.

ESTIMATES OF RADIATION DOSES TO THE SKIN FOR PEOPLE CAMPED AT WALLATINNA DURING THE UK TOTEM 1 ATOMIC WEAPONS TEST.

A group of Aboriginal people was camped at Wallatinna in South Australia, ~170 km downwind from Emu Field, where an atomic test (the Totem 1 test) was carried out at 07.00 on 15 October 1953 local time (21.30 on 14 October 1953 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)). They left the camp ~24 hours later. These people stated that a phenomenon that has become known as a 'black mist' rolled through their camp site ~5 hours after detonation and that some of them subsequently became sick, displaying skin reddening and nausea. They feared that the sickness was a result of exposure to high levels of radiation. The purpose of this paper is to determine if these people could have received ionising radiation doses high enough to cause the symptoms displayed. The methodology used for the dose estimates is described in the paper. The exposure modes considered were external exposure due to the passage of a contaminated plume over the camp site, inhalation of material from this plume, external exposure from material deposited on the ground as the plume passed, and consumption of contaminated food and water. The contaminants considered in the airborne cloud and the ground plume were fission products and unburnt plutonium from the nuclear detonation, and neutron activation products caused by vaporisation of the tower used to position the weapon. The source was approximated by a line source. An upper estimate of the effective doses received is ~4 mSv, which is well below the level at which acute radiation effects are observed. This estimate is consistent with earlier assessments, which did not consider inhalation of the contribution from neutron activation products.

Predicting exposure of wildlife in radionuclide contaminated wetland ecosystems.

Many wetlands support high biodiversity and are protected sites, but some are contaminated with radionuclides from routine or accidental releases from nuclear facilities. This radiation exposure needs to be assessed to demonstrate radiological protection of the environment. Existing biota dose models cover generic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, not wetlands specifically. This paper, which was produced under IAEA's Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) II programme, describes an evaluation of how models can be applied to radionuclide contaminated wetlands. Participants used combinations of aquatic and terrestrial model parameters to assess exposure. Results show the importance of occupancy factor and food source (aquatic or terrestrial) included. The influence of soil saturation conditions on external dose rates is also apparent. In general, terrestrial parameters provided acceptable predictions for wetland organisms. However, occasionally predictions varied by three orders of magnitude between assessors. Possible further developments for biota dose models and research needs are identified.

[The usefulness of the intrapartum fetal pulse oximetry in anticipating the neonatal outcome]. / Zastosowanie sródporodowej pulsoksymetrii plodowej w przewidywaniu stanu urodzeniowego noworodka.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the intrapartum fetal pulse oximetry in anticipating the neonatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The saturation of the fetal blood (SpO2) was measured during labor with non-invasive pulse oximeter designed for fetal application. The average, minimum and maximum SpO2 were evaluated separately for the first and the second stage of labor. The average SpO2 of the fetus was compared to neonatal condition assessed by umbilical vein pH, pO2 and pCO2 and according to Apgar score. RESULTS: Twenty patients have been monitored with fetal pulse oximetry. All those patients had normal vaginal delivery. During the first stage of labor, the average fetal SpO2 was 51.94 +/- 8.03%, the minimum SpO2 was 38.35 +/- 9.15%, and the maximum SpO2 was 63.35 +/- 7.75%; in the second stage of labor average fetal SpO2 was 43.82 +/- 7.16%, minimum SpO2 was 34.35 +/- 7.79% and the maximum SpO2 was 50.94 +/- 8.37%. A significant decrease in fetal average and maximum SpO2 occurred from stage I to stage II of labor (average SpO2: 51.94 +/- 8.03% vs. 43.82 +/- 7.16%, p = 0.0002; maximum SpO2: 63.35 +/- 7.75% vs. 50.94 +/- 8.37%, p < 0.00001). The significant correlation between the average SpO2 during the first stage of labor and umbilical vein pH (R = 0.60, p = 0.02) and pO2 (R = 0.54, p = 0.04) was found. No relationship between fetal SpO2 in the first and second stage of labor and Apgar score was observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The second stage of labor results in significant decrease in fetal SpO2. 2. The fetal SpO2 > 30% in the first and second stage of labor is related to good neonatal outcome. 3. The fetal SpO2 assessment in first stage of labor seems to be important in newborn's acidosis and hypoxemia predicting.

[Twin pregnancy complicated by "twin reversed arterial perfusion" syndrome]. / Ciaza blizniacza powiklana zespolem "odwróconego przeplywu krwi".

We have reported twin pregnancy complicated by uncommon "twin reversed arterial perfusion" syndrome. Ultrasound scan at 27th week of gestation revealed one normal foetus and the second one "acardiac" with severe malformations. Since the cardiac failure of the first twin was observed, the digitalis were administered till the end of pregnancy. The pregnancy was terminated at 31st week by caesarean section. We succeed in delivering one healthy newborn, which was possible by appropriate management including elective termination, observation (ultrasonography and cardiotocography) and nonsurgical intervention (digitalis).

[Induction of labor by using PGE2 and oxytocin in high risk pregnancies]. / Indukcja porodów przy uzyciu PGE2 oraz oksytocyny w ciazach obarczonych ryzykiem.

The study group consisted of 82 primigravid and 55 multiparous women with post term pregnancy, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, insufficiency of placenta and diabetes mellitus have induced labor. Prepidil (Upjohn) in dosage 0.5 mg was given into uterine cervix of 46 patients (PG group) and oxytocin was infused to 42 patients in dosage ranged from 5 mU/min to 30 mU/min (Ox group). Induction of labor has been considered as successful, if after 12 hours of drug administration, regular contractions of uterus and dilation of cervix more than 3 cm were obtained. Significant improvement of cervix state, measured by Bishop score has been observed only in PG group, even if the induction of labor failed. Similar rates of caesarean sections and the same occurrences of late and variable decelerations have been observed in both study groups. Results obtained in both these groups suggest that induction of labor in such pregnancies after prostaglandins administration is more effective than oxytocin infusion.