Partners of the SAGE project

The Brest Branch of the Research Institute of Radiology (BB RIR) was founded in 1999 pursuant to the order of the Ministry of Extraordinary Situations of Belarus. BB RIR is located in Pinsk (Brest, district of Belarus). Actually 23 persons are working in BB RIR, four of them are doctors of sciences (in techniques, agriculture, veterinary and geography). BB RIR has seven laboratories and departments:

• Treatment and use of the contaminated grounds
• Protective measures to reduce doses in agriculture
• Radio-ecology of natural and anthropogenic landscapes
• Radiation Risk Reduction for the population irradiated by the Chernobyl accident
• Radioecology of rehabilitated grounds
• Cultivation of non conventional cultures on contaminated grounds
• Radiation monitoring and spectrometry

BB RIR domains of expertise are covering:

• The research and identification of scientific methods to reduce radiation risks,
• The recovery of absorbed doses taken by the population,
• The analysis of the long-term effects of low doses,
• The development of new scientific monitoring methods
• The legal aspects and technological measures linked with the management of extraordinary situations

The Belarusian Institute of Radiation Safety ‘BELRAD Institute’ is an independent organisation (NGO) created in 1990. The main goal of the institute consists in the development of measures of radiation safety and the protection of the population in the contaminated territories. The main directions of the institute are :

• Creation of a network of local centres for the radiation control of foodstuffs and for the information of the population about the danger of radiation
• Development and manufacturing of dosimeters and radiometric devices for the foodstuffs control
• Creation of mobile radiological laboratories of spectrometers of human radiation (SHR) for the radiation monitoring of the inhabitants of the Chernobyl zone of Belarus
• Radiation monitoring Cs-137 in the body of children and the development of strategies to reduce internal exposure
• Organisation of the production of the pectin preparation ‘Vitapect’
• Organisation of educational centres for the teachers and the parents for the education of radiation protection of children in Chernobyl regions

During the period of 1996-2001, the Institute ‘Belrad’ had seven mobile radiological laboratories with spectrometers for human radiation. The institute surveyed more than 125 thousands of children in the region of Gomel, Brest, Mogilyov, Minsk, Grodno and Vitbesk. After agreement of the Ministry of Health, the Institute began the production of the pectin preparation ‘Vitapect’ which binds and removes radionuclides and ions of heavy metals in and from organism.

CEPN is a non profit research organisation created in 1976 for developing research in the fields of optimisation of radiation protection and the comparison of health and environmental risks associated with energy systems. Since 2002, CEPN members are: Electricité de France (EDF), the Nuclear Protection and Safety Institute (IPSN), COGEMA, and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). CEPN is directed by Jacques Lochard. The group is made up of about 15 researchers with expertise in radiological exposure models, environmental transfer models, economic and statistical analyses and decisions-aiding techniques.

• The CEPN research programme is structured according to the following main topics:
• Methodology for the assessment and the management of the radiological risk,
• Radiological protection of workers in the nuclear, industrial and medical fields,
• Health and environmental impacts of nuclear installations,
• Economic and social aspects of radiological waste management,
• Involvement of stakeholders in decentralised radiological risk management

GSF is one of the important research centres for environment and health in Germany (employees more than 1500) with considerable facilities for experimental and data processing work. The Institut für Strahlenschutz, under the directorate of PD Dr. H. G. Paretzke, is a well established institute dealing with all aspects of radiation protection within GSF (>30 years) and within Germany. It comprises around 120 scientific employees and is subdivided into 6 sections. The section of Risk Analysis has been involved in radioecological research for almost 20 years, combining experimental studies with the development of radioecological models (ECOSYS). Ecological research is also carried out in other groups within the same institute, for instance, on the behaviour of radionuclides and heavy metals in soils and forest ecosystems (Bunzl et al.), and close links are existing to other institutes of GSF: the Institute of Radiation Biology (Prof. Kellerer et al.), Institute of Soil Ecology (Prof. Munch et al.) Institute of Chemical Ecology (Prof. Kettrup et al.) and the Institute of Hydrology (Prof. Seiler et al.).

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is an independent public authority in the United Kingdom, established by the Radiological Protection Act 1970 with functions concerning the protection of people from radiation hazards. The Act requires the organisation to give advice on health issues related to both ionising and non-ionising radiation. NRPB’s overall strategy in radiological protection is to provide sound advice and support to Government, to industry, to local authorities and to others with responsibility for protection from radiation hazards, based on relevant research and practical experience. It is the key point of reference in the United Kingdom on matters of radiological protection.

NRPB is at the forefront of ongoing international work on the establishment of radiological protection principles and criteria for public and occupational exposure, and for waste management.

NRPB also provides a wide range of advice, consultancy and technical services. Most of the work proposed in the SAGE project will be carried out within the Environmental Assessments Department. This covers the radiological implications of existing and potential releases of radionuclides into the environment. The Environmental Assessments Department works within a quality management system that meets ISO9001:2000.