BIOPROTABiosphere modelling for waste repositories

This presentation Objectives Participation and management What it has done and publications Projects on-going Future work

Tobias LindborgBIOPROTA Sponsoring Committee Chairman andEcologist, Analysis UnitSite Investigations and Biosphere AssessmentEMRAS II, IAEA,Vienna, 1923 January 2009

Deep repository for spent fuelDesign capacity:9300 tons (U)Depth: 400-700 mArea needed: 2-4 km2Total volume~ 1.7 Mm3

The conceptual idea behind the description of the surface system (input to safety assessment)WetlandAgriculture

Forest ecosystemSea ecosystemPrimary producersConceptual model of the Surface system

Abiotic/biotic descriptions and modellingSystem modelslinked models at landscape levelHypothetical radionuclide pathwayLinked ecosystemsEcosystemsEcosystem entitiesPropertyproductionLake ecosystem

The major pools and fluxes of carbon and water in an Alder-Norway spruce swamp forest. Figures in boxes describe pools while figures outside are fluxes

*The Farmstead model (NRI, Rez)Similar to Bioprota model, with water ingestion and inhalation

Human being

Soil

Cow

Meat

Milk

Liver

Pasture

Vegetables

Contaminated water

Sink

Ingestion

Well

Ingestion

Ingestion and inhalation

Root uptake

External irradiation

Irrigation

Percolation

Inhalation

*BIOPROTA ObjectivesBuilding on IAEA-BIOMASS-6 (2003) "Reference Biospheres" for solid radioactive waste disposal,

BIOPROTA is

to provide a forum for exchange of information to support resolution of key issues in biosphere aspects of assessments of the long-term radiological impact of contaminant releases associated with radioactive waste and contaminated land management.

*BIOPROTA ParticipationCurrently 17 organisations operators and regulators, as well as scientific support organisations.ANDRA, EDF (France)SCK-CEN (Belgium)CIEMAT (Spain)KAERI (Korea)NAGRA (Switzerland)NNL, NDA (UK)NRI (Czech Republic)NUMO, JGC (Japan)NWMO (Canada)EPRI (USA)POSIVA (Finland)NRPA (Norway)BfS (Germany)SKB, SSM (Sweden)

EuropeN. America, andAsia

*BIOPROTA ManagementEach organisation has a representative on a Sponsoring Committee. The Chairman is chosen by that Committee.Organisation is set out in a document updated every year.There is one main information exchange forum a year, to be hosted in 2009 by CIEMAT, Madrid, 6 8 May.Projects are organised and funded by any subset of interested parties, according to their own interests.

*BIOPROTA OutputTechnical reports, see www.bioprota.com Long term models for dose assessment:Spray irrigationAccumulation in soil and inhalationAccumulation in soil and uptake into the foodchainC-14 model reviewCl-36 accumulation in soil and plant uptakeUse of analogue dataSite characterisationWorkshop reports, see www.bioprota.com Se-79 behaviour in the environmentCl-36 behaviour in the environmentProcesses at the geosphere biosphere interfaceLong term dose assessment of non-human biotaEvaluation of codes for transfer modellingAnnual Forum reportsDatabase for special radionuclides, continuing dvpt.

*BIOPROTA On-going ProjectsExperimental work on sorption of I-129 in organic rich soils (lead by ANDRA)

Addressing uncertainties in non-human biota dose assessments (lead by POSIVA)

Cl-36 dose assessment (lead by ANDRA) and relative uncertainties in, estimating concentrations in food; Representative Person assumptions, and dose coefficients

C-14 dose assessment (lead by EDF)

Review of site characterisation experience (lead by ANDRA)

*BIOPROTA Future WorkPriorities were reviewed in 2008. Proposals now under review for : assessing doses from Ra-226 and progenydevelopment of improved models for Se-79

Some other issues are being addressed internally. As investigations become focussed on specific sites, the priorities become locally specific.

Future work could include:- Addressing transient environmental change; Review of experience in defining assumptions for hypothetical exposure groups; Review of experience in identifying and justifying assumptions for biosphere systems; Review of experience in the application of IAEA recommendations and guidance.

Thank you for your attention!

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