Application of the ERICA Integrated Approach to the Drigg coastal sand dunes

Wood, M.D.; Marshall, W.A.; Beresford, N.A.; Jones, S.R.; Howard, B.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9698-9524; Copplestone, D.; Leah, R.T.. 2008 Application of the ERICA Integrated Approach to the Drigg coastal sand dunes. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99. 1484-1495. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.008

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.008

Abstract/Summary

The EC-funded project ‘Environmental Risks from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management’ (ERICA) developed an ‘Integrated Approach’ for assessing the impact of ionising radiation on ecosystems. This paper presents the application of the ERICA Integrated Approach, supported by a software programme (the ERICA Tool) and guidance documentation, to an assessment of the Drigg coastal sand dunes (Cumbria, UK). Targeted sampling provided site-specific data for sand dune biota, including amphibians and reptiles. Radionuclides reported included 90Sr, 99Tc, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am. Site-specific data were compared to predictions derived using the ERICA Tool. Some under- and over-predictions of biota activity concentrations were identified but can be explained by the specific ecological characteristics and contamination mechanism of the dunes. Overall, the results indicated no significant impact of ionising radiation on the sand dune biota and the Integrated Approach was found to be a flexible and effective means of conducting a radiation impact assessment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.008
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > SE01B Sustainable Monitoring, Risk Assessment and Management of Chemicals > SE01.4 Monitoring and predicting the distribution of chemicals in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
ISSN:	0265-931X
Additional Keywords:	sand dune, Sellafield, low-level waste repository, ionising radiation, non-human species, ERICA, risk assessment, Stakeholder, tiered assessment, sea-to-land transfer, radioecology
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Data and Information
Date made live:	11 Dec 2008 12:59 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5134

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.008

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > SE01B Sustainable Monitoring, Risk Assessment and Management of Chemicals > SE01.4 Monitoring and predicting the distribution of chemicals in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Shore

ISSN:

0265-931X

Additional Keywords:

sand dune, Sellafield, low-level waste repository, ionising radiation, non-human species, ERICA, risk assessment, Stakeholder, tiered assessment, sea-to-land transfer, radioecology

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Data and Information

Date made live:

11 Dec 2008 12:59 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5134

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