RAD325 Experimental radioecology

The course provides students with in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with experimental methodology designed to determine speciation, mobility, transfer, exposure and biological effects of radionuclides, both in the lab and in the field.

Lectures cover radionuclide speciation methods, dosimetry including wildlife dosimetry, biological effects including radiosensitivity, multiple stressor effects, advanced analytical methods for exposure characterization (nano- and micro analytical techniques) and source identification (isotope fingerprinting), nuclear security and mitigation actions.

Laboratory exercises: Dynamic aquatic microcosm experiment with the use of radioactive tracers, sediments, water and biota to study speciation, mobility and biological uptake as a function of time. Sources and radioactive particles (electron microscopy). Autoradiography, characterisation of radioactive particles (electron microscopy, micro-XRF), size fractionation.

Knowledge: The student is expected to have an overview of radioecology and insight in how to identify sources of radionuclide contamination and how to determine radionuclide speciation, mobility and transport in various ecosystems, biological uptake, effects of ionizing radiation in humans and the environments as well as impact and consequence assessments and counter measure methodology associated with radioactive fallout. The students are expected to be able to objectively assess risks associated with ionising radiation from different sources.

Skills: The student is to be able to plan, execute and report on experimental radioecological studies which includes the use of tracer- and speciation techniques. The student is also to be able to assess adequate methods for determination of activity concentrations, source identification and speciation of radionuclides in environmental samples as well as performing dose calculations.

General competence: The student is to hold a competence that enables him/her to contribute to national nuclear preparedness and nuclear decommissioning activities with experimental approaches for assessing risks associated with the presence of radionuclide contamination in the environment.