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The Federal Office of Radiation Protection (BfS) participates in
research projects which are initiated and funded by third parties.
These are mostly projects of the European Union.
BfS is the National Contact Point for the EU framework programme. Here,
BfS provides advice to other working groups in Germany who want to
participate in research projects of the EU in the area of radiation
protection.
Examples of third-party funded research:
Radon Prevention
and Remediation (RADPAR)
The aim of
the EU project "Radon Prevention
and Remediation" (RADPAR) is the
identification of strategies to reduce
the public health burden due to radon exposure in dwellings. Radon is a naturally occurring
radioactive noble gas, which can penetrate through the ground into buildings
and lead to lung cancer. The main objective of the project is to improve the
European wide information exchange and to develop regional specific solutions. An
important source for the project work is the WHO Radon-Handbook.
A major project
focus is risk communication. Within
this part of the project means for the dissemination of information about radon
as well as of appropriate radon
prevention and remediation strategies will be developed. Important components are the existing
information available at BfS about radon. The cost-effectiveness of a range of possible radon
prevention and remediation strategies will be further evaluated through environmental
and health economic studies.
Other
objectives of this project are the assessment
of the significance of the health burden of radon to the EU population on
basis of existing knowledge about the relationship between radon and lung
cancer, the standardization of measurement procedures for radon sources and control technologies as well as the development of recommendations for radon mitigation
in buildings.
ORAMED, Optimisation of RAdiation Protection for MEDical Staff
is a research project within the 7th EU Framework Programme “Euratom Programme for Nuclear Research and Training”.
The main goal of the project is to improve radiation protection standards for medical staff for procedures resulting in potentially high exposures, e.g. in interventional radiology and nuclear medical therapy. This general objective will be achieved within five working packages (WP):
1: Measurement and calculation of extremity and eye lens doses in interventional radiology.
2: Development of practical eye lens dosimetry in interventional radiology.
3: Optimization of active personal dosemeters in interventional radiology.
4: Improvements in extremity dosimetry in nuclear medicine, with special emphasis for PET applications and nuclear medicine therapy.
5: Knowledge dissemination and training.
A consortium of 12 partners from 9 European countries, including research institutes, metrology laboratories, regulatory bodies, hospitals and dosemeter manufacturers is in charge of developing the project. The project ORAMED (http://www.oramed-fp7.eu)was launched in March 2008 and has a duration of three years. BfS is mainly involved in WP 4 and 5, where long lasting expertise is available in this field.
The European Radiobiological Archives (ERA)
Previously, animal experiments were performed to a far larger extent
than nowadays. Animal
experiments to the extent previously carried out will probably not be
possible in the future, for both economical and ethical reasons.
However, the possibility to analyse the original data with new
technologies can be of great value. In the middle of the eighties, a project was initiated
by the EU to compile the data of the various experiments in order to
have this information ready for further evaluations: the European Radiobiological Archives (ERA).
Similar projects were initiated in the USA and Japan. The three
archives include data from nearly all radiobiological animal
experiments carried out between 1960 and 1998 in Europe, the USA and
Japan. ERA alone comprises 122 studies of 19 laboratories. BfS co-ordinates a project which is
to provide interested scientists with easy access to the available
archives and to allow a best possible linking with the two other
archives.
Towards a European Network of Excellence in Biological Dosimetry (TENEB)
http://www.teneb.eu/
Subsequent to a large-scale radiation accident or a terrorist attack with radiation sources or radioactive material, a substantial number of persons could have been exposed to ionising radiation. In order to provide optimal medical care to the exposed individuals and to identify non-irradiated persons a reliable dose reconstruction is of utmost importance. This can be realized by several measures within the emergency management system. In addition to the medical emergency treatment and to physical dose assessment biological dose reconstruction can contribute to an adequate individual care. To meet the requirements of biological dosimetry after an accident with a large number of potentially exposed persons it is necessary to integrate the resources of several specialised biological dosimetry laboratories in Europe, since the capacity of a single laboratory is not sufficient and quick results are needed.
As part of the research project TENEB a pan-European survey of existing resources in the member states was conducted. 18 of the 27 EU member states confirmed the need for the provision of biological dosimetry; 15 states have already established operational laboratories for biological dosimetry. In total 24 laboratories have the capability to perform biological dosimetry; they have expressed their interest in creating a network of excellence. This kind of network is also favourised by 18 leading European radiation protection organizations, which signed corresponding letters of intent for a sustainable integration of research in the field of biological dosimetry. These statements together with the long term expertise and the integration of the laboratories in their national structures makes it highly probable that a network will be sustained beyond the period when EC funding has ceased.
Western Balkan NORM-regulationsAs part of a German consortium, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) worked on the assignment “Western Balkan NORM regulations” set by the European Commission.
The existing regulations in the seven western Balkan states were analyzed and compared to European standards. At the same time, selected industrial sites were inspected and samples were taken and evaluated.
Based on the results, assistance for the creation of the appropriate national legislation was given. The long-term goal is the implementation of European basic standards (title VII) in the field of NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) in these prospective EU accession countries.
Western Balkan Monitoring
With EU research project “Western Balkan Monitoring”, the needs and proposed actions in order to perform the monitoring of the radioactivity into the environment in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo (as defined by UNSCR 1244), Montenegro, and Serbia are evaluated with respect to the Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty.
In an international tendering procedure, the EU has assigned the lead management of the research project “Western Balkan Monitoring” to BfS. The task is to inspect and analyse the status of environmental radioactivity monitoring in the seven western Balkan countries and to give recommendations on how to improve the monitoring in the individual countries. Cooperation partner is ENCONET Consulting GmbH in Vienna.
In detail, existing monitoring and sampling programmes for environmental radioactivity monitoring in the areas air, water, soil, GDR, and food, and the corresponding legal regulations in the different countries are to be discussed. This is connected with an evaluation of the existing technical infrastructure with regard to measuring systems, sampling systems, and laboratory capacities. The long-term aim is to modernise in future the existing installations and structures for the monitoring of environmental radioactivity in the western Balkan countries to the extent that they are in compliance with the EU standard according to Article 35 of the EURATOM Treaty and enable a participation in the EURDEP data exchange of the EU countries.
The EU project has the official title “Evaluation of Necessities and Proposal of Measures in order to perform the monitoring of the radioactivity into the environment in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and the former counties of the Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo (according to UNSCR 1244), Montenegro, and Serbia”. The project starts on February 15, 2009; project duration will be 12 months.
INTAMAP
The aim of INTAMAP is the Development and Realisation of Strategies to Harmonise and Interpolate Environmental Measuring Data Using the Example of gamma dose rate Data Collected EU-wide. Furthermore, Automated Evaluation and Representation Methods on the Basis of Open Source Software and Standardised Service Architecture shall be implemented.
The project is coordinated by the Muenster University. Apart from BfS, other partners are Utrecht University, Wageningen University, Crete Technical University, Aston University, Klagenfurt University, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, and Keynetix Ltd.
Within the scope of the research project, generically applicable algorithms are developed for the harmonisation and spatial interpolation of environmental measuring data. Interpolation here means mathematical procedures to calculate phenomena at places for which no information is available on the basis of known measuring values at neighbouring places.
On the basis of European ambient dose rate measuring networks data of the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP), corresponding procedures for the automated evaluation and extensive display of data are being developed. The developed algorithms are available free of licensing fees. At the same time they are implemented as generic services in the form of a standardised WebService and are, thus, made accessible to the public.
The quality of the algorithms is analysed and optimised with the help of numerous radiological scenarios taking into account both natural and artificial extreme events.
NETWORKS:
Sustaining access to Tissues and data
frOm Radiobiological Experiments
The STORE project is a Support Action funded by the European Commission under the 7th EURATOM Framework Programme. The project is addressed in the work programme topic: Fission-2008-3.1.1: Databases and Tissue Banks.
The consortium consists of 8 partners from 5 countries and is coordinated by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Germany. The project coordinator is Dr B. Grosche.
The project started in April 2009 and has a duration of three years.
The main goal of the project is to create a platform for the storage and dissemination of both data and biological materials from past, present and future radiobiological research.
This platform will consist of a “Data Warehouse” – including a virtual archive – and a physical repository that will enable sharing experimental data sets and material. STORE will provide a single portal to radiobiological information that is presently distributed over scientific centres worldwide. STORE will provide the necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the evaluation of archived tissue useability. The project will be completed by an assessment of viable financial models for long term support of a bioresource and Data Warehouse for radiobiology.
ENETRAP (European Network on Education and Training in Radiation Protection) Part II |
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Everywhere in Europe, a decrease in radiation protection competency can be observed, since experienced experts retire and young people do no longer consider this field to be their intended career. New initiatives are to counteract this development. It is intended to concentrate the available resources through a “Europeanisation” of those parts of training and education that are not bound to national regulations.
The ENETRAP project (ENETRAP = European Network on Education and Training in Radiation Protection) in which BfS was in charge of one work package, was discontinued at the end of 2007, after it had successfully developed and had shown good results such as the establishment of a study course “European Master in Radiation Protection”. It had become apparent during the course of the project that a number of important issues needed further investigation. Therefore representatives of large European radiation protection authorities or, respectively, research and training centres from Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, and Romania, submitted a proposal for further improvement of education and training in radiation protection in Europe within the scope of the RP7: the ENETRAP II project.
The generic objectives of this initiative are:
- Further improvement of the high safety level in the handling of radioactive materials and radiation sources in all EU countries through harmonisation of education and training measures in radiation protection;
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Europe-wide standardised implementation of the EU safety standards in radiation protection;
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Support of the acceding countries with respect to the building of competence or, respectively, to the preservation of competence in radiation protection.
These objectives are achieved through further expanding the European education and training network and performing competence-preserving measures such as joint training activities in modular form and with varying venues, new ways to communicate knowledge (such as e-learning) and to standardise contents.
The following work packages of the ENETRAP II project contribute to further harmonising education and training in radiation protection in Europe:
WP1 Coordination of the project.
WP2 Define requirements and methodology for recognition of RPEs.
WP3 Define requirements for RPO competencies and establish reference standards for RPO training.
WP4 Establish the reference standard for RPE training.
WP5 Develop and apply mechanisms for the evaluation of training material, events and providers.
WP6 Create a database of training events and training providers (including OJT) conforming to the agreed standard.
WP7 Develop some course material examples (text book, e-learning modules.
WP8 Organise pilot sessions, test proposed methodologies and monitor the training scheme effectiveness.
WP9 Introduction of the training passport and mutual recognition system of RPEs.
WP10 Bringing together initiatives to attract young researchers.
European ALARA Network (EAN)
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The European ALARA Network (EAN) aims at optimising practical radiation protection through integrating the know-how of European radiation protection authorities, users in industry, medicine, research and teaching, and of national radiation protection associations and international organisations.
The objectives of the EAN are:
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Preservation, improvement, and further development of the competency in radiation protection, the focus being on the implementation of the ALARA principle for radiation exposures in the occupational and medical field as well as for radiation protection in the population in routine operation and in cases of emergency.
- Harmonisation of radiation protection with respect to ALARA both on the level of legal regulations and on the operational level in the European countries.
- Integration of the expertise in radiation protection that is available in the European countries and effective cooperation of experts in the field of optimisation.
- Inclusion of all types of radiation applications in the various fields of industry, research, and medicine, and handling of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).
- Treatment of radiation protection topics that are of equal importance to all radiation protection fields as well as of special topics for one or several fields.
The objectives are oriented towards the necessities of the practical implementation of the optimisation principle at the national and the European level.
The EAN regularly conducts workshops on current radiation protection topics and publishes the ALARA newsletter twice per year.
Further information can be found on the EAN homepage.
 European approach to nuclear and radiological emergency management and rehabilitation strategies (EURANOS)
The EU research project EURANOS
was finished on June 30, 2009 after more than 5 years of work. More than 50 organisations in Europe working in the field of radiological emergency management have contributed to this project, BfS was one of the main partners in the project (e.g. member of the management committee). Main achievement of this projects are:
- comprehensive handbooks and compendia about measures to reduce the exposure after a radiological emergency in inhabited and agricultural areas
- essential improvement of the operational applicability of the RODOS system (e.g. a completely redesigned version, which will replace the version currently being in use in the RODOS centre at BfS)
- new and tested concept for stakeholder involvement in planning and management of radiological and nuclear emergencies
As a follow-up of the project the cooperation within the international RODOS Users Group (which is being chaired by the BfS) will be continued. A new EU call has been launched recently with the title "European Platform for radiological and nuclear emergency preparedness and management", with this call the EU intends to continue the successful European cooperation in the area of radiological emergency management.
European Radiation Dosimetry Group
It is the aim of EURADOS, to support the scientific understanding and the technical development of methods of dosimetry of ionising radiation in the fields of radiation protection, radio-biology, radio-therapy, and medical diagnostics. This is achieved by cooperation between European institutions, especially from EU countries.
BfS is involved in dose assessment for persons occupied in the medical field and in the "Internal Dosimetry” working group.
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