IAEA Regional Workshop on the Implementation of the BSS

Kiev, Ukraine, 16 – 19 October 2012 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Member States presentations on topical areas

RADON

IN EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATIONS

(contribution by Montenegro)

S. Jovanovic

University of Montenegro

Centre for Nuclear Competence and Knowledge Management

Podgorica, Montenegro

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Montenegro is a small, developing, “non-nuclear” country:

14.000 km2, population 600.000, GDP 7.300 USD/year/capita

By the first article of its constitution,

it is also defined as “ecological state”

Both facts (“non-nuclear” and “ecological”)

accentuate relevance of exposure to natural

sources of radiation, radon in particular

Legal and regulatory infrastructure for

radiation protection in Montenegro

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is

regulatory body for radiation protection

There is a RP law and a number of basic

regulations

There is no regulation on radon, but its

development has been initiated

(should be completed in 2013)

Montenegro has submitted to the IAEA TC a

national project proposal on radon-in-soil

mapping

Radon distribution in soil is a prerequisite to

successfully applying international norms

and standards on exposure to radon

Project has passed concept phase and is

now in the design phase

Project has No.1 national priority in

2014-15 TC cycle

Montenegro has relatively good institutional,

technical and human capacity/potential to deal

with new BSS requirements on radon…

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –

regulator

Centre for Eco-toxicological Investigations (CETI)

– technical support organization

University Centre for Nuclear Competence and

Knowledge Management (UCNC) –

knowledge/education base

Ministry of Science – national focal point for

cooperation with international organizations in the

field (IAEA, EU-EURATOM, etc.)

PRIPYAT 2M

UCNC

Podgorica

Some references…

N. Antovic, P. Vukotic, S. K. Andrukhovich, A.V. Berestov, E.A. Rudak, S. Dapchevic:

“Radon measurement by coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry”, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 249/1 (2001) 159.

P. Vukotic, G.I. Borisov, V.V. Kuzmich, N. Antovic, S. Dapchevic, V.V. Uvarov, V.M. Kulakov: “Radioactivity on the Montenegrin Coast, Yugoslavia”, J. Radioanalyt. Nucl. Chem. 235 (1998), 151.

S.K. Andrukhovich, N.M. Antovic, A.V. Berestov, E.A. Rudak, A.M. Hilmanovich: “A method for determining the concentration of radon decay products using a coincidence gamma-spectrometer”, Instrum. Exp. Tech. 42/1 (1999) 111.

N. Antovic, P. Vukotic, R. Zekic, R. Svrkota, R. Ilic: “Indoor radon concentrations in urban settlements on the Montenegrin Coast”, Rad. Meas, 42 (2007) 1573.

N. Antovic, P. Vukotic, R. Zekic, R. Ilic: Indoor radon concentrations in the town of Niksic, Montenegro”, Rad. Protection Dosimetry 124/4 (2007) 385.

N. Antovic, N. Svrkota: “Measuring the radium-226 activity using a multidetector -ray coincidence spectrometer”, J. Environm. Radioactiv. 100 (2009), 823.

N. Antovic, N. Svrkota, P. Vukotic: “Thorium measurements by the six-crystal spectrometer PRIPYAT-2M”, Rad. Meas. 43 (2008), 1558.

Suggested roadmap:

Develop a national strategy for exposures to radon

Develop and promulgate regulation(s) on exposures to radon – both indoors and occupational

Harmonize the above with Law against smoking

Develop adequate education and training schemes/curricula

Complete radon-in-soil mapping project

Identify radon prone areas (possibly new IAEA TC project)

Nominate a responsible person for radon within regulatory body

Mitigation measures (plan and action)

Summary:

New BSS provisions on radon are for the most

part applicable in Montenegro

There is a solid institutional, technical and

human resource base for this

Yet, much has to be done, particularly on the

organizational and funding issues

Funding is the most serious challenge

Funding can be provided from taxes to be paid

for radon investigation on the locations for new

construction sites, particularly for housings and

public places

Comment/suggestion on the Draft New BSS:

Education is, in general, fundamental for the successful

application of BSS; training is meaningful only when superposed onto an adequate education

Education is extensively addressed in the document, which is good, but its significance, especially vs. training could be more accentuated

Member States are expected to ensure proper education and training, but no guidelines in this sense are provided

E.g. an example/template of B.Sc. and/or M.Sc BSS-related curriculum could be added

Also, role of universities could be mentioned/specified/elaborated in connection with education

Thank you!