The Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) was founded on a strong partnership between academia, research institutes and regulators, with the support of international collaborators. Our original key objectives were: 1) to perform fundamental long-term research to substantially improve the ability to accurately assess the radiological risks from environmental radioactivity also combined with other stressors; 2) to better address threats from natural and man-made nuclear or radiological sources; and 3) to provide the scientific basis for impact/risk assessments which underpin management of radiation risks. When CERAD was launched, the radiation protection community was dealing with the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Since then, new challenges have emerged including national requirements related to the decommissioning of Norway’s two research reactors, and new global nuclear threats linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While CERAD’s fundamental research goals still apply, their relevance and societal importance has expanded significantly over the past ten years.
CERAD’s research spans from sources of radioactivity and ionizing radiation, through transport and transfer of radionuclides in the environment, to effects of ionizing radiation on humans and wildlife, as well as risk assessment and social science studies. These are divided into four research areas:
RA1 Particle sources and effects: We have applied state-of-the-art characterisation methods (e.g., synchrotron XAS, nanotomography) in a series of lab experiments (daphnia, nematodes) demonstrating difference in uptake and effects of uranium and cerium nanoparticles and ions. Transport and dispersion models have been improved, and dosimetry estimates supported by field studies.
RA2 Dynamic ecosystem transfer: A series of laboratory and field studies (Norway, Chornobyl, Fukushima) studied the impacts of speciation, environmental conditions on transfer, and interactions with other contaminants, on radionuclide transfer. By linking toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics, extrapolation methods have been applied to provide surrogate values, such as the use of stable-element and taxonomic analogues and Bayesian statistics.
RA3 Biological responses: CERAD´s unique gamma irradiation facility and Biological Effect Toolbox, have been used a series of biotest experiments on different organisms (salmon, zebrafish, daphnia, nematodes, mice, plants), and mechanisms underpinning radiosensitivity. Gamma exposure and production of free radicals have been linked to biological responses such as transcriptomic changes, reproduction effects, and transgenerational and epigenetic effects of DNA methylation.
RA4 Risk assessments: The overall uncertainties associated with model predictions has been addressed by interfacing models from all RAs, and a series of adverse outcome pathway (AOP) models have been developed. We recognize that radiation protection needs to address socioeconomic impacts, risk communication, risk perception and stakeholder dialogue. Applications covered assessments of nuclear accidents, including the situation in Ukraine, and new challenges from the decommissioning of Norwegian research reactors.
The research collaboration instigated within CERAD has led to synergy between both partners and disciplines. We have improved transport and transfer models by incorporating information on source term speciation (MET, NMBU, DSA); our understanding of radiation effects, and underlying mechanisms has been augmented by contrasting impacts across different species and by comparison with other environmental stressors (NIPH, NIVA, NMBU); risk assessment of radionuclides has been strengthened by adapting approaches used for other contaminants, also enabling the impacts of radionuclides to be put into context (NIVA, NMBU).
About 80 part-time scientists, 30 PhDs, 25 PostDocs and 25 technical and administrative personnel have contributed to the objectives of CERAD. Our scientists have produced close to 300 academic articles, participated in all the key international arenas working in the area of radiation protection, and continue to hold a central role in EU research projects and platforms. The future importance of CERAD’s work is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that The Research Council of Norway has awarded 200 million kroner for a new national centre for nuclear research, led by UiO, in collaboration with IFE and NMBU. The ministry of education has put up 40 new student positions for nuclear studies, 20 of them being at NMBU. These initiatives are a solid affirmation of the importance of the field and the people working within. The competence and expertise built up through CERAD collaboration provides opportunities to consolidate and further develop these skills towards future challenges in nuclear science and technology.
CERADs research has significantly improved our ability to accurately assess the radiological impact and risks from environmental radioactivity. The importance of the research competence and expertise built up in CERAD over the past ten years, is perhaps most clearly demonstrated by a number of recent initiatives taken by the Norwegian government within the nuclear sector. CERAD’s work will continue within the new Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC), led by UiO, in collaboration with NMBU and IFE. This eight year project started in 2023, and also includes 40 new study places in nuclear sciences, split 50/50 between NMBU and UiO. In addition, a CERAD Knowledge Centre has been established at NMBU, funded by DSA (also through Norwegian Ministries) and including all CEARD partners. The aim of the centre is to maintain CERADs competence as a potential future technical support organization for DSA.
The scientific work carried by CERAD is of fundamental importance to both to Norwegian society and internationally. Specifically, CERAD research has had important impacts in three main areas of nuclear science: emergency preparedness, decommissioning and waste management and environmental impact assessment and risk management.
CERAD partners are key players in Norwegian nuclear preparedness, both as the leader of the Crisis Committee for Nuclear Preparedness (DSA) and as Committee advisors CERAD research is of key importance to understanding and mitigating radiological risks. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of our work on dispersion and transport modelling, which is particularly relevant for the preparedness phase of a nuclear emergency. MET has been constantly updating meteorological forecasts and running dispersion models of potential releases at Ukrainian facilities. Our work on the health and societal impacts of nuclear accidents, in particular through the SHAMISEN project has been taken in policy documents by the WHO, NEA and OECD.
Within decommissioning and waste management, CERADs research on advanced source characterisation, transport and transfer modelling, assessment of the environmental, health and societal impacts of radioactivity has led to our involvement in a series of international projects led by the IAEA. Our work on the environmental impacts of the Fukushima accident resulted in a white paper by UNSCEAR and studies on biological impacts ionizing radiation are being used to develop a series of adverse outcome pathway (AOP) models, in collaboration with the OECD. Our work on radon remediation resulted in the establishment of a citizen science project in Gjøvik, taking dissemination of CERAD research to a new level of stakeholder engagement. New projects started in 2023 will evaluate impacts of new nuclear threats, including armed conflicts, nuclear weapons and small modular reactors (SMR), showing that CERAD research will continue to have an important societal impact.
English version /2012:
The CERAD CoE will perform fundamental long term research to improve the ability to accurately assess the radiological risks from environmental radioactivity, also combined with other stressors. By focusing on key factors contributing to the uncertainties, CERAD represents a state-of-the-art research foundation for the advancement of tools and methods needed for better management of those risks. The scope includes man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides that were released in the past, those presently released as well as those that potentially can be released in the future from the nuclear fuel cycle and non-nuclear industries. Using an ecosystem based scientific approach, CERAD focuses on:
1)Source term: to characterize radionuclid es released from different sources and different release scenarios with respect to physico-chemical forms, and to use such information to identify the implications for further environmental transfer.
2)Ecosystem transfer: to specify how speciation, other contaminants and temperature and climate conditions influence radionuclide transfer through ecosystems in a Nordic context, and to replace equilibrium transfer constants with time and temperature dependent functions.
3)Biological effects: to identify re sponses induced in biota exposed to medium to low radiation doses, in combination with other stressors such as UV radiation and heavy metals under varying temperature and climate conditions.
4)Impact and risk assessment: to integrate knowledge gained on source terms and release scenarios, ecosystem transfer and biological responses to reduce the overall uncertainties in assessment models, and to provide focussed improvements in radiological impact assessments by implementing socioeconomic and ethical asp ects.
CERAD will be established by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in partnership with the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, with support of 4 Norwegian research institutions and the international CERAD network.
Summary CERAD 2015
CERAD is established to perform long-term basic research to improve the assessment of radiological risks from environmental radioactivity combined with other stressors. By focusing on key factors contributing to uncertainties, CERAD represents a state-of-the-art research foundation for the advancement of tools and methods needed for better management of those risks. Using an ecosystem based scientific approach the strategic agenda focuses on source term and release scenarios associated with man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides, transfer of radionuclides in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, uptake and responses in exposed organisms to assess overall environmental impact and risks. Based on field work/visits in many countries and model experiments, different models - from sources to impact - are coupled to identify factors contributing to uncertainties. Many experiments have been performed at the unique NMBU low dose gamma facility to link exposure to biological responses using advanced technology. To compare responses in exposed organisms (i.e., salmon, zebrafish, daphnia, nematodes, earthworm, mice, plants) a biomarker toolbox is developed. Low dose gamma exposure affects sensitive endpoints (e.g., deformation, reproduction, transgenerational effects) of ecological relevance. To CERAD are linked 18 PhDs/Postdocs and ca 50 part-time scientists. Ca 78 articles are published in peer review journals since 2013, including contributions to the UNSCEAR “Fukushima-Daiichi environmental impact assessment”, a White paper to the UN General Assembly, and the IAEA's Rapport «The Fukushima Daiichi Accident”. The ESRF News July 2015 selected the CERAD nanobeam synchrotron image of nanoparticles retained within a nematode as the “Beauty of Science”; at high nanoparticle concentrations reproduction failure occurred. CERAD is partner in 12 EC projects and has a wide international network. The CERAD director received the 4th IUR Vernadsky award 2014.
Norwegian version/2012:
CERAD Centre for Environmental Radioactivity
CERAD Senter for radioaktivitet, mennesker og miljø
CERAD SFF skal utføre grunnleggende langsiktig forskning og utvikle «state-of-the-art» verktøy og metoder for å beskytte mennesker og miljø fra stråling, også kom binert med andre stressfaktorer. CERAD skal styrke vår evne til å vurdere konsekvenser og risiki knyttet til stråling, ved å fokusere på faktorer som bidrar vesentlig til usikkerhet. Forskningen inkluderer både menneskeskapte og naturlige radionuklider som i dag finnes i miljøet, og vil samtidig fokusere på kilder knyttet til nukleære og ikke-nukleære virksomheter som potensielt kan bidra til utslipp av radionuklider i fremtiden. Ved å benytte en økosystembasert vitenskapelig tilnærming, vil CERAD særlig fokuserer på:
1) Kilder og utslipp: Karakterisere radionuklider som slippes ut fra ulike kilder under ulike utslippsforhold med hensyn på fysisk-kjemiske tilstandsformer, og benytt
