AMAP - An international cooperation in far northern conditions Yuri Tsaturov - Roshydromet & Morten Sickel – Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority

Pathways for contaminants to the Arctic

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) An Integrated Circumpolar Monitoring Programme Members: Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, USA; 6 Arctic Indigenous Peoples Organizations. Observers: France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, UK; 24 International Organizations and NGOs. Media: Atmospheric, Terrestrial, Freshwater, Marine, and Human health. Documenting: Sources, Pathways, Levels, Bio- accumulation, Trends & Effects. Priorities: POPs, Metals, Oil, Acidification, Human Health; Climate and UV (ACIA), Radioactivity

AMAP’s geographical coverage

The AMAP monitoring and assessment programme An Assessment Strategy –Assessment Steering Committee. –Lead Countries, e.g. POPs Canada & Sweden. A Monitoring Programme –Specification of what to be sampled, methodologies for how to store, analyse and report. A QA/QC Programme Five Thematic Data Centres National Implementation Plans (NIPs), e.g. NCP Special projects e.g. the RAIPON/AMAP/GEF PTS project in Russia AMAP Project Directory (AMAP PD)

Main sources for past and present radioactive contamination of the Arctic Three major sources: –Fallout from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons –Routine releases from western European reprocessing plants –Fallout from the Chernobyl accident

Other sources of radioactive contamination –Dumping of nuclear waste in the Barents and Kara Seas –Nuclear weapons accident in Thule, Greenland –Local contamination from nuclear weapons tests at Novaya Zemlya –Reprocessing plants in the Urals and Siberia (e.g. Mayak) –Civilian use of nuclear explosions –Operation of military and civilian nuclear reactors –Waste handling and storage Local importance

137 Cs in Atmosphere, Finland

Radioactivity in reindeer

Average activity concentrations of 137 Cs in reindeer

Freshwater environment

Cs- 137 in products from NW Russia,

Discharges of 129 I to the marine environment (TBq/yr)

Present situation Regional scale –Generally, levels of radioactive contamination are mainly low and declining ”Semi” regional –Increasing levels of some radionuclides due to increased releases from European reprocessing plants Local –Some areas are seriously contaminated

Future situation Existing risk for new accident giving rise to local or regional concequences

So, where can AMAP go now? Use our knowledge and overview to support relevant activities

Avoiding new accidents

Remediate contaminated areas

Limit releases

Specifically Preparedness Prioritising Regulation Impact assessments Protection of the environment AMAP : Knowledge, established international cooperation Overall risk assessments Vulnerability assessments

Report on radioactivity issues Sources for radioactive contamination Radioactivity in the environment Vulnerability Doses to the population Protection of the environment from the effects of radiation Nuclear safety initiatives Potential accident scenarios

Plutonium in Sea water, 1995

Gamma dose 1 m above ground at Chernaya Inlet in 1964

Gamma dose 1 m above ground at Chernaya Inlet in 1977 (uSv/h)

239, 240 Pu activities in marine sediments at Thule

239,240 Pu in Sediments near Thule

239, 240 Pu in depth of sediments at Thule, Greenland

Kilder til radioaktiv forurensning Kjernekraftverket på Kola –Lager i Andreva Bay

Kilder til radioaktiv forurensning Gamle ubåter - Fyrlykter

Burning Nuclear submarine

Dumping sites for Nuclear waste

Estimated activity at time of dumping in the Kara Sea (TBq)

Naval bases

Intake of 137 Cs by selected groups (Bq/yr)

Cs in Reindeer meet, Sweden

Effects on humans due to fallout and Chernobyl 5 times higher exposure of the general population in the North compared to South; 50 – 100 times higher exposure of selected groups; 750 cases of fatal cancer due to fallout; Increased frequency of Thyroid cancer.

What are the combined effects due to exposure to: Radioactivity, Persistent Organic Pesticides (POPs), Heavy metals (mercury, lead & cadmium), UV, and the Climate change?

Potential risk and benefits connected with risk reduction action

Tomorrow’s threats: Radioactivity Radioactivity – Main concern is potential releases from existing sources and possible new activities IAEA is concerned with protecting man – but what about the environment?

Arctic reflects global processes some arctic peoples are among the most exposed Secure an Arctic network for monitoring and research of climate, UV and pollution Impact of climate and UV/ozone on humans, biota and contaminants Effect studies on biota and humans, especially combined effects Basic mechanisms for global and Arctic processes, feedbacks