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Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
The IAEA Director General and his team have been collecting water samples off the coast of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, with scientists from China, Korea and Switzerland, as part of additional measures to promote transparency and build trust in the region, during the ongoing release of ALPS-treated water from the plant.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. (Dean Calma/IAEA)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) today.
The activity is part of the additional measures established after China and Japan agreed to extend the sampling and testing of ALPS treated water which TEPCO – operator of the FDNPS – started to discharge in August 2023.
The IAEA agreed with Japan in September to implement additional measures to facilitate the broader participation from other stakeholder countries in the monitoring of ALPS-treated water.
“By welcoming countries to engage directly in sampling and analysis under the additional measures, Japan is increasing transparency, understanding, and trust, particularly in the region.” said Director General Grossi. “Through these efforts, third parties can independently verify that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards.”
During the sampling today, scientists from the Third Institute of Oceanography in China, the Korean Institute for Nuclear Safety in Republic of Korea and the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.
Director General Grossi collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.
The samples will be analysed by the IAEA laboratories in Monaco, by laboratories in Japan and in the participating laboratories from China, Korea and Switzerland, each members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, chosen to ensure a high level of proficiency and expert data.
“Additional measures focus on expanding international participation and transparency, allowing hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water,” said Director General Grossi. “This work is conducted within agreed parameters set by the IAEA in its role as an independent, impartial and technical organisation.”
Additionally, IAEA experts stationed at the Agency’s office at FDNPS conduct regular independent on-site analyses of the batches of treated water. The Agency has confirmed that the tritium level in the ten batches of ALPS treated water already released was far below Japan’s operational limit.
The IAEA initiated the first practical steps of the additional measures in October last year when Agency staff carried out marine sampling with international experts from China, Republic of Korea and Switzerland.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
An IAEA expert mission was deployed to Suva, Fiji, to support the recovery and transportation of radium-226 to the USA, where the sources will be used as a feedstock to produce actinium-225, an alpha-emitting isotope which is increasingly used in targeted cancer treatments. IAEA supports countries in managing legacy radium-226 sources under the IAEA’s Global Radium Management Initiative.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Ukrainian firefighters have been working around the clock in freezing weather to completely extinguish small fires that still smoulder after Friday’s drone strike on the building containing the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
The IAEA team based at the site was granted unrestricted access to the site of the explosion and conducted an extensive walkdown to assess the damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC), where the drone that struck early yesterday morning pierced a hole through the roof of the large arch-shaped structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor and protect it from external hazards.
The IAEA experts saw smoke coming from the NSC roof and smelled burning plastic.
The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fuelled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage to the NSC, which was completed in 2019 on top of the sarcophagus that was erected in the immediate aftermath of the accident nearly four decades ago.
Despite significant damage caused by the drone impact, the IAEA team was informed that there had been no change in the radiation levels at the site. This was also confirmed by the team’s own measurements which showed normal dose rate values near the NSC compared to those that the IAEA has recorded since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.
“This was clearly a very serious incident, with a drone hitting and damaging a large protective structure at a major nuclear site. As I have stated repeatedly during this devastating war, attacking a nuclear facility is an absolute no-go, it should never happen,” Director General Grossi said.
“It is especially concerning as it comes as we are also seeing an increase in military activity in the area around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to help prevent a nuclear accident. Judging by recent events, nuclear safety remains very much under threat,” he said.
During today’s walkdown at the NSC, the IAEA team members observed that a large area had been affected by the impact of the drone strike and the subsequent blaze. The team confirmed that both the outer and inner cladding of the NSC arch had been breached, causing a hole measuring approximately six metres in diameter and also damaging some equipment as well as electrical cables. However, the structural support beams did not appear to have suffered major damage.
The IAEA team was also shown some of the drone debris remaining at the site, including parts of the wings. The damaged drone had been removed by Ukrainian specialists and taken away for further analysis.
The team was informed that the plant plans to install additional sensors for measuring dose rates and aerosol concentrations near the area impacted by the drone. However, this task cannot be carried out until the remaining fires are totally eliminated to avoid damage to the sensors.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
A drone attack early this morning caused a fire on the building confining the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, a deeply concerning incident that underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
The IAEA team based at the site – who heard the explosion at 01:50am local time followed by smoke and associated fire visible from their dormitory rooms – were informed by Ukraine that a drone had struck the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a large structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor unit 4 and to protect it from any external hazard.
Fire safety personnel and vehicles arrived at the scene within minutes to extinguish the blaze, which still could be seen intermittently for several hours afterwards.
The IAEA team could see a breach of the outer layer of the NSC that occurred following the detonation. Supplementary information from Ukraine’s regulatory body received this morning confirmed that the outer cladding of the NSC arch sustained damage, and investigations are ongoing to determine the status of the inner cladding.
Radiation levels inside and outside the NSC building remain normal and stable, the IAEA team was informed. There were no reports of casualties.
Coming soon after a recent increase in military activity near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Director General Grossi said it once again demonstrated that nuclear safety remains under constant threat for as long as the conflict continues.
“There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert,” he said. “I once again call for maximum military restraint around Ukraine’s nuclear sites.”
The IAEA will provide further updates about the situation at Chornobyl as relevant information becomes available.
Following this week’s cancellation of a planned rotation of IAEA staff based at the ZNPP, Director General Grossi said he was in contact with both sides to ensure safe passage of the Agency teams as soon as possible. The IAEA has been present at the ZNPP since September 2022 to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security and help prevent an accident.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Members of the IRRS team visited and observed regulatory inspection activities at Thailand’s TRR-1/M1 research reactor in Bangkok. (Photo: Office of Atoms for Peace, Thailand)
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Thailand is committed to strengthening its national regulatory framework for safety. The team also identified some areas for further enhancements and encouraged the country to establish a national policy and strategy for safety, following a systematic and incremental approach to continuously improve the regulatory infrastructure.
The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which concluded on 14 February, was conducted at the request of the Government of Thailand and hosted by the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). It was the first IRRS mission conducted in the country. Last year, the IAEA completed an International Nuclear Security Advisory Service, Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for Research Reactors and Occupational Radiation Protection Appraisal Service.
Thailand does not have any nuclear power plants but uses radiation sources in medical, scientific and industrial applications. Thailand’s TRR-1/M1 research reactor has been in operation since 1977. The TRIGA Mark III reactor produces isotopes such as samarium-153, which is used in nuclear medicine, and functions as a neutron imaging facility in addition to serving as a key training centre. The Southeast Asian country is preparing to build on this experience and aims to construct two new research reactors.
The 12-day IRRS mission covered the legal framework for safety, regulatory processes, emergency preparedness and response, and the interfaces with nuclear security. IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, based on IAEA safety standards and international good practices, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.
The IRRS team – comprised of 15 regulatory experts from 14 countries, as well as three IAEA staff members – conducted interviews and discussions with OAP staff and representatives from the Department of Medical Science of the Ministry of Public Health. Members of the IRRS team also visited and observed regulatory inspection activities at the Thai Nampthip industrial facility, Bhumibol Hospital and two facilities at the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) – a radioactive waste management facility and the TRR-1/M1 research reactor.
“The team was very satisfied with the openness and the spirit of collaboration of the staff of the participating organizations,” said Joao Oliveira Martins, IRRS team leader and Director for Emergencies and Radiation Protection at Portugal’s Environmental Protection Agency. “The team has observed a strong commitment to nuclear and radiation safety, and there are also opportunities to further strengthen the regulatory framework, for example, in relation to medical exposure. I am confident that the mission’s recommendations will support the national authorities and will contribute to the continuous improvement efforts.”
The IRRS team observed that OAP should develop and keep updated a comprehensive human resource plan and should continue enhancing its management system by establishing processes needed for organizational management and to integrate the performance of all regulatory functions.
The team identified areas of good performances, including:
The team also provided recommendations and suggestions to help Thailand enhance its regulatory framework, including for the Government to:
“The recommendations and suggestions will be analysed carefully, and we will do our best to implement them and to achieve appropriate improvement in our national regulatory framework, infrastructure and activities for compliance with the IAEA’s standards and requirements,” said Pennapa Kanchana, OAP Deputy Secretary General.
“Thailand’s commitment to safety is well demonstrated by the proactive approach of the national authorities to enrich their competence for safety, drawing lessons from the experiences of experts from other countries through IAEA peer review and advisory services,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division on Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.
The IRRS team’s final report will be provided to the Government of Thailand in about three months.
IAEA Safety Standards
The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
The IAEA is helping Pakistan adapt to and mitigate climate change. With IAEA support, scientists at Pakistan’s Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology – a joint IAEA and Food and Agriculture Organization collaborating centre – have helped to strengthen food security in the country. They have developed climate resilient and more nutritious food crops, found ways of combatting soil salinization and developed more sustainable cotton varieties.
Summing up the role of nuclear science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals, Mr Grossi gave a keynote address at the National University of Science and Technology on Wednesday.
“The IAEA is helping Pakistan improve healthcare, soil, crops and nutrition – we’ll continuing delivering real impact,” he said.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Today’s scheduled rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team currently based at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was cancelled as a result of intense military activity in the region, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
Despite written assurances received from both sides that the planned rotation could take place safely, the situation proved to be too dangerous for the teams to continue and the mission was aborted.
“I deeply regret today’s cancellation of the carefully prepared and agreed rotation of our staff, who are carrying out vital work in very challenging circumstances to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict. It is completely unacceptable that the safety of our staff is jeopardised in this way,” Director General Grossi said.
“As a result of these extremely concerning events, I am in active consultation with both sides to guarantee the safety of our teams and to secure the continued presence of the IAEA at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to enable our staff to continue their indispensable mission, helping to maintain nuclear safety and security,” he said.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
An aquifer is a porous rock that is water bearing and from which water can be extracted (Infographic: Adriana Vargas/IAEA).
Groundwater accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s freshwater, making it an important resource for addressing current global issues, such as world population growth, agricultural intensification and increased water use in different sectors like oil and gas extraction and mining, apparel and textile manufacturing and livestock farming. To protect groundwater from the threats of overextraction and pollution, and to manage it sustainably for the future, it is essential to understand where groundwater in specific locations is originating from, what its quality is and how quickly it replenishes. Scientists can perform this kind of research by analyzing the water ‘fingerprints’ called “isotopes”, which are variations of atoms in the water molecule.
Groundwater is water found underground. It can be hidden in the cracks and spaces within rocks and sediments, forming an underground resource, hosted in what is known as an “aquifer”. Depending on the characteristics or the aquifer, groundwater can be extracted, using pumping wells, for irrigation, drinking and industrial water supply and other human activities.
Groundwater is part of the water cycle. Following rainfall, some water soaks into the soil and, driven by gravity, migrates downwards continuously through the subsoil and moves until it is eventually stopped by compact, impermeable rock, called an aquiclude. Many aquifers are connected to, and fed by, rivers and other surface water bodies, during the dry season. In the wet season, this system can be reversed with groundwater moving back into rivers and lakes and replenishing them.
Aquifers are an integral part of the water cycle, and their replenishment rate depends on rainfall, among other factors (Infographic: Adriana Vargas/IAEA).
The rate at which an aquifer is replenished depends on the climate and environment in the location where recharge is happening. Aquifers in an area of low rainfall might take centuries to get refilled. In contrast, shallow aquifers in an area of substantial rainfall may be replenished almost immediately. Thus, climate change, which results in more intense droughts, but also more intense localised rainfall, has an impact on how fast aquifers refill and, by extension, on how much groundwater people can use sustainably.
The intensive use of groundwater for human activities, such as agriculture and industry, at a scale that exceeds the speed at which aquifers refill, may put at risk not only the integrity of the aquifers, which risk collapse if they are drained, but also the global amount of water that people can use, because groundwater constitutes an important part of the world’s available freshwater.
Additionally, groundwater may not always be clean enough for human use. Human activities carried out on the surface, such as sewage disposal and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers, including animal manure, are among the main sources of contamination and pollution of groundwater. Knowing the origin of pollutants, therefore, is the first step toward addressing problems of water quality.
The water molecule is composed of atoms of oxygen and hydrogen. Some variations of the atoms of the same chemical element, called isotopes, can be used to study the water cycle, including groundwater.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
Different “isotopic” techniques are used to measure isotope amounts and proportions, and to trace their origin, history, sources and interactions in the environment.
Water has a different or unique isotopic “fingerprint”, or “isotopic signature”, depending on where it comes from. Scientists analyze isotopes to track the movement and pollution sources of water along its path through the water cycle.
Scientists use isotopes in large-scale studies on water, to assess its amount, age, and origins, and to establish whether the amount being used by people is sustainable.
For example, radioisotopes naturally present in groundwater, such as tritium, carbon-14, and noble gases helium-3, helium-4 and krypton-81, are used to learn more about how old groundwater is and the timescales of groundwater flow. By analyzing the concentration of different combinations of both stable and radio-isotopes, scientists can calculate when exactly the water is recharged in aquifers, how fast groundwater flows, and how long it takes to replenish. With this data, it is possible to establish, for example, whether or not agricultural activities in a specific area are demanding an amount of groundwater that will not be replenished fast enough to sustain irrigation needs in the long run.
By analyzing the isotopes in groundwater, scientists can establish how old the water is, and deduce how long it will take for an aquifer to recharge based on how much water is being pumped for human activities (Infographic: Adriana Vargas/IAEA).
Scientists use specific isotopes like nitrogen-15, oxygen-18, and sulfur-34 to identify pollutants such as nitrate and sulphates. They also use these isotopes to establish whether the groundwater in a specific location is safe for human use.
For example, scientists can establish whether water contaminated with an excessive amount of nitrate is being polluted by either human waste or by fertilizers. Nitrate ions are made up of nitrogen and oxygen, and nitrogen has two isotopes while oxygen has three. The ratio of these isotopes is different in human waste and in fertilizers. Therefore, the source of pollution can be identified based on these isotopic differences. Knowing the origins of pollutants is a milestone in addressing problems with water quality and working toward the sustainable management of water resources.
This article was first published on 22 March 2023.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
“This conference provides a unique platform to bring together stakeholders from across the EPR community to discuss best practices, future trends and new technologies to enhance emergency preparedness,” said Carlos Torres Vidal, Director of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre, which is organizing the event. “By fostering international cooperation and sharing insights, we aim to help countries bolster their emergency response capabilities in a rapidly changing world.”
“Saudi Arabia is privileged to host this significant conference, organized by the IAEA, as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness nationally, regionally, and globally. Over the years, we have worked closely with the IAEA to advance capabilities and foster international cooperation in this vital field,” said Khalid Aleissa, Chief Executive Officer of the NRRC.
“Through this conference, we aim to provide a platform for experts and decision-makers from all organizations involved in emergency response to collaborate, exchange insights, and shape the future of nuclear emergency preparedness and response, ensuring readiness for the challenges of an evolving world,” he added.
