Environment, Health and Safety (EHS)

General Objective

The general objective of the institute for Environment, Health and Safety is to contribute to the assurance of safety of man and environment in the context of civil applications of nuclear energy or ionising radiation.

SCK•CEN has the statutory assignment to perform, in priority, research related to nuclear safety, waste management, protection of man and environment, management of fissile and other strategic materials and societal implications of applications of nuclear energy. EHS is involved in all these research areas.

Through the performance of experiments, the development of models and the integration of human sciences in our R&D, new durable methods, computer codes and measuring instruments for radiation protection, management and disposal of radioactive waste and decommissioning of nuclear installations are proposed.

Strategic Priorities

Activities within EHS are grouped along seven major programme lines.

• Biological effects of low radiation doses for the developing organism and genetic sensitivity for ionising radiation

Radiobiological research aims at evaluating the potential risks of low doses of ionising radiation delivered to the organism with an important concern in the radiosensitivity of the developing mammalian organism and in the individual susceptibility to ionising radiation. It contributes to public health by providing the necessary scientific background for radiation protection, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.

We also study the behaviour of bacteria in extreme environments (space, Antarctic platform, heavily polluted soils) and we contribute to the use of bacteria for water and waste recycling and for oxygen and food production in the context of long-term space missions.

• Research for management of low-, medium- and high-level radioactive waste

The research related to management of low-, medium- and high-level waste deals with the evaluation and demonstration of the long-term safety of radioactive waste disposal facilities. Solutions for safe and durable deep or surface disposal of radioactive waste are developed and evaluated with respect to safety, technical feasibility and acceptance. It involves the study of the geochemical, thermal, hydraulic and geomechanic processes in the waste and the surrounding (engineered) barriers. The most important partner is NIRAS/ONDRAF.

For new, innovative reactors and reactor systems like MYRRHA and GEN-IV, potential waste streams in exploitation and decommissioning are considered.

• Research for protection of man and environment against ionising radiation

Radiation protection research at SCK•CEN deals with research and exposure assessment for routine and accidental releases, both from planned and existing exposure situations. We study the way that radioactive materials spread in the environment and the impact of ionising radiation on man and environment.

We are also involved in emergency planning and preparedness and give support to risk management and decision taking.

Medical imaging in radiology and nuclear medicine accounts for about half of the average annual effective dose for the Belgian population. We are currently involved in studies and projects on the estimation and optimisation of doses to patients and medical personnel.

• Safeguards

SCK•CEN has the statutory assignment to perform research related to the management of fissile and other strategic materials. SCK•CEN assists the Belgian authorities in this matter and is involved in the Belgian "Support programme" for the International Atomic Energy Authority. Research mainly concentrates on the development of non-destructive analyses. Safeguard aspects of potential nuclear terrorism, geological disposal of spent fuel and advanced nuclear systems like MYRRHA are also considered.

• Research on societal aspects of nuclear technology

The societal aspects of nuclear technology are investigated with emphasis on public participation in the decision process and public acceptance. Research is performed in the context of decision support to add to the transparency of decisions. Three major areas are researched: nuclear waste management, nuclear risks management and energy management.

• Site cleanup and environmental restoration

Site and environmental restoration concentrates on the decontamination and decommissioning of the SCK•CEN installations, like the BR3 reactor, and this in a safe and economic manner. Our expertise is also valorised in decommissioning of nuclear installations of third parties.

For certain radioactive waste types, chemical processes for decontamination are developed or improved.

• Measurements and calibrations

This programme involves the services and research related with measurements in the domain of EHS. It includes internal and external personal dosimetry, environmental dosimetry, low radioactivity measurements of biological and environmental samples, in situ contamination measurements, radon measurements, waste analysis and calibration of nuclear and non-nuclear quantities.

Analysis with gamma spectrometry is performed within ANS. Measurement laboratories give support to the SCK•CEN research programmes and to the government for the surveillance of the Belgian territory and in case of emergency, but they also perform analyses for third parties. Most analyses are performed under BELAC accreditation.

Organisation

The institute for Environment, Health and Safety is composed of 9 expert groups: 4 expert groups that have as main objective to perform the major part of the research programmes and 4 expert groups that, besides their research tasks within their domain, also perform services and maintain infrastructure for the other expert groups, the other institutes or external clients.

Institute Manager: Hardeman Frank
Deputy Institute Managers: Volckaert Geert, Vandenhove Hildegarde