Information Systems in Support of the Decision-Making Tools

Development and dissemination of the information technology throughout the world, as well as the convention potentials for rapid information exchange, primarily via Internet-based platforms, enable for rapid reporting, data collection, data analysis and situation-based decision-making. Such a workflow is especially important in management of rapidly developing emergencies, including NREs. IAEA has already established several such platforms and is intensively working on the improvements and upgrades of the existing ones, as well as on the development of new, sector-specific information platforms. This chapter gives information on the currently existing/developing IAEA platforms for management of NREs.

Management Options for Animal Production Systems: Which Ones to Choose in the Event of a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency?

If radionuclides are released into a rural area as a result of a nuclear or radiological emergency (NRE), statutory food restrictions will be issued for places where activity concentrations of one or more radionuclides exceed operational intervention levels (OILs) in foodstuffs. The areas subject to food restrictions may be large, and for some long-lived radionuclides, there is potential for a wide range of food production systems to be disrupted for many years, unless some form of intervention is undertaken. A large number of management options for use in contaminated intensive livestock production, backyard farms and free-ranging livestock have been developed, for application pre-deposition, through to the late phase. As each NRE will be different in terms of its radiological composition and impact on the food chain, it is not possible to establish a generic strategy. Consequently, handbooks for food production systems have been developed to guide decision-makers in the selection and combining of management options, to ensure radionuclides remain below OILs. The handbooks include a stepwise process to progressively evaluate options and eliminate those deemed unsuitable, ultimately providing a short list of options on which to base the recovery strategy.

Environmental Pathways of Radionuclides to Animal Products in Different Farming and Harvesting Systems

This chapter outlines the key environmental and metabolic pathways of radionuclides relevant for animals and animal products after NREs. The different methods used to quantify the transfer of radionuclides between relevant environmental pathways are also described. Detailed information is provided for the most important radionuclides that contaminate animals and animal products, namely radiocaesium, radioiodine and radiostrontium. Observed effects on agricultural and game animals after two NREs are also briefly described.

Preparedness and Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies in Animal Production Systems in the Context of IAEA Safety Standards

The IAEA has published Safety Standards and Scientific and Technical Publications to assist in developing an adequate level of preparedness and response for a NRE. This Chapter outlines and summarises the relevant content the Requirements and Safety Standards to assist the stakeholders in animal production systems to adequately prepare and respond to a NRE.

Measurement of Radioactivity

Three basic types of measuring instruments used for the purposes of radiation control and monitoring are spectrometers, radiometers and dosimeters (Gurachevsky 2010).

Correction to: Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies in Animal Production Systems, Preparedness, Response and Recovery

This book was inadvertently published with the incomplete affiliation of the Authors Ivancho Naletoski and Gerrit Viljoen, and the Foreword author Qu Liang. The correct affiliation is updated now as below:

Short Refresher of Radiobiology

The atoms are built up of a nucleus, containing positive (protons) and neutral (neutrons) particles, surrounded by negative particles (electrons), circulating around the “atomic orbit”. The number of the protons in the nucleus is giving the atomic number of the element (usually labelled as “Z”), and the sum of the neutrons and protons in the nucleus is giving the atomic or mass number of the element (usually labelled as “A”). The number in the electrons in the atomic orbit is always equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. However, as the mass of the electrons is almost equal to zero, they do not influence the whole atomic mass.

National Veterinary Services Roles and Responsibilities in Preparing for and Responding to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies

National Veterinary Services have a wide range of regulatory and operational responsibilities as directed by their respective countries including: animal health, animal welfare, food safety, zoonotic disease surveillance and control, import and export regulations, trade in livestock and livestock products, disaster management, and other functional areas. These services can utilize numerous guidelines and standards to prepare for and respond to nuclear and radiologic events. In addition to their national and regional guidelines, there are resources developed by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency, the World Organization for Animal Health and other entities to support disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response. National Veterinary Services can utilitze all these resources to effectively and effeciently respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies.