Collaboration network on Euroarctic environmental radiation protection and research (KO130)
Funded by Kolarctic ENPI 2007-2013

Objective of the project

The project had three main objectives: • Establishing a collaboration network in the EuroArctic region • Improving the cross-border cooperation between authorities, key research organizations and stakeholders in the project area • Increasing public awareness and knowledge with respect to nuclear safety, emergency preparedness and environmental radioactivity. Specific objectives of the project included: • Improving the cross-border exchange of knowledge and skills • Improving the techniques and problem understanding related to radiation protection and research • Facilitating cross-border movements between Finland, Norway and Russia • Improving emergency preparedness in involved countries • Improving risk assessments of potential nuclear accidents • Gaining more information about the environmental radioactivity, radionuclide concentrations, their behaviour and occurrence • Increasing the awareness and knowledge of general public and stakeholders across the region of nuclear technologies, emergency preparedness and environmental radioactivity, and the associated risks and challenges.

Main activities

WP1 Terrestrial environment 1. Comparison of field and laboratory procedures and monitoring of quality of measurements in Project Partner organisations in Finland, Norway and Russia. 2. Assessment of terrestrial radioactivity status in the Euro-Arctic region. 3. Dissemination of information on the terrestrial radioactivity status in the Euro-Arctic region in Finland, Norway and Russia among different beneficiaries and target groups as well as reporting outputs internationally. WP2 Marine environment 1. Assessment of the current levels of radioactivity in marine ecosystems of the Euro-Arctic area. 2. Reconstruction of dynamics of radioactive contamination in the arctic sea areas. 3. Mathematical modelling of radionuclide dispersion in the Barents Sea after hypothetical nuclear accidents in the Euro-Arctic area. WP3 Atmosphere The work package was divided into two parts: 1. Modelling of two nuclear accidents in the Euro-Arctic area and their consequences during one year period. 2. Experimental work, where weekly air filter samples were retrieved from the archives and analyzed in order to assess the acceptability of the modelling results. WP4 Social Impacts The WP was divided into two parts: 1. Assessment of social effects and impacts on local level on everyday life, daily routines and reindeer farming. 2. Assessment of impacts on tourism: tourism activities, functions and image issues. WP4 was connected to WP3 (Atmosphere), and it had to wait the atmospheric modeling from WP3 to start the risk assessments. WP5 Public Awareness Main activities of WP 5: • CEEPRA project’s website in 5 languages; • Seminars: 3 open seminars for general public and target groups in Finland, Norway and Russia; • Lectures and popular presentations on environmental radiation monitoring, status and cooperation in the Euro-Arctic region, radiation protection and radiation-related hazards have been given to students and pupils of schools in the region, as well as other target groups, in Rovaniemi, Pallas, Murmansk, Tromsø and Oulu in 2011–2014. • Information brochures in English for public and stakeholders • Final Public Report: a public-oriented report with the final results of the project in 5 languages (English, Finnish, North Sami, Norwegian and Russian). • Work Package reports • Several information activities with the media

Achievements

The project has published information regarding the occurrence of radioactive material in the Arctic environment and food chain, and studied long-term effects of potential nuclear accidents on the region’s indigenous population, reindeer husbandry, tourism and other industries. The project has also established contacts between various institutions, and this has enhanced the development of common strategies for emergency situations and routine monitoring.