Towards more effective soil remediation decision-making in response to large-scale nuclear emergencies

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

Although nuclear energy can be categorised as a safe and low-carbon energy source, two major accidents (Chornobyl, 1986 and Fukushima, 2011) demonstrated the large-scale impact it may have on people and the environment. While immediate response plans to nuclear accidents are well established, the complex and resource-intensive recovery phase needs more adequate (inter)national guidance and tools (OECD and NEA, 2022). Recovery is especially important for agricultural areas, where food production needs to return to normalcy. Within the PhD project, in collaborating with partners under CRP D1.50.19 (Remediation of Radioactive Contaminated Agricultural Land), we
contributed to the development of tools within a spatial decision support system (sDSS) to improve the post-accident decision-making process about where, how, and when to remediate agricultural land. A proof of concept for an sDSS was created called OREFA (Optimizing Remediation Efforts Affecting Food and Agriculture). The sDSS was tested on 2 sites, a hypothetical contamination in the Maarkebeek, Belgium and the Niida catchment in Japan.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)34-37
Number of pages4
JournalSoils Newsletters
Volume46
Issue number2
StatePublished - Jan 2024

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