Ethics Guidelines
Part B - Guidelines for Projects Involving Ionising Radiation
Section 7 - Environmental Considerations
7.1 This section applies to situations where unsealed radionuclides are inevitably released to the environment as part of the experimental procedure. This will usually be by the pathways of exhalation and excretion of radionuclides by animals to which radionuclides have been administered. However, it also applies to a more limited extent in cases where there is a potential for contamination of the environment through taking unsealed radionuclides into the field, even though the experiments will not automatically result in release of radionuclides to the environment.
7.2 A report on release of radioisotopes to the environment shall be prepared and completed at the end of operations associated with the expedition. Completion of the report may have to wait on results of testing carried out in Australia, using samples collected from the area in question. Reports on unintended releases shall be prepared as soon as practicable and shall not be deferred.
7.3 The report shall include a map of the location of operations and should show the estimated areas, and corresponding amounts, of release of radionuclides. Photographs of prominent landmarks may be a useful aid to identifying the areas in question.
7.4 The report is required for the long-term information base of releases to the environment arising from field programs using radionuclides. Assessments of the amount and location of radioactive release should be best estimates and the assumptions used to arrive at those estimates shall be stated.
(ASP&C)
May 2002
Next Chapter
Return to Table of Contents
 |