Radioactivity at Nuclear Sites (RADSITE)

Scientific Advisory Committee
Contact: R. Kirchmann (Belgium); Chair: Ph. Bourdeau (Belgium)

RADSITE, launched in 1998, was designed to provide a unique international scientific study and review of the radioactive wastes generated in the development of nuclear weapons, including their potential impact on the environment and human populations. The project brought together some 50 specialists, operating in teams from four branches: Europe (EU), Former Soviet Union (FSU), United States of America (USA), and China, India and Japan (Asia). The project was undertaken in conjunction with IUPAC, the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry.

The final report, available online and in CD-ROM format provides an integrated world-wide assessment of sources of radioactivity from military sites, subsequent and potential radionuclide releases into the environment, and associated potential risks to the environment and population health.

It is the latest in a series of SCOPE publications dealing with radioactive contamination of the environment resulting from the nuclear fuel cycle, starting with the 1985/1986 volumes on the ecological consequences of nuclear war (ENUWAR, SCOPE 28 I and II), followed by “Radioecology after Chernobyl” (RADPATH, SCOPE 50, 1993) and “Nuclear Test Explosions” (RADTEST, SCOPE 59, 1999).

While RADTEST addressed the environmental and human health impacts of nuclear weapons tests, RADSITE aimed to assess the potential risks to the health of local population groups and to the nearby environment due to the radioactive releases and wastes generated by the development and production of nuclear weapons. The study covers all phases of the production process, from uranium mining and milling to nuclear reactor operation, reprocessing for plutonium extraction, tritium plants, etc. Information was obtained for sites located in all first five nuclear weapons states: USA, UK, USSR (with East Germany), France and China.

Up-date 24 February 2006