Radioecology and our future Radioecology’s contribution to preserving ecosystem health

1. Mount Ste Victoire, Aix en Provence, France Radioecology and our future Radioecology’s contribution to preserving ecosystem health François Bréchignac International Union of Radioecology Congressional Briefings, Washington DC, USA, 6 October 2016

2. Today’s global environmental issues • Climatechangeimpacts: Indirectimpact on human prosperityandlife via temperatureriseanditsconsequences (morefloods, moredroughts, morefires, … more extreme climaticevents) • Biodiversitydecline: onepillarofecosystemstructure (linkedtothesustainabilityofecosystemfunctionsandservices) • Stressors‘ deleteriousimpacton man andthebiosphere (endocrinedisruptors, pesticides, …, radionuclides)

3. Role of Radioecology • Radionuclidestoday‘sgeneralcontext: • Nuclearactivitiesexpandtrhoughouttheworld (so do theassociatedrisks) • Legacy wastesaccumulate in manyplacesworldwide (in moreorlesssafeconditions…) • Severeaccidentsspreadingradioactivityover large areascannolongerbeexcluded (unabilitytoclearlydemonstratewhatistheriskpromotesfearsand sterile attitudeswithrespecttotechnologydevelopment & innovation) • Radiation impacthasbecome a global environmental issuethatdefinesRadioecology‘srole • „Ensuringthesustainabledevelopmentofnuclearactivitieswithrespectto man, theenvironmentandfuturegenerations“

4. Facing a major concern • 1950s-1990s - Four decades of growth for Radioecology in parallel to nuclear industry development • Start 2000s – Drastic reduction in some countries (USA), fragmentation or even abandon in Europe… some argued that everything is known and risk mastered • Meanwhile – Ongoing large geographical redistribution of new nuclear facilities around the world, often with no/limited expertise to deal with environmental risk • Accidents cannot be precluded – When radioactive contamination spreads, it is not expected to be confined to the nuclearized countries’ territories only… • “Wordlwide expertise must be maintained • to have the operational capacity of facing risk”

5. Is everythingknown ? Obviously not..., as interpretations still diverge...

6. Why no consensus on ecological impact ? • Radioecology supporting man radioprotection is largely advanced (transfers) • Radioecology supporting environmental protection (effects on populations of fauna and flora) only starts to be addressed at the right level (ecosystem)

7. Field/lab communities look at different objects, use different inference strategies Biological impact of radiation (today for man, biota) Ecological impact of radiation (tomorrow for ecosystems) Nested system (homeostatic stability) Network of species interactions (submitted to abiotic variability) Producers Consumers Pop. 1 Pop. A IndividualOrganisms Organs Molecules Ecosystem Pop. a External abiotic environment (air – water - soil/sediment) Decomposers

8. Ecosystem science is needed to meet environmental protection objectives Biological impact of radiation (today for man, biota) Ecological impact of radiation (tomorrow for ecosystems) Nested system (homeostatic stability) Network of species interactions (submitted to abiotic variability) Objectives of protection are here Producers Consumers Pop. 1 Pop. A IndividualOrganisms Organs Molecules Pop. a External abiotic environment (air – water - soil/sediment) Decomposers

9. International Union of Radioecology works at strengthening the Radioecology community • A non-political, non-profit Knowing Society dedicated to the worldwide development of Radioecology • Founded in the 70s as an International Association (registered in Belgium) • More than 1500 registered members (624 active members), worldwide (68 countries) • Works essentially as a Think Tank (not a funding agency) Countries > 10 members

10. IUR promotes networking • To liaise all radioecologicaloutputs with other relevant international organizations, whether focused on science, operational radioecology, or regulation for radiation protection • “Wordlwide expertise must be maintained • to have the operational capacity of facing risk” • Signature of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (USA -> NCoRE) • Launch of the Forum for appropriate worldwide harmonization of networks activities (liaison with UNSCEAR, IAEA, ICRP,…)

11. IUR promotes information, publication,... • To perpetuate and strengthen its 38 years old network of scientists and professionals for the benefit of all members and civil society (Website: www.iur-uir.org)

12. IUR promotesteaching and training • To ensure, stimulate and maintain high level radioecological expertise capacity throughout the world to secure the safe development of nuclear based technologies and the public awareness and acceptance • Only one University Master in Radioecology left (based in Europe with particular involvement of Norway and France) • The oldest University degree in Radioecology was based in USA !! Nothing is left, although nuclear activities in USA continue to go on… • IUR sponsors students for travels/works/participation in conferences/ • workshops/summer schools/field work… Training the future generation of radioecologists is crucial to ensure sustainable expertise

13. IUR promotes brainstorming • Task Groups to promote scientific innovation, identify research priorities and stimulate the co-construction of international programs, sharing resources and research infrastructures

14. AXE 2 STOCKAGE DECHETS ECOSYSTEM Fauna Flora IUR promotes brainstorming Transfers In abiotic compartments Within the human food chain Within biota trophic networks ATMOPHERE Source term Speciation, mobility, bioavailability AXE 2 STOCKAGE DECHETS Effects (On man) On biota, ecosystems BIOSPHERE Releases (normal, accidental) TNORMs Life support Services Risk assessment Human risk assessment Ecological risk assessment Waste in deep geological repository GEOSPHERE Scientific approaches Experimental designs, models, field investigations Tracer studies Biogeochemical cycles, streams, run-off…

15. Sources ANIMALS PLANTS IUR promotes a strategic evolution towards building an ecocentric vision for radioecology Biocentric Ecocentric Anthropocentric Long historical domination of radionuclides transfer to support human radioprotection purposes Air Soil Sediment Environment Man Water

16. Sources ANIMALS PLANTS IUR builds an ecocentric vision for radioecology Biocentric Ecocentric Anthropocentric Move to effects on animals and plants: Current « Reference organism approach » for risk assessment (protection at individual organism level) Air Soil Sediment Environment A big mismatch: Because the protection goals sit at population and ecosystem levels Man Water

17. Oxygen Biomass Water Minerals Water CO2 Biomass Waste CO2 IUR builds an ecocentric vision for radioecology Ecocentric Biocentric Anthropocentric Focus on effects on ecosystems to support real ecological risk assessment Including species interactions that provide ecosystem services and life support functions PRODUCERS CONSUMERS Man DECOMPOSERS

18. Radioecologyneeds to addressecosystemhealthto achieveenvironmental protection • Life complexity (biodiversity and advanced species like man) has emerged through ecosystems featuring interactions between species that are essential • Effects on individuals cannot be extrapolated to populations and ecosystems (species interactions lacking) • No species can survive in isolation from others (except chemiotrophic microorganisms…) • Environmental protection most usually means protection of ecosystems and their functionalities Ecosystem science is central to designing the required ecosystem approaches

19. Thank you for your attention Questions ?