Browsing by Author "Blackley, R"

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    APRS2017 conference handbook, "Science and the art of radiation protection broadening the horizon"
    (Australasian Radiation Protection Society, 2017-08-06) Willetts, N; Bartolo, B; Blackley, R; Bus, J; Caldwell, A; Jeffries, C; Paneras, T; Popp, A
    On behalf of the organising committee and the New South Wales branch, I welcome all members of ARPS, radiation safety professionals, enthusiasts, students, supporting suppliers, businesses and related industries to the 42nd Annual Conference of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society. With the theme “Science and the Art of Radiation Protection: Broadening the Horizon” the conference aims to enrich our understanding of non-ionising and ionising radiation, highlight the importance of effective communication and stakeholder involvement, showcase new technologies, and generate discussion across a broad range of radiation protection aspects from ethics to environment to industry. We extend an invitation for you to enjoy the conference, with a program that kicks off with a cosmic welcome at the Science Centre & Planetarium, two very different breakfast workshops — one on the role of the laser safety officer and another on the requirements and implementation of RPS8: The Code of Practice for the Exposure of Humans to Ionizing Radiation for Research Purposes—an interactive panel session on communicating radiation risk to various audiences, and a full day non-ionising radiation stream that concludes with an opportunity for robust discussion in a Q&A panel session. To top it all off, our program includes six international Keynote Presenters and Invited Speakers, and the Boyce Worthley Oration given this year by George Anastas. The organising committee encourages you to partake in the wonderful selection of both business and social aspects of the 42nd ARPS Conference. We welcome you and look forward to your participation in ARPS 2017, and we hope you enjoy your time in Wollongong.
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    Cave radon exposure, dose, dynamics and mitigation
    (National Speleological Society, 2021-03) Waring, CL; Hankin, SI; Solomon, SB; Long, S; Yule, A; Blackley, R; Werczynski, S; Baker, AC
    Many caves around the world have very high concentrations of naturally occurring 222Rn that may vary dramatically with seasonal and diurnal patterns. For most caves with a variable seasonal or diurnal pattern, 222Rn concentration is driven by bi-directional convective ventilation, which responds to external temperature contrast with cave temperature. Cavers and cave workers exposed to high 222Rn have an increased risk of contracting lung cancer. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has re-evaluated its estimates of lung cancer risk from inhalation of radon progeny (ICRP 115) and for cave workers the risk may now (ICRP 137) be 4–6 times higher than previously recognized. Cave Guides working underground in caves with annual average 222Rn activity > 1,000 Bq m⁻3 and default ICRP assumptions (2,000 workplace hours per year, equilibrium factor F ₌ 0.4, dose conversion factor DCF ₌ 14 µSv (kBq h m⁻3)⁻1 could now receive a dose of > 20 mSv y₋1 . Using multiple gas tracers (δ13C-CO2, Rn and N2O), linked weather, source gas flux chambers, and convective air flow measurements a previous study unequivocally identified the external soil above Chifley Cave as the source of cave 222Rn. If the source of 222Rn is external to the cave, a strategy to lower cave 222Rn by passively decreasing summer pattern convective ventilation, which draws 222Rn into caves, is possible without harming the cave environment. A small net annual average temperature difference (warmer cave air) due to geothermal heat flux produces a large net annual volumetric air flow bias (2–5:1) favoring a winter ventilation pattern that flushes Rn from caves with ambient air. Rapid anthropogenic climate change over decades may heat the average annual external temperature relative to the cave temperature that is stabilized by the thermal inertia of the large rock mass. Relative external temperature increases due to climate change (Jenolan Caves, 2008–2018, 0.17°C) reduces the winter pattern air flow bias and increases Rn concentration in caves. © The Authors
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    Little Forest legacy site - technical report : dose rate estimates to humans and wildlife for a range of potential future scenarios
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2020-03-10) Johansen, MP; Payne, TE; Comarmond, MJ; Harrison, JJ; Blackley, R; Kabir, A
    Purpose The objective of this report is to describe the human and wildlife dose-modelling used to compare various potential management options for the Little Forest Legacy Site (LFLS). Scope This work aligns with international standards and guidance which are primarily set forth in a series of documents published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna (IAEA, 2011, 2012, 2014). The process envisioned by the IAEA was developed primarily for planned disposal facilities, but is also applicable to existing sites such as the LFLS: • SSG-23 (P.90, 6.86) “The approach to support the decision-making process . . . is also directly applicable to existing facilities (IAEA, 2011, 2012, 2014).” The IAEA documents address a scope that includes the Safety Case and Safety Assessment. This report focuses specifically on a human dose assessment for the post-closure period (assumed 100-year Institutional Control Period and through to 1000 years into the future). The dose work compares modelled radiological dose rates to hypothetical human receptors under a range of future management options and conditions at the LFLS. Five types of management options and multiple receptor types were evaluated. The approach used here is site-specific as it uses measurements of site samples, data from site documents, local meteorological and hydrological data as well as local site configuration and layout. The document also includes a wildlife dose assessment consistent with international best practice and, for Australia, the Radiation Protection of the Environment Guide (ARPANSA, 2015). The model results reported here address many different scenarios which, while not covering every possibility, are intended to provide a sufficient range of useful input data into selection of a sound management plan for the future of the LFLS. Following selection of an option a more detailed dose assessment should be performed to optimise the design. This dose assessment was conducted within, and relies on data from, a multi-year project that assessed the waste characteristics and environmental setting of the LFLS as described in a series of reports and papers (Johansen et. al., 2020).
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    Radiation protection in the remediation and environmental management of radioactive sand mine tailings
    (Australiasian Radiation Protection Society, 2012-10-17) Blackley, R; Fox, L
    Belmont Wetlands State Park was established in 2006 along a coastal strip of sand dunes that had been previously sand mined. The 2010 Plan of Management for the Park included passive recreational activities such as camping, bush walking and educational facilities. A shared walking and cycling pathway, was also proposed to be constructed along a former railway line running adjacent to the Park. Coffey Environments and ANSTO were engaged to investigate the status of legacy tailings from the mine, some of which still remained on the site, and to advise on the management and radiation protection for subsequent remediation works. This paper will discuss the methodology of the site characterisation, the decision making process including engagement with a variety of public and government stakeholders, the remediation techniques implemented, radiation protection and exposure pathway assessments and final status surveys, as a model for environmental management and site remediation containing radiological material in similar settings.