The division provides environmental impact / dose assessment for radiological and chemical contaminants by modelling transport and dispersion in environment along with focussed R&D towards development of Decision Support Systems with RS/GIS based data inputs for nuclear and chemical emergencies. Further the division involves environmental monitoring in air, water and soils around Kalpakkam complex and establishment of environmental radiation monitoring network for all the facilities. It pursues studies on radionuclide transfer factors in marine and terrestrial environment, radon/thoron diffusion and monitoring in indoor and outdoor environs, and dose assessment for marine biota. The division involves monitoring of meteorological parameters, waves and currents and provides forecast guidance on cyclones and extreme waves. Further, EAD provides TLD personnel monitoring services for occupational workers, Biodosimetry services, retrospective dosimetry along with focused R&D towards the development of new dosimetric materials, fortuitous dosimeters and new biomarkers for dosimetry applications.
EAD comprises two sections i) Environmental Assessment Section ‘EnAS’ and ii) Radiation Dosimetry Section ‘RDS’.
Services:
Project Services :
Periodic analysis of sea water samples from 2MGD Desalination Plant
Periodic analysis of meteorological parameters for public dose assessment
Periodic analysis of air and water quality parameters for environmental impact purposes
Providing uninterrupted TLD personnel monitoring services to all active facilities of IGCAR, NDRF battalion at Arakonam and BARC facilities at Kalpakkam
Participation in national and international intercomparison exercises like EURADOS to maintain the quality and reliability of dose measurements using TLD badges
Providing biodosimetry services to occupational workers using dicentric assay
Participation of internal quality assurance tests and external inter lab comparison as and when required by the biodosimetry facility
R&D:
Radiological Impact Assessment for the operating and upcoming facilities and related software development
Modelling of transport and dispersion of contaminants in atmosphere and coastal waters
Modeling of transport of radioactivity in sub-surface media (rocks and soils)
Meteorological Observations and boundary layer studies
Costal hydrodynamics and distribution of radionuclides
Costal hydrodynamics and distribution of radionuclides
Establishment of real-time monitoring of air-borne activity through Env.Gamma Dose Monitors
Design and development of Decision Support Systems for nuclear and chemical emergencies
Numerical modeling of Cyclones, Storm Surge, Tsunami for early warning
Assessment of environmental parameters and radionuclides in air, water, soil/ sediment and marie biota
Geomorphology and geochemistry of soil and sediment
Studies on Radon, Thoron gas diffusion and assessment in Indoor and outdoor environment
Studies on radionuclide transfer factor in marine, inland and terrestrial environment and food chain
Uncertainty evaluation of radiation measurements using statistical methods
Seasonal beach dynamics and shoreline changes
RS/GIS based spatial data generation and environmental assessments.
Interchangeable use of LINAC and Co-60 dicentric dose response curve for dose assessment
Dependence of dose and dose rate on yield of chromosomal aberrations (dicentrics and translocations)
Identification and quantification of clinical biomarkers like methemoglobin for radiation dose assessment
Development of retrospective dosimetric techniques using commonly available materials like electronic components, biomaterials like nails, tooth enamel, hair etc and other personal objects using TL, OSL and EPR
Role of Non Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) repair pathway using dicentric chromosome and translocations formations in cells exposed to ionizing radiation
Identification of fortuitous dosimeters for assessment of dose during emergencies
Mandate of EnAS
Radiological impact assessment of operating and upcoming facilities
Modelling of transport and dispersion of radionuclides, gases and aerosols in atmosphere and coastal waters
Design of Decision Support Systems for nuclear and chemical emergencies.
Radioactivity transport in hydro-geological medium.
Meteorological measurements and characterization
Modeling of Cyclones, Storm Surge, Waves for site forecast guidance
Establishment of real-time monitoring of air-borne activity through Env.Gamma Dose Monitors
Periodic monitoring of water quality for environmental parameters and radioactivity
Continuous monitoring of Air Quality at Kalpakkam site
Periodic monitoring and dose assessment for marine biota
Radionuclide Transfer Factor studies in marine, inland and terrestrial environment
Seasonal beach dynamics and shoreline changes
Costal hydrodynamics and distribution of radionuclides
Geomorphology and geochemistry of soil and sediment
Indoor and outdoor Radon and Thoron monitoring
Mandate of RDS
Providing uninterrupted radiation dosimetry services (TLD personnel monitoring & biodosimetry) to all radiation workers
Development of retrospective dosimetric techniques based on TL, OSL, EPR and biodosimetry assays.
Development of chemical dosimeters based on EPR technique, radchromic films and gel dosimeters for high dose estimations
Development of new TL and OSL materials for dosimetry applications
Development of new biomarkers / fortuitous dosimetres for rapid assessment of dose for triage during radiological/nuclear emergencies
Setting up of a library for the group at main building
Achievements
BRNS Sponsored Round Robin Exercise conducted in collaboration with 15 national institutes for Atmospheric flow field modelling and validation for Kalpakkam Site
ONERS 2.0 in common framework for different NPP sites, operationally implemented for Kalpakkam site and installed at NREMC-AERB.
DAE Group Achievement Award received for 2016 for Development of Decision Support System
Technology on Autonomous Gamma Dose Logger (AGDL) transferred for commercial development
Nucleonix Researcher’s Award -2015,ISRP
Best Paper Award in iRAD-2018, LAMSYS-2018, InTropmet-2019 and Tropmet-2020
Technology Developed
Radioactivity Transport & Dispersion modelling in the Environment
Radiological Impact Assessment, related Software development
Software for Decision Support for Nuclear/ Chemical Emergencies
Forecast guidance for extreme weather (Cyclones, Storm surge and Waves) using numerical models
Physico-chemical and radiological assessment analysis of environmental samples
Assessment of marine environment from radiological aspects
Radon and Thoron measurements
Beach dynamics, radionuclide transfer and movement in marine environment
Multivariate Statistical analysis and uncertainty analysis
TLD personnel monitoring
Retrospective dosimetry studies
Biodosimetry studies
Polymer synthesis and characterization
TL/OSL phosphor developments
Dosimeters for high dose estimation
Infrastructure/Facilities
Online Nuclear Emergency Response Systemwith Met Towers and ERMs
Environmental Analysis Laboratories (Air, Water, Soil monitoring and characterization)
