Foreword

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Notwithstanding its tragic human consequences the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in the USSR in April 1986 provided a timely reminder of the need for constant vigilance and preparedness. Above all, it demonstrated the importance of communication and cooperation at UN Agency level, and how the release of radioactive substances into the environment can rapidly achieve international and even global significance. The problems were especially significant in relation to agriculture, contingent food supplies, to their dependent communities and, therefore, in relation to FAO's interests and responsibilities.

The original FAO Atomic Energy Branch in Rome represented FAO's concern with the problems of radioactive contamination since the effective start of the "atomic energy era" in the first post - 1945 decade. This led to the now classical publications in the FAO Atomic Energy Series (see refs. 1 - 5). Responsibilities of the Branch were later transferred to the Joint FAO/IAEA Division in Vienna on the latter's creation in 1964 by a formal agreement between the two organizations.

Protection against the effects of radioactive fallout and contamination has, understandably, been a worrying subject for the layperson since the first atomic bombs of 1945. However, a proliferation of terms, definitions, the introduction of a new set of units of radioactivity and radiation levels, and a bewildering series of publications by the very many national and international organizations concerned have also complicated the subject.

Part 1) of this review is designed to provide an up-dated background to the subject in relation to FAO's interests and responsibilities in scientifically accurate but non-technical language.

Part 2) of this review is concerned more specifically with the problems of radioactive fallout over pasture and cultivated soils. Moreover, it is mainly concerned with problems of international significance under peacetime conditions and which are likely only to arise as a result of a major nuclear reactor accident or, possibly, some unintended nuclear explosion. However, relatively local problems of soil contamination could arise (and have done so) as a result of other kinds of accident. For example, by the failure of a land-based waste containment, or as a result of a crash by a military aircraft or space vehicle carrying radioactive material. (See sections 1.3.2 and 2.7.6).

References (see Section 5) are cited in the text for those seeking more technical detail or information. Mainly references to publications in English are cited but most UN publications will be available in the official languages of the Agency concerned.

The writer acknowledges FAO and IAEA colleagues too numerous to mention by name, for help and advice. Additionally, Prof. Karl Buchtela of Vienna, Dr. M.C. Thorne, former Secretary, I.C.R.P., Hr. Donald Doo, Manager of the Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station, North Wales, and the Martin Bunford and Elwyn Evans families who sheep-farm in the hills of North Wales. Further information was generously supplied by Professor Elfyn Hughes (formerly Director, Nature Conservancy for Wales), Professor Mansel Davies (formerly Professor of Chemistry, University of Wales), and by Dr. Martin Frissel (Head of the Laboratory of Radiation Research, R.I.V.M., Netherlands). Abundant help notwithstanding, any shortcomings in this review remain the writer's responsibility absolutely.

EDITORIAL NOTE

In preparing this material for the press, staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have mounted and paginated the original manuscripts and given some attention to presentation.

Possible viewpoints implied in this study are those of the author and not necessarily those of the International Organizations or National Authorities mentioned. It is also stressed that needs and activities identified for possible implementation at international level may require modification on the basis of continuing post-'Chernobyl' experience and should, in any event, be subject to appropriate cost-benefit appraisal as indicated in the text.

The mention of specific companies or of their products or brand names does not imply any endorsement or recommendation on the part of the FAO or the IAEA.


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