Radioactividade Ambiente

Objectives

To develop the knowledge and competences in the area of environmental radioactivity resulting from existing exposure situations, planed exposure situations and emergency exposure situations. Present to the students the main concepts regarding monitoring methodologies and assessment of radioactivity in the environment and the main as well as the advantages and limitations of the different measurement tecniques. Discuss the possible applications of radioactivity in environmental sciences, namely the use of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides as tracers of complex environmental processes.

Syllabus

1. Natural and anthropogenic radioactivity: origins, pathways and exposure doses; critical radionuclides and critical exposure pathways. 2. Transfer of radionuclides in the environment: atmospheric pathways; terrestrial pathways; aquatic pathways; use of radionuclides as environmental tracers. 3. Environmental radioactivity surveillance: objectives and types of monitoring networks; environmental radioactivity surveillance programmes (local, national and international); methodologies, continuous and discontinuous measurements; sampling techniques; radioanalytical techniques applied to environmental samples. 4. Emergency exposure: concepts of projected dose, averted dose and residual dose; types of emergencies and countermeasures; reference levels and action levels. 5. Radiological impacts and consequence assessment: probabilistic consequence assessment methodologies; decision support systems.

Prerequisites

Knowledge in the areas of Environmental Engineering, Physics Engineering and Chemistry Engineering.

Cross Competence Component

Critical thinking and innovation: critical thinking and creativity, through the critical discussion of case studies and resolution of the proposed problems; Intrapersonal competences: Produtivity and initiative, developing skills related to time management and produtivity; Interpersonal competences: Writing communication, teamwork and oral communication, by writing and presenting group works on specific isues; Information and media literacy: Struturing and formatation of documents and presentations, trhough the writing and presentation of group works. The assessment percentage associated with these competences should be around 20%.

Laboratorial Component

Demonstration classes

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group´s work. In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.