Integrated Approach to Evaluating the Environmental Impact Following a Radiological Dispersal Event

摘要

Actions taken immediately after a terrorism act involving radioactive materials are critical for human health and safety and environmental protection. The appropriate actions are based on an assessment of the impact the release of radioactive material had or could have on the affected region. Typical risk assessment methods are either ecological or human health based. There have been calls to integrate the two approaches but, as of yet, no integrated methodology has been developed. A terrorist act which could negatively impact both the ecology and human health is an ideal motivation for integration of the two approaches since the assessment must be done quickly and funds are likely to be limited. The proposed assessment approach, termed the Level of Impact Analysis, introduces an integrated assessment model involving a pre- and post- Radiological Dispersal Event (RDE) assessment of a region. Subsequent steps allow for integration of real-time data and results in a flexible and adaptive approach to recovering from a RDE. The result is a methodology that allows for a quick assessment of risk, comparison of options, and prioritization of recovery actions. There is a question regarding the legal mandate for cleaning up a site contaminated from a terrorist event. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 is the expected default statute. Changes to the scope of this law to better address terrorist acts are suggested. Policy considerations such as educational reform, funding and risk communication are discussed within the context of recovery from a RDE.