INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

About IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency is an international Organization which seeks to establish peaceful uses of nuclear energy. IAEA was establishes on 29th July, 1957. It has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA reports both to General Assembly and the Security Council. IAEA strongly condemns misuse of nuclear energy and aims at promoting safe use of nuclear energy including protection from harmful radiations from nuclear emissions.

Goals and objectives

We at AMUN, IAEA, aim at finding some concrete and original ideas in order to facilitate rehabilitation of regions surrounding nuclear plants but also those which are affected by the adverse effects of radiation that is caused. IAEA facilitates use of nuclear energy for peaceful uses considering it as a clean and renewable source of energy. Solutions on world stage need to be assessed and implemented to make nuclear energy also a safe energy source.

IAEA AMUN2011

AGENDA:
Rehabilitation of areas affected due to radioactivity

Introduction
Continuous debate on Global Warming has shifted the trend to clean and renewable sources of energy. And one of these embraces the Nuclear Energy. Though Nuclear Energy raises serious concerns but it undeniably has its benefits. Considering the past incidents, the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents should never be downplayed. The recent Japan Crisis stands as an eye opener too. These are the only major accidents to have occurred in over 14,500 cumulative reactor-years of commercial operation in 32 countries. Being the International Atomic Energy Agency, there is a need for some concrete solutions to be taken to avert such catastrophic disasters to happen in future, but also reduce the amount of radioactivity being generated and protect those affected or being affected by it.

What is Radioactivity?
Radioactivity is an impulsive emission of radioactive substances from an unstable atomic nucleus which is trying to become stable by throwing out energy and particles as a result of a nuclear reaction. Release of radioactive substances and energy causes destruction in the atmosphere around. It affects not only biodiversity but also the human life.

IAEA AMUN2011

Accidents in the past

1. Three Mile Island - March 28, 1979 The Three Mile Island -2, near Middletown, Pennsylvania USA, was a result of a severe damage to the reactor core. The INES level was recorded as 5. The main reasons which lead to the significant damages to the reactor were: equipment malfunctions, design related problems and worker errors. There was however no injuries or adverse health effects from the Three Mile Island accident. In 2009, the operating license was renewed, extending it life by 20 years to 2034 ( TMI-1) . 2. Chernobyl April 26 , 1986

Chernobyl disaster was an upshot of an explosion in its core due to power increase. The radiation level was estimated 5.6 roentgens per second, INES level 7. The catastrophe affected the groundwater, flora and fauna, rivers, agriculture, livestock drastically. The number of thyroid cancer patients augmented. The incident affected most of the rural population which were situated around the vicinity. Many recovery projects were launched one of them initiated by United Nations Development Program.
IAEA AMUN2011

3. Fukushima - March 12 ,2011

Japans nuclear crisis was much worse than one could think. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex began operating in the 1970. The Reactor had shutdown after the Sendai earthquake and tsunami. Failure of emergency cooling caused an explosion in the reactor.

Other Nuclear power station accidents:

Year 2011 2006 2005

Incident Onagawa Fleurus Sellafield

INES level 4 3

Country Japan Belgium UK

IAEA description Reactor shutdown after the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami caused a fire Severe health effects for a worker at a commercial irradiation facility as a result of high doses of radiation Release of large quantity of radioactive material, contained within the installation Fatal overexposures of workers following a criticality event at a nuclear facility Incident with radiography source resulting in severe radiation burns Pressure buildup led to an explosive mechanical failure Excessive heating which damaged ten fuel rods More than 100 workers were exposed to doses of up to 155 millirem per day radiation Melting of one channel of fuel in the reactor with no release outside the site

1999 1999 1993 1989 1981 1980

Tokaimura Yanangio Tomsk Greifswald Tsuraga Saint Laurent des Eaux

4 3 4 2 4

Japan Peru Russia Germany Japan France

IAEA AMUN2011

Impact of radioactivity on the environment and human

Release of radioactive products in the atmosphere causes a change in the chemical, meteorological and its physical composition. Such radioactive material is generally transported to far of places through water movement. Regular monitoring data show a steady decrease in the radionuclide content of water bodies with time. Radiation can cause genetic mutations in growing plants which can hurt their ability to survive. The period radioactive material will stay in the environment depends on the type of material. Strontium-90 is only radioactive for 53 days. Uranium-235 in the environment will remain radioactive for over 700 million years. Uranium-238 will remain radioactive for 4.5 billion years. Rubidium remains radioactive for 47 million years.

It not only has significant effect on plants and biodiversity, but human health is widely affected. It causes radiation sickness, cancer, burning. But the side effects of these are numerous and various plus very long terms like even in the children and grandchildren of the affected (causes breaks in chromosomes and impairs the development of an unborn). There is currently no effective medical treatment available for potentially fatal radiation doses.

IAEA AMUN2011

Prevention to Radioactivity

It should be taken into consideration that most of the past nuclear disasters have been a reason of usage of old technology. Nations should ensure that once an up gradation of the nuclear plant is needed should be carried out immediately. Nuclear plants installed should be of the latest designs. Accurate education (from the primary level itself) should be given to the general public, so that steps can be taken in order to curtail the regular impact of radiation. Workers in nuclear plants should be accurately taught and trained. The objective is to minimize human errors. Nuclear plants should be installed away from human and animal habitats. Proper Disposal of Nuclear waste should be carried out. Special Institutions should be set up in various nations to ensure Nuclear Safety time and again like Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (India), Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Russia) etc.

Rehabilitation of International territories

There is an urgent need for rehabilitation of the Arctic seas from the sunken potential - dangerous objects containing nuclear and radioactive materials Dumping of nuclear waste has affected international territories like the Arctic Sea. This has widely affected the marine life. Nations should come together and find considerable solutions to the issue. Some of the measures that can take to rehabilitate the Arctic region from radioactivity are: 1. Carrying out technical operations underwater to pinpoint the radiation source. 2. Salvaging and utilizing the radiation objects. 3. The dump material should be under constant monitoring.
IAEA AMUN2011

Rehabilitation of Regions - Possible Solutions

Ensuring free medical facilities to those affected by radioactivity. Immediate evacuation of the region under serious concern. Also ensuring apt shelter on contrary. Spreading maximum awareness to the general public. Ensuring availability of basic necessities and needs of the people affected. Establish a fenced off the nuclear Forest Recovery Zone. Plant native deciduous and conifer trees, along with hyperaccumulating mycorrhizal mushrooms, particularly all native pines. Investing enough for research in the field of medicines to curb potentially fatal radiations.

Questions to be considered
1. What is the stand of your country on usage of nuclear energy? 2. What has been the role play of your country in rehabilitation of regions surrounding the nuclear plants? 3. How a past nuclear accident was embarked upon, and what were steps taken there after? 4. What are the locations of nuclear plants in the country? 5. Has your country signed any treaty, or is part of other agencies? 6. What steps have been taken to prevent any future nuclear accidents? 7. Which technology has been used in the nuclear plants in your country?

IAEA AMUN2011

Research Sites
www.iaea.org http://www.nirs.org http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13678627 http://www.world-nuclear.org

http://www.fas.org http://www.carnegieendowment.org

IAEA AMUN2011