5. Radioecology

Radioactive products exist in the environment. Many are naturally occurring, while others are the result of human activity: fallout from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, normal or accidental discharges from nuclear facilities, mineral extraction residues, etc. These products evolve in the environment and can return to man, usually through the food chain. Radioecology studies changes in the environment and the passage of products through different compartments: vegetation, soil, animals.

Knowing the state of radioactivity in the environment and monitoring its evolution are essential tools for controlling radioactive discharges from various human activities. Knowledge of transfer mechanisms, obtained through laboratory experiments or field measurements following accidents, makes it possible to predict the evolution of radioactive contamination in space and...