Media Reporting of Nuclear Emergencies: The Effects of Transparent Communication in a Minor Nuclear Event

IN 2008, a nuclear event occurred at Kr?ko nuclear power plant in Slovenia. Even though it was classified as level 0 on International Nuclear Event Scale, the transparency policy of the Slovenian nuclear safety authorities prompted it to notify the international community. This was the first time that the European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange (ECURIE) notification system was used outside the exercise framework. The event was reported in all major European. In this contribution, we report on a content analysis of media articles related to this event. The main research question was if a nuclear emergency generates significant media coverage, even in the case of a minor event and a transparent communication policy. The analysis included more than 200 articles from printed and spoken media in Slovenia and other countries. The analysis revealed a high‐intensity media coverage, emotional reactions and heated political discussion. The main media sources in countries with open political discussions on nuclear energy end up being the politicians, rather than resident experts.     

Model calculations to optimise multi-cathode flow through electrolysers: direct cathodic reduction of C.I. Sulphur Black 1

A laboratory cell equipped with multiple porous electrodes connected electrically in parallel and hydrostatically in series was used to reduce dispersed Colour Index (C.I.) Sulphur Black 1 to synthesise C.I. Leuco Sulphur Black 1. At higher cell current bipolar effects limit the maximum thickness of a porous cathode element. A mathematical model has been established to estimate the maximum thickness of a cathode element. The cell voltage can be calculated using a simple resistor network. The presented model calculations permit optimisation of a cell with multiple porous electrodes with regard to dimensions, cell costs and energy consumption. A multi-cathode cell, equipped with 10 cathodes for a total cell current of 10 A, was used to study production of highly concentrated C.I. Leuco Sulphur Black 1 solutions. Compared to chemical reduction, dyeing behaviour was found to be independent of reduction method used.     

Lead adsorption onto exfoliated graphitic nanoplatelets in aqueous solutions

Exfoliated graphitic nanoplatelets (xGnPs) show adsorption capability and adsorption efficiency for lead removal from water, the adsorption being influenced by the solution pH value and the xGnPs surface characteristics, which are controlled by their treatment processing. The adsorption isotherms were described by both Langmuir and Freundlich models. These results suggest that xGnPs are remarkable lead adsorbents, having potential applications in environmental protection.     

SURFACE ANALYSIS OF INHIBITOR FILMS FORMED BY N-(2-HYDROXYBENZILIDENE) THIOSEMICARBAZIDE ON CARBON STEEL IN ACIDIC MEDIA

The corrosion and behavior of carbon steel in 2 M HCl in the presence of N-(2-hydroxybenzilidene) thiosemicarbazide (HBTC) was investigated using weight loss and electrochemical studies. The morphology of carbon steel surface was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Mössbauer spectrometry. The corrosion current was determined using Tafel polarization. The inhibition efficiency increased with HBTC concentration; the experimental results suggest that the presence of HBTC in the solution increases the surface coverage (θ); a decrease in the corrosion spot with the increase of the HBTC concentration indicates good adsorbability of HBTC on the metal surface. The adsorption of this compound on the metal surface is found to obey Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed at this stage the main product of corrosion is a non-stoichiometric amorphous Fe³⁺ oxyhydroxide, consisting of a mixture of α, β, and γ-FeOOH, where γ-FeOOH is the main phase.     

Food safety and acceptance of management options after radiological contaminations of the food chain

After an accidental radioactive release leading to contamination of the food chain, countermeasures may be used to reduce the radiological health risk to the population and to bring social reassurance. This paper analyses public acceptance and consumer’s behaviour for various countermeasures for contaminated milk as revealed by a recent public survey in Belgium. The survey instrument used was Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing. A simulated news bulletin was included for a fast and realistic briefing on the situation investigated. The results show that clean feeding of dairy cattle and disposal of contaminated milk are the preferred options in case of contaminations above legal norms. For contaminations below legal norms, normal consumption of milk seems better accepted than disposal. Nonetheless, the expressed consumer’s behaviour reveals a precautionary tendency: the presence of radioactivity at some step in the food chain could lead to avoiding purchasing products from affected areas. Finally, public trust building is revealed as a key element of a successful countermeasure strategy.     

Application of an exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet-modified electrode for the determination of quintozen

A chitosan–grafted exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet (xGnP) hybrid chemically modified electrode was developed and characterized for the determination of organochlorine pesticides with nitro groups using quintozen as a representative. The hybrid material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical properties of the chitosan–xGnP modified electrode were characterized by a physical deposition method for depositing it on a graphite electrode. Because of the affinity of the xGnP for nitro groups, nitroaromatic organophosphate pesticides are attached to the surface, allowing the extraction of quintozen within a short time (4 min). The differential pulse response was linear over the quintozen concentration range of 10^?12–10^?6 M, and the current linearly increased with the quintozen concentrations in two concentration ranges: from 10^?12 to 10^?8 M with the linear regression equation of y = 0.0423x + 0.6451, R² = 0.9964 and from 10^?8 to 10^?6 M with the linear regression equation of y = 0.0085x + 0.303, R² = 0.9952, with a detection limit of 10^?11 M.     

Dyeing behaviour of hydrogenated indigo in electrochemically reduced dyebaths

The dyeing behaviour of hydrogenated indigo, in electrochemically reduced dyebaths, was studied on cotton yarn with particular focus on dark shades. Indigo concentration in the dyebath was studied from 0.9 g l^?1 indigo to 7 g l^?1 to achieve indigo fixation near the level of dyestuff saturation. The number of repetitive cycles of immersion into the dyebath and air oxidation was increased up to eight dips. The highest K/S value at 660 nm was measured with K/S 31 at samples dyed with eight dips in a dyebath containing 1.8 g l^?1 indigo and at a bath pH level of 11.7–12.1. When comparable amounts of indigo had been fixed on the yarn from baths containing 3.5 or 7 g l^?1 indigo, K/S values decreased; however, darkness in terms of L* value increased. Analysis of the reflectance curves between 400 and 700 nm proved that the visually perceived increase in darkness was caused by lowered reflectance in the wavelength range of 400–525 nm. This also explains the more reddish, duller shade of indigo dyeings obtained from baths that contain a relatively high indigo concentration. Comparison to reference experiments confirmed that cathodic dyebath reduction does not modify the dyeing behaviour of indigo.     

Electrochemical reduction of CI sulphur black 1—correlation between electrochemical parameters and colour depth in exhaust dyeing

Direct cathodic reduction of oxidised CI Sulphur Black 1 was achieved by means of a multi-cathode electrolyser at cell currents of 0.9–1.5 A. The redox potential in the catholyte decreased from initially −250 to −533 mV as a function of charge flow. The catholyte also served as dyebath for cotton fabric samples. Colour depth was characterised by Kubelka–Munk value K/S and CIELab-coordinates and was studied as function of charge flow and redox potential in the catholyte. Direct correlation between redox potential and colour depth of the dyed samples was observed. Electrochemical reduction permits steering of catholyte/dyebath potential by adjustment of cell current and thus permits direct control of the dyeing process by electrochemical methods.     

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition by haem oxygenase decreases macrophage nitric-oxide-dependent cytotoxicity: a negative feedback mechanism for the regulation of nitric oxide production

Nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages by inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) has multiple tissue damaging effects and is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and graft rejection. Haem oxygenase (HmOx) is the enzyme which degrades haem. Its inducible isoform, HmOx1, was recently shown to increase cellular resistance against oxidative stress and to decrease inflammation and graft rejection. Since haem is an essential cofactor for NOS2 activity, we investigated the effects of HmOx1-induction upon NO secretion in macrophages. We induced HmOx1 in BALB/c bone-marrow-derived macrophages by short-term exposure to haemin (20 micromol/l, 30 min); then we incubated them for 24 h to allow maximal expression of HmOx1 activity. Next, we activated the macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and measured their NO production and their NO-dependent cytotoxicity against P815 cells. We found that HmOx induction 24 h before LPS activation in mouse macrophages suppresses their production of NO, while HmOx inhibition (with zinc protoporphyrin) increases NO secretion. NOS2 inhibition is reflected by the decrease of macrophage NO-dependent cytotoxicity against the P815 targets. We therefore propose that HmOx1 is a physiological inhibitor of NOS2 in activated macrophages because it decreases haem availability for NOS2 synthesis. NOS2 inhibition may explain the antinflammatory effects of HmOx induction which could also be used therapeutically in situations when NO hyperproduction leads to cytotoxic effects such as inflammation or transplant rejection.     

Data assimilation in the decision support system rodos

Model predictions for a rapid assessment and prognosis of possible radiological consequences after an accidental release of radionuclides play an important role in nuclear emergency management. Radiological observations, e.g. dose rate measurements, can be used to improve such model predictions. The process of combining model predictions and observations, usually referred to as data assimilation, is described in this article within the framework of the real time on-line decision support system (RODOS) for off-site nuclear emergency management in Europe. Data assimilation capabilities, based on Kalman filters, are under development for several modules of the RODOS system, including the atmospheric dispersion, deposition, food chain and hydrological models. The use of such a generic data assimilation methodology enables the propagation of uncertainties throughout the various modules of the system. This would in turn provide decision makers with uncertainty estimates taking into account both model and observation errors. This paper describes the methodology employed as well as results of some preliminary studies based on simulated data.