Marine Environment Laboratory Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratory Activities

Marine Environment LaboratoryDepartment of Nuclear Sciences and Applications

International Atomic Energy Agency

Marine Environment Marine Environment LaboratoryLaboratory

Activities in the Marine Activities in the Marine Coastal ZoneCoastal Zone

Stephen de MoraStephen de MoraMarine Environmental Studies Laboratory (MESL)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)Marine Environment Laboratory

4, Quai Antoine 1er

MONACO



Monitoring and Study of Monitoring and Study of Marine PollutionMarine Pollution

• Introduction– Marine Science in the IAEA

• Facilities and Capabilities– 3 Laboratory Suites at MEL

• Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques: Tools for Coastal Zone Management



1961

1988

The only Marine Laboratory in The only Marine Laboratory in the UN Systemthe UN System

1961 - Laboratory established in the Oceanographic Museum

1988 - Temporary facilities in the Louis II Football Stadium

1998 - Permanent facilities on the Port of Monaco

1998



Marine Environment Laboratory

Department of Nuclear Sciences and ApplicationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency


Organizational ChartOrganizational Chart

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R A D IO M E T R IC SL A B O R A T O R Y

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M A R IN E E N V IR O N M E N T A LS T U D IE S L A B O R A T O R Y

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• MEL has expertise in:

– Marine Radioactivity Measurements

– Marine Radioecology

– Radiotracer Studies

– Marine analytical chemistry

– Marine pollution monitoring and assessment

– Chemical oceanography & marine biogeochemistry

• Within the IAEA:

– Programmatic responsibilities for the study of marine environment

and pollution, including non-nuclear pollution



Ongoing Support to UN Inter-Ongoing Support to UN Inter-agencyagency

Marine-Related ActivitiesMarine-Related Activities

Inter-agency Programmeon Marine Pollution

UNEP IAEA IOC





RADIOMETRICS LABORATORY

Worldwide Marine Radioactivity Studies in Oceans and Seas

Contamination Studies in Selected Coastal Zones

Climate Change Studies using Isotopic Records in the Marine Environment

Analytical Quality Control Services for Marine Radioactivity Studies

Development of Methods for Analysis of Low Level Radionuclide Concentrations in the Environment in Response to Emergencies and Nuclear Terrorism





RADIOMETRICS LABORATORY

WORLDWIDE MARINE RADIOACTIVITY

MONITORING

To provide new data on radioactivity of oceans and seas

• Spatial and temporal distributions of radionuclides

• Sources of anthropogenic radionuclides

To encourage and support marine radioactivity studies in Member States





RADIOMETRICS LABORATORY SEABED GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY

137Cs in sediment off the Cumbrian coast (Irish Sea) in 1995.

Transects covered by the Irish Sea seabed -ray survey.

Investigation of contamination of the marine environment with anthropogenic radionuclides:

- dumpsites in the Kara Sea (Arctic)

- weapons test sites at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa (South Pacific)

- offshore Sellafield reprocessing plant (Irish Sea)





RADIOMETRICS LABORATORYStationary Monitoring of Gamma - Activity of Seawater in the Irish Sea with Satellite Data Transmission to IAEA - MEL Monaco

Buoy

IAEA-MEL Monaco





Contaminant behaviour and transfer processes

Nuclear and isotopic applications to delineate carbon

flux processes

Ecotoxicological processes and impacts in coastal

zones

Bioaccumulation and transfer of natural radionuclides

arising from hydrothermal and anthropogenic

sources in coastal environments.

RADIOECOLOGY LABORATORY





New state-of-the-art experimental aquaria facilities for research and training in marine radioecology and ecotoxicology

Individual mesocosms ranging in size from 70 to 3000 litres

Automatic temperature and salinity control for simulating diverse marine ecosystems

Isolated from associated radiometric facilities

RADIOTRACER APPLICATIONSRADIOECOLOGY LABORATORY





Temperature and light controlled incubators for radioecological and ecotoxicological studies with phytoplankton, zooplankton, larval forms and marine bacteria

Currently used to incubate uni-cellular cultures of a dozen phytoplankton species from various marine ecosystems throughout the world

Ideal for examining food chain transfer of contaminants through lower trophic levels

RADIOTRACER APPLICATIONSRADIOECOLOGY LABORATORY



Marine Environm ent Laborato ryDepartm ent of Nuclea r Sciences a nd Applica tions

Interna tiona l Atomic Energy Agency

Since 1986, longest record of particle flux in the MediterraneanSea

Quantification of carbon export over time and prediction ofbiogeochemical cycles of particles and associated compounds

Particle and carbon fluxes are highly variable and regulated byphysical and biological conditions

Seasonal pattern with maximum fluxes in winter and spring, andlowest fluxes in late summer and fall

Interannual variations are also important

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Marine Environmental Studies Marine Environmental Studies LaboratoryLaboratory

• Environmental AnalyticalEnvironmental Analytical ChemistryChemistry in Support of Marine Pollution Monitoring Programmes

• Marine Pollution AssessmentMarine Pollution Assessment in Coastal Regions and Bioresources, including support to UN Inter-Agency Activities

• Nuclear Techniques in Studies of Marine Marine AntifoulantsAntifoulants in Coastal Environments

• Isotopic ApplicationsIsotopic Applications in Non-radioactive Marine Contaminant Studies



MESL - MESL - Analysis of Organic Analysis of Organic ContaminantsContaminants

Organic contaminants analysed:

–petroleum hydrocarbons, including PAHs

–pesticides (e.g. DDT, lindane, endrin)

–other chlorinated contaminants, such as PCBs

PAHs in marine sediments



MESL - MESL - Analysis of Inorganic Analysis of Inorganic ContaminantsContaminants

Heavy metals and organometallic species such as methylmercury and tributyltin



MESL - MESL - Supporting Regional Supporting Regional Seas ProgrammesSeas Programmes



Caspian Environment Caspian Environment ProgrammeProgramme

(GEF - UNDP - UNOPS)(GEF - UNDP - UNOPS)

Contaminant Screening Campaign

Transboundary Diagnostics Analysis



Nuclear and Isotopic Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques:Techniques:

Tools for Tools for Coastal Zone Coastal Zone ManagementManagement Expert Meeting in Monaco Nov 5-9, 2001

Public health issues Saxitoxin analyses by receptor binding assay

Ecosystem health HABs

Living resources Effects of mariculture

Non-living resources Submarine groundwater discharge



Thank YouThank You

Documents

Marine Environment Laboratory Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratory Activities