Ukraine's Radon Association Receives EU-Assisted Equipment to Enhance Operational Reliability of IASRM Radiation Monitoring System

On August 4, 2026, the Ukrainian state non-profit company Radon Association received five modern support systems to enhance the uninterrupted operation capability of the Integrated Automated Radiation Monitoring System (IASRM). The project is financially supported by the European Union through the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, pursuant to Agreement No. INSC/2023/442-610 signed on May 22, 2023. Under the contractual arrangements, the relevant equipment has been delivered to the regional branches of the Radon Association and the central production base branch, with installation completed at the designated facilities. The systems installed this time mainly include backup power supply equipment such as diesel generators, which can provide continuous power to IASRM equipment during main power interruptions or shutdowns, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the radiation monitoring system under abnormal power supply conditions.

2026-08-10

DNT "Radon Association" Receives EU Technical Assistance Equipment to Strengthen Radiation Dose Monitoring Capabilities

On August 4, 2026, under the framework of the EU International Technical Assistance Project, the DNT Radon Association received a batch of modern measurement equipment for radiation dose monitoring, aimed at enhancing radiation monitoring and dose control capabilities. The project is financially supported by the EU through the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, pursuant to Donor Agreement No. 700001998 signed on June 24, 2024. In accordance with the contractual arrangements, the relevant measurement equipment has been delivered to the Association's interregional branches and central production base branches. Following delivery, the DNT Radon Association conducted acceptance testing of the supplied measurement equipment. The test results demonstrated that the equipment meets the requirements for its intended use. Concurrently, the Association also organized relevant personnel to undergo training in equipment operation and maintenance; upon completion of the training and knowledge assessment, the relevant experts were awarded certificates of completion.

2026-08-10

"Nuclear Levee" Intelligent Foundation Empowers Wuhan Nuclear Technology Utilization Intelligent Review System Officially Launched

Recently, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in collaboration with software development enterprises, leveraged its independently developed nuclear safety regulatory "Nuclear Levee" intelligent review technology foundation to address the intelligent construction needs of radiation-related construction project environmental impact assessment (EIA) review at the Wuhan Ecological Environment Safety Center. The customized development of the Wuhan Nuclear Technology Utilization Intelligent Review System was successfully completed and officially deployed. The system carried out full-process technical research around three core directions: scenario adaptation, model iteration, and large-scale deployment. Key technical optimizations were completed for the EIA business scenarios, including dedicated parameter tuning and joint model training of the "Nuclear Levee" intelligent review foundation, successfully building an intelligent review system covering the entire EIA process. The system...

2026-08-10

Synchrotron radiation reveals mechanism of acidophilic microalga PM01 tolerating high-concentration manganese

Researchers have used synchrotron radiation techniques to reveal the key mechanism by which an acidophilic green microalga survives in high-concentration manganese environments. The research subject is the acidophilic alga C. acidophila PM01, originally isolated from an acid mine drainage pond, which can survive at manganese concentrations up to 50 mM (approximately 2.75 g/L), making it one of the most manganese-tolerant microalgae reported to date. Manganese is a nutrient element required by organisms, but during processes such as mining, ore processing, and electrolytic manganese production, high concentrations of manganese can enter water bodies and cause pollution. In particular, manganese removal is difficult in acidic waters. Some microorganisms can adapt to such extreme environments, but their tolerance mechanisms still require fine analytical tools to elucidate...

2026-08-10

Radiation Environment Monitoring Technical Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Visits Tibet to Conduct Research and Assistance on Radiation Environment Monitoring Capacity

Recently, in accordance with the work deployment of the Nuclear Facility Safety Supervision Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), a team led by relevant officials from the Radiation Environment Monitoring Technical Center of the MEE visited the Radiation Environment Supervision Station of the Tibet Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as the Tibet Station) to conduct research, assistance, and technical guidance on radiation environment monitoring capacity. The working group was dispatched in batches to key cities including Lhasa, Nagqu, Shigatse, and Ngari, and systematically reviewed the current status of radiation monitoring capacity in the Tibet Autonomous Region through thematic seminars, on-site inspections, and hands-on training sessions. They conducted on-site assessments of the operation and maintenance challenges of the national-controlled radiation environment air automatic monitoring stations in Tibet, benchmarked against actual needs, identified shortcomings in capacity building, and implemented targeted measures to resolve bottlenecks in network operation. At the research symposium...

2026-08-10

Russia Advances Rare Earth Extraction Technology Using Hyperaccumulator Plants, Plans Field Trials

August 7 news - Russian researchers have developed a technology for extracting rare earth metals using hyperaccumulator plants. The technology involves planting crops such as mustard, buckwheat, and sunflower at engineered landfill sites, allowing them to absorb metal elements from the soil and concentrate them in their biomass; after harvest, the plants are incinerated, and valuable elements are extracted from the ash. Mustard plantation. Photo: Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops. According to reports, under natural conditions in Russia, the relevant crops can be harvested two to three times per growing season. Estimates indicate that a single landfill site can yield up to 15 tons of rare earth metals annually. Currently, the laboratory has conducted tests using phosphogypsum waste from the Voskresensk and Balakovo areas, as well as loparite from the Lovozersky Mining and Processing Plant. The project plans to conduct field trials under real-world conditions this year, with pilot planting scheduled for next year.

2026-08-09

IAEA Launches Global Marine Microplastics Monitoring Platform

The International Atomic Energy Agency recently launched a global marine monitoring platform under the "Nuclear Techniques for Controlling Plastic Pollution" initiative, aiming to strengthen cooperation and data sharing among countries on the abundance, distribution, and trends of microplastics in marine and coastal areas. Scientific experts from 65 countries attended the platform launch event. The platform will serve as a repository of results from the network of marine monitoring laboratories supported by the initiative. Participating laboratories can enter monitoring data into the platform to compile global information on marine microplastic pollution; users can access relevant content after creating a free IAEA Nucleus account. Plastic pollution has become a global environmental issue. According to reports...

2026-08-09

U.S. NRC Proposes Radiation Protection Rule Changes, Removal of ALARA Requirements Sparks Safety Controversy

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to hold an online public meeting on August 10 to discuss its proposed rule titled "Reforming and Modernizing the NRC's Radiation Protection Framework." The proposal, published on July 15, centers on reexamining the use of the linear no-threshold model in assessing radiation health effects, as well as the as low as reasonably achievable principle—the ALARA principle—derived from that model. Under the proposal, the NRC intends to remove ALARA-related requirements from its regulations and instead adopt a graded dose management framework. This framework would be based on explicit radiation protection thresholds, dose management methods, and acceptable dose measurement approaches. The regulator stated that this move is not about changing exposure standards for workers and...

2026-08-08

Taiyuan Jinyuan District Conducts Special Inspection on Radiation Safety

To effectively prevent and mitigate radiation safety risks, the Jinyuan Branch of the Taiyuan Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau in Shanxi Province recently conducted special on-site inspections of radiation-related units within its jurisdiction, with the goals of comprehensive screening, consolidating responsibilities, improving mechanisms, and eliminating hazards, fully reinforcing corporate primary responsibilities and enhancing the standardized management of the radiation environment. The inspection team successively visited Shanxi International Travel Healthcare Center (Taiyuan Customs Port Outpatient Department) and Taiyuan Qimei Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Co., Ltd., strictly adhering to relevant laws and regulations, focusing on verifying the operating conditions of radiation devices, protective conditions in operational areas, safety interlock devices, and warning sign placement, while also conducting detailed reviews of radiation safety management systems, daily protection records, staff training files, emergency plans, and self-inspection assessment materials.

2026-08-07

South Korea to Investigate Seawater Radioactivity Levels Along Maritime Transport Routes for Radioactive Waste

The Korea Atomic Energy Environment Corporation (KAEEC) will conduct an investigation this year into seawater radioactivity levels along the maritime transport routes for radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, in order to assess the radiological environmental impact during the transport of radioactive waste to the Gyeongju low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility. According to information released on August 6 by the Korea National Electronic Procurement System, KAEEC recently published a public notice regarding radiation analysis services for seawater samples collected along the maritime transport routes for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Once the contractor is selected, the investigation is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Under the arrangement, KAEEC will conduct three maritime transport operations of radioactive waste this year, one each from the Gori, Hanul, and Hanbit nuclear power plants to the Gyeongju disposal facility...

2026-08-07

Clobot Signs MOU with Korea Atomic Energy Environment Corporation and Others to Demonstrate Multi-Robot System for Safe Radioactive Waste Management

Clobot, a specialized enterprise in intelligent robot services and integrated control of heterogeneous robots, announced on August 6 that it will apply its multi-robot integrated control system to radioactive waste safety management sites. On August 3, the company signed a business agreement at the headquarters of the Korea Atomic Energy Environment Corporation, with partners including T-Robotics, the Gyeongbuk ICT Convergence Industry Promotion Association, and the Korea Atomic Energy Environment Corporation, under the project name "Demonstration Project for Multi-Robot Operation in High-Risk Radioactive Waste Safety Management." The collaboration is based on the selection through the public call for proposals for the "Large-Scale Converged Robot Demonstration Project: Social Problem-Solving Type" hosted by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement in 2026, with Clobot serving as the lead organization.

2026-08-06

Radiation Monitoring Technical Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Conducts On-Site Certification Assessment in Southwest China in Chengdu

To further improve the national certification assessment for radiation monitoring personnel, the Radiation Environmental Monitoring Technical Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently organized an on-site certification assessment for radiation monitoring institutions in Southwest China in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. A total of 52 technical personnel from three institutions participated in the assessment: the Southwest Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Southwest Supervision Station), the Tibet Autonomous Region Radiation Environment Supervision Station (hereinafter referred to as the Tibet Radiation Station), and the Sichuan Provincial Radiation Environment Management and Monitoring Center Station (hereinafter referred to as the Sichuan Radiation Station). The assessment team strictly controlled the assessment process in accordance with the provisions of the "Implementation Rules for Certification Assessment of Radiation Environmental Monitoring Technical Personnel." The assessment...

2026-08-05

Uranium Levels Exceed Standards in Water Supply on Seogyeom Island, Ganghwa County, Incheon; Government Denies Impact from North Korea's Pyongsan Uranium Mine Wastewater

Uranium levels exceeding standards have been detected in the water supply facilities at the groundwater source on Seogyeom Island, Ganghwa County, Incheon, and the government has stated that this is not attributable to wastewater from North Korea's Pyongsan uranium plant. According to the Ministry of Climate and Energy Environment, a recent detection at the Seogyeom Island water supply facility recorded a uranium concentration of 45 micrograms per liter, exceeding the drinking water quality standard of 30 micrograms per liter. The government stated that, following concerns raised over wastewater discharge from the Pyongsan uranium plant, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has conducted monthly regular inspections since July 2025, and quarterly inspections starting in 2026. The most recent inspection (June 2026) showed uranium concentrations ranging from 0.133 to 3.025 micrograms per liter at seven points, including the downstream Han River and areas near Ganghwa Island...

2026-08-04

Carbon isotope analysis reveals: Canadian Arctic seabed sediments can sequester part of permafrost organic carbon

News dated August 3, 2026: Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute and the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen conducted a study on permafrost coasts near Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk) in Canada, finding that not all terrestrial organic carbon released by Arctic permafrost thaw and coastal erosion enters the atmosphere—a significant portion is instead stored in seabed sediments. The findings have been published in the journal *Nature Geoscience*. Arctic terrestrial permafrost ecosystems store approximately 130 billion tons of carbon from organic sources such as plant debris, while marine and river delta sediments contain an additional 40 billion tons. As Arctic warming accelerates...

2026-08-04

U.S. to Resume Shipping Transuranic Waste Drums from Savannah River Site to WIPP for Permanent Disposal

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) will resume shipping remote-handled transuranic waste drums from the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico for permanent disposal on July 28, 2026. Prior to resuming shipments, relevant teams have completed flammable gas analysis, confirming that these waste containers meet safety requirements for transport to the underground disposal facility. Flammable gas sampling is a critical safety step before transuranic waste transportation. Workers assess potential combustion risks inside containers by detecting gases such as hydrogen, methane, and volatile organic compounds, and confirm their safety during transport and disposal...

2026-08-03

U.S. Department of Energy Highlights Progress in Legacy Waste Cleanup and Medical Isotope R&D

Recently, senior officials from the U.S. Department of Energy attended an event hosted by the U.S. House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, presenting the application progress of legacy nuclear waste cleanup efforts in medical isotope R&D and future energy technologies. The event, themed "DOE's Isotope Mission: Legacy Cleanup Saves Lives, Empowers America's Future," focused on how nuclear cleanup missions align with isotope production and medical research. DOE's Under Secretary for Science Dario Gil, along with Oak Ridge National Laboratory Environmental Management Office Manager Eric Olds and Savannah River Operations Office Manager Edwin DeShon, jointly attended the event. DeShon...

2026-08-03

Brazilian research team uses stable isotope analysis to trace Amazon timber origins

Brazilian researchers are developing a timber traceability tool based on stable isotope analysis to help identify the origins of illegally logged wood in the Amazon region. Illegal logging is reported to be one of the major causes of deforestation in the Amazon. Local environmental and law enforcement agencies currently typically determine timber origins through plant anatomical characteristics, tree species distribution, and official records such as forest origin documents, but these methods are not always sufficient to prove that timber comes from legal areas. A research team at the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo (CENA-USP) is mapping the isotopic distribution of Amazon trees. The method analyzes the ratios of different isotopes of elements such as oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and strontium in wood cellulose to narrow down the potential harvesting areas of timber. Team leader Luiz Antonio Martinelli stated that stable isotopes are difficult to forge artificially, offering the potential to provide federal police with a more tamper-resistant technical tool.

2026-08-02

Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam Publishes Revised List of 22 Administrative Procedures in the Field of Radiation and Nuclear Safety

The Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee recently issued Decision No. 2017/QD-UBND, publishing the revised and supplemented list of administrative procedures in the field of radiation and nuclear safety within the functional management scope of the Bac Ninh Provincial Department of Science and Technology. The list comprises a total of 22 administrative procedures, covering specific matters such as licensing for radiation operations, registration of nuclear technology application services, and license renewal and modification. This serves as the provincial-level implementation and localization of authority delegated or adjusted by central ministries (such as Decision No. 2607/QD-BKHCN of the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology issued in May 2026). According to the requirements of the Decision, the Bac Ninh Provincial Department of Science and Technology will take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies and the People's Committees of districts and cities, to review and improve the electronic processing workflows and structures within administrative procedures, relying on the one-stop and integrated one-stop mechanisms. At the same time, the procedure contents will be publicly posted at public administrative service centers in communes and townships, as well as at points for receiving administrative procedures and returning results, and will be strictly processed online in accordance with the regulations published on the National Public Service Portal (https://dichvucong.gov.vn). This arrangement aims to unify the service guides, document checklists, and processing timelines for radiation and nuclear safety matters into a digital window, reducing the need for in-person visits.

2026-08-01

Six radiation monitoring posts in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, resumed transmission on the morning of the 30th after being interrupted by power outages caused by the earthquake

Radiation monitoring stations in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, have resumed operations after data interruptions caused by the earthquake. On the morning of July 30, data transmission at all monitoring stations returned to normal. The initial cause of the malfunction is believed to be power outages resulting from the earthquake, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan will conduct further investigations into the matter. A total of six radiation monitoring stations are located in Kumamoto Prefecture, distributed across Kumamoto City, Uto City, and other areas, used for real-time measurement of radiation levels in the environment. Starting around 11 p.m. on July 28, data transmission from these stations was suddenly interrupted, making it impossible to assess local radiation levels. This situation drew significant attention from relevant authorities. According to the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan...

2026-07-31

ANSTO Australia Develops New Solution for Immobilizing Sulfate-Bearing Radioactive Waste

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) announced on July 31, 2026, that its researchers have developed a new waste treatment material for immobilizing sulfate-bearing radioactive waste, which is expected to solve the technical challenges in the long-term management of such waste and provide a reference pathway for similar radioactive waste treatment internationally. The related research has been published in the Journal of the European Ceramic Society. The study demonstrates for the first time the application of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) technology in consolidating a dedicated glass-ceramic waste form for sulfate-rich nuclear waste. The research originated from ANSTO's need to manage waste generated during the production of medical radioisotopes, among which sulfate-bearing liquid waste...

2026-07-31

Chinese Jinshui River study reveals seasonal variations affect nitrogen removal capacity of forest streams

A new study shows that the capacity of forest streams to remove excess nitrogen varies with the seasons, influenced by different environmental factors in summer and winter respectively. This finding suggests that water quality management in forest watersheds needs to give greater consideration to seasonal differences. Figure 1. Location of study sites along the Jinshui River. (a) Watershed location; (b) Watershed topography and sampling point distribution; (c) Watershed land use types. Researchers focused on the Jinshui River in central China, analyzing water and surface sediment samples from 18 sites along forested riparian zones. The study combined nitrogen-15 isotope tracing, remote sensing monitoring, water and sediment chemical measurements, and microbial-based...

2026-07-31