NATO Publications (original) (raw)
CISAM CENTRO INTERFORZE STUDI APPLICAZIONI MILITARI ISTITUTO AUTORIZZATO
VERBALE DI INTERVENTO
KFOR - Brigata Multinazionale Ovest
INDEX
1. Introduction
1.1 Foreword
1.2 Inspection goals
1.3 Directions
2. Inspected areas
3. Measurement procedures
3.1 measurement instrumentation employed on site
3.2 formalities for the drawing of environmental samples
3.3 measurements
4. Radiological evaluations
5. Recommended precaution measures
6. Briefing to the Minister of Defense
7. Conclusive remarks
Appendix
Radioprotection evaluations relative to the use of depleted Uranium in Kosovo
1. Introduction
1.1 Foreword
Following the war in Kosovo and the consequent environmental inspections performed by expert technicians from CISAM (November 1999, April and August 2000) a CISAM team was formally tasked to continue environmental inspections at Italfor-Kosovo already underway by disposition n. COI/J4L/25780 of 18 November 2000.
Members of the CISAM team were Rear Admiral (Naval Arms) Francesco Andreuccetti, CISAM Director, Dr. Vittorio Sabbatini, Director of the Nuclear Office, certified expert of 3rd level and Physicist Director Dr. Armando Benedetti, certified expert of 3rd level. The environment radiological tests were performed within the period of 21 to 24 November 2000 with the cooperation of the NBC Company led by Cpt. Daniele Pisani.
1.2 Inspection goals
· to inspect areas affected by the utilization of DU ammunition already subjected to environmental tests, particularly around the city of Dakovica.
· to comply with requests of technical information submitted by members of the Italian press, particularly representatives of the national radio and TV (RAI) present in the area of Italfor-Kosovo.
· to draft transportation documents on the environment samples provided by members of the Multinational Brigade, to be analysed in the CISAM laboratory.
· to draft transportation documents on samples drawn by UNEP (United Nations Environmental Protection)providing transportation of the same to Italy for direct consignment to ANPA (National Agency for the Protection of the Environment).
· to brief the Ministry of Defense on the program of protective actions and environmental checks performed by CISAM in reference to the use of DU ammunition.
If during the inspection of the Dakovica area the situation required it, the following actions would have been undertaken in compliance with the protection norms in force:
· identification and classification of radioactive materials.
· fencing of areas presenting ionizing radiation risks.
· verification of protective devices and instrumentation.
· radioprotection and environmental evaluation
· indication of eventual, necessary actions to be undertaken
1.3 Directions to personnel
During the various phases of the operation the Italian military personnel has been informed on
· incumbent, specific risks
· preventive protection measures to be adopted
2. Controlled areas
The areas listed below are those near Dakovica subjected to radiological checks and radioprotection tests.
a) north of the city, close to the dam on lake Radonjicko Jezero.
b) ex VJ Barracks on the way to the Moribas Pass, by the bridge on the River Beladrin.
In order to monitor the unfolding of the radiological situation in the above mentioned areas, radiometric measurements have been taken and drawing of environmental samples, biological indicators in particular, has taken place. In the same areas the following items have been identified, collected and conditioned:
1 shell and 1 fragment of a DU projectile weighing about 50 grams.
Inspection of e B area was carried out in the presence of Mr. paolo Di Giannantonio, reporter for the Italian National Radio and Television (RAI); also witness of the activity was LTC Scalas, public information officer for the Multinational Brigade West.
3. Measurement procedures
3.1 Measurement instrumentation utilized on site.
The following portable monitors have been utilized to assess the radilogical situation in the tested areas.
· automess/Kerma rateo in air with extention probe
· ROTEM DA-3 with beta-gamma GM-10 probe
3.2 Formalities for the drawing of environmental samples
Samples have been drawn from the areas subjected to radioprotection tests for the lab measurements to be carried ot in the Health-Physics and Radioprotection departments of the CISAM Nuclear Office.
Two kinds of samples have been drawn: soil samples and biological indicator samples. The soils samples have been drawn according to the standard procedures indicated in the NATO proceduced SIRA document. Samples from the mentioned formal inspection and those gathered by the NBC Company during the UNEP campaign have been transferred to CISAM for lab measurements. Moreover, transportation documents for the UNEP samples and delivery of the same to ANPA, Italy, have been provided.
3.3 Measurements
The rateo dose density measurements performed on the shell found near the dam on the lake of Dakovica, have shown values up to a maximum of 2 microGy/h and up to 5.5 microGy/h in correspondence of the contaminated hole left in the ground. The verified dose intensities have decreased to a level where values could not be distinguished from those present in the environment at a distance of 30 cm from the residues. On the contrary, measurements performed on the projectile section of a depleted Uranium shell found near the Dakovica barracks have shown a Kerma rateo in air of about 200 microGy/h with a circular irradiation field measurable up to 2.5 m from the projectile side. After the fragment has been screened and secured, the measurements taken have shown dose intensity values up to maximum of 1 microGy/h.
On site instrumental, environmental measurements performed on the soil have confirmed the values of superficial contamination and of Kerma rateo measured in previous inspections. Lab measurements are contemplated for the samples delivered to CISAM. These measurements being of considerably higher sensitivity, will allow for an evaluation of the DU concentration and for the identification of eventual, additional radioisotopes.
4. Radiological evaluations
The following, pertinent radiological observations are reported for radioprotection purpose.
According to legislative decree 230/95 in force, depleted Uranium is radioactive material belonging to low toxicity (4th group). Thu, the quantity that would determine the compulsive application of this protective norm is 5 MBq, where the level of concentration 1Bq/g existing in the concerned material were to exceed simultaneously. The total DU radioactivity in a 300 gram projectile is approximately 4 MBq, therefore the level in one projectile falls below the limits for the application of the mentioned decree 230/95.
Worth remembering is that by the same decree, the annual limit of intake is 40 Bq for the Y type (highly insoluble oxides generated by the interaction of DU with the environment).
The presence of DU generates protection problems illustrated as results of precedent inspections, which are summarized as follows:
· irradiation from DU shells and/or their parts in the area of their permanence.
· DU incorporation due to careless handling.
Measurements performed on site during the present inspection confirm that where DU has been utilized, external exposure risks of considerable entity exist in case of extended permanence close to the shells, along with a risk of incorporation when operations in the affected areas are carried out ignoring the established, protective measures.
5. Precaution measures
The precaution measures adopted as result of previous inspections in order to keep to a minimum risks from ionizing radiations caused by DU, are to be deemed still valid and are epitomized by the following, important ones:
a) permanence of personnel in the areas affected by DU ammunition to be reduced to the strictly essential.
b) personnel operating in these areas to be escorted by NBC Company personnel.
c) DU projectiles and shells found during the inspections to be collected according to established norms and stored in a designated depot.
6. Briefing to the Minister of Defense
On 23 November 2000, during the presence of the CISAM team, a visit by the Minister of Defense, Hon. Mattarella, took place at Italfor-Kosovo in Pec.Following the briefing by Gen. Torelli, Cdr of the Multinational Brigade West and by Gen. Cabiggioso, KFOR Commander, on the operations performed by the Italian military in Kosovo, Dr. Sabbatini illustrated the CISAM activity as outlined in the paper "Radioprotection evaluations relative to the use of depleted Uranium in Kosovo".
Copy of this document is reported in appendix.
7 Conclusive remarks
The areas in Kosovo assigned to the Italian troups that have been subjected to radiological checks, have been evaluated by CISAM with regards to the effects caused by the use of depleted Uranium occurred in the spring of 1999. CISAM paid particular attention to the evaluation of irradiation and incorporation risks caused by the presence of DU and its dispersion. The implementation of preventive measures in force for sometime causes the doses, eventually absorbed by the personnel operating in the mentioned areas, to be comparable in intensity to those existing in the natural environment. Additional samples now being examined in the CISAM labs will make the monitoring of the evolving, present situation possible.
The UNEP samples have been handed over to the ANPA personnel at the Fiumicino, Rome airport.
