Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials: A Borderline Case

This »Talking Matters« contribution had a special feature - the talk by environmental historian Verena Winiwarter from Universität für Bodenkultur Wien was also the keynote of the Filtering Legacies workshop that »Matters of Activity« was co-hosting with TU Berlin on November 11 and 12.

The lecture was given in English. It was part of the online lecture series of the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« entitled »Talking Matters«.

Abstract

According to one estimate, global sale of chemicals has increased by a factor of about 25 since 1970, from $171 billion to $4.1 trillion (UNEP, 2013). Over the next few decades, the rate of increase in the volume of chemicals used worldwide is expected to continue, or even accelerate (UNEP, 2013). Regulation of synthetic chemicals is necessary and in many countries, a tight regulatory framework is in place. REACH, the framework of the EU for chemicals has been heralded as a milestone of regulation. The IAEA acts as a regulatory body for radionuclides, and while sometimes being critizised for its pro-nuclear stance, has done well in terms of regulation and tracing of the material from reactors, research institutions and the military. All these materials have one thing in common: They are man-made. But what about naturally occurring radioactive materials that are »technologically enhanced«? How is regulation possible in such cases? The Radium-laden ion exchange resins resulting from removing Radium from drinking water sources are much more concentrated and hence, radioactive, but still, naturally occuring. Their safe disposal is a challenge. The same is true for the radioactive cocktail found clogging the pipes of fracking operations. As long as the material was naturally occuring deep in the earth, it was no bother. But once concentrated and brought to the light of day it presents a borderline case. The presentation aims to use the borderline case of TENORMs as a lens through which to view the greater question of human interventions into natural systems and their consequences for society.

Bio

Verena Winiwarter was appointed Professor of Environmental History at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt in 2007, and holds the same position at BOKU since 3/2018, when the Institute of Social Ecology was moved. First trained as a chemical engineer, she holds a PhD in Environmental History from Vienna University and was granted the venia legendi in Human Ecology in 2003 at Vienna University. Since 2016, she is a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Chairperson of the Commission for Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies (OEAW), President of ICEHO 2016-19, founding member of ESEH, for which she served as president from 2001 until 2005 and member of the advisory boards of the Centre for Environmental History (University Tallinn), Deutsches Museum (München) and formerly Technisches Museum Wien. Her main research interests comprise the history of landscapes, in particular rivers, images, and the environmental history of soils and toxic legacies. Her 2014 co-authored book »Umwelt hat Geschichte. Sechzig Reisen durch die Zeit« was elected as Wissenschaftsbuch des Jahres in Austria and Umweltbuch des Jahres in Germany. In 2019, a 3rd, updated imprint was published. In 2013, she was »WissenschaftlerIn des Jahres« in Austria, elected by the council of science and education journalists. In the same year, she was awarded a honorary doctorate from Aalborg University. Please see https://boku.ac.at/zentrum-fuer-umweltgeschichte/mitglieder/verena-winiwarter for more information.