Variation in stakeholder opinion on countermeasures across Europe

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 371 - 381
• Main Authors: Nisbet, A.F., Mercer, J.A., Rantavaara, A., Hanninen, R., Vandecasteele, C., Hardeman, F., Ioannides, K.G., Tzialla, C., Ollagnon, H., Pupin, V., Jullien, T.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural countermeasures; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cities; Decision Support Systems, Management - organization & administration; Decision Support Systems, Management - trends; Decontamination - methods; Disaster Planning; Ecosystem; Environment. Living conditions; Europe; FARMING; Food chain; Food Contamination, Radioactive - prevention & control; Food industries; Food Supply; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Industry; Information Services; Medical sciences; Policy Making; Pollution and sludges; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Radioactive contamination; Refuse Disposal - methods; Rural Population; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Stakeholders; STRATEGY; Greece; United Kingdom; Belgium; France; Europe; Finland; British Isles; Radioactive contamination; FARMING; Stakeholders; STRATEGY; Food chain; Agricultural countermeasures; Radioactive pollution; Social group; Pollution control; Expert; Variations; Countermeasure; Decontamination; FARMING network; Actor; Agricultural waste; agri-food chains; Opinion inquiry; Public health; Radioactive waste; Decision making; Biosafety; Waste disposal; European community; Civil defense; Post-accidental management
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.03.038

A compendium of agricultural countermeasures and rural waste disposal options has been compiled as part of the EC STRATEGY (Sustainable Restoration and Long-Term Management of Contaminated Rural, Urban and Industrial Ecosystems) project. The compendium was discussed by the FARMING (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) network of stakeholders during meetings of national panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, Greece and France in 2002. Their preliminary feedback has been summarised in terms of whether an option is generally acceptable, unacceptable or only acceptable under specific circumstances. A considerable divergence of opinion between national panels was apparent for many of the options considered. This could be attributed to differences in geomorphology, climate, land management, infrastructure, consumer confidence, sociopolitical context and culture. Where consensus was reached between stakeholders it was generally for those countermeasures that provide public reassurance, sustain farming practices and minimise environmental impact. Furthermore, whilst there was general agreement that contaminated food should not enter the food chain, many of the options proposed for its subsequent management were not generally acceptable to stakeholders.