Mission of ALMERA of  CAAS     

The Analytical Laboratory for Measuring Environmental Radioactivity, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ALMERA of  CAAS),  was nominated by the China Atomic Eneregy Authority  (CAEA) and approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)  as a member of the international Network of IAEA ALMERA. Through meaurements of fallout radionuclides ( ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) integrated with geoaraphycial information systems (GIS), the objectives of ALMERA of  CAAS are to:

1. Quantify spatial-temporal variations in soil redistribution due to water, wind and tillage erosion;

2. Trace the fate of eroded soil organic carbon,  

3. Monitor agricultural pollutants in food production area,

4. Assess the effictiveness of soil conservation measures, and 

5. Provide the technical support and recommendation for prevention actions to the central and local governments.

The IAEA/ALMERA Network

In the frame of the analytical support provided by the Seibersdorf Laboratories to the Agency's activities in the field of radiation safety and protection in case of accidental or intentional release of radioactivity the IAEA' s Seibersdorf Chemistry Unit has started to establish an international network of Analytical Laboratories for Measuring Environmental Radioactivity (called ALMERA).

The network laboratories should have recognised and specialised skills in environmental radioactivity measurements and their abilities and performance must be demonstrated through proficiency exercises and in development of new methodologies. In 1996, the first intercomparison exercise of the ALMERA network was organised to compare the performance of the network laboratories for the determination of anthropogenic and primordial a-, b- and g-emitting radionuclides in a soil and sediment material. This first activation of the network was executed as a preliminary test to determine which laboratories could perform the necessary radiochemical analyses in support of the Agency’s upcoming Mururoa project. On 17 November 1997, the first ALMERA workshop was held in Vienna. One of the purposes of this workshop was to provide the participants with an opportunity to review and discuss the results of the first intercomparison. Topics suggested for discussion included: the problems encountered by the participants with their analytical or measurement methods during the intercomparison; the level of performance of the network laboratories; and, ways for improving the performance. The second purpose of the workshop was to have the participants discuss and decide the future role and function of the network. To focus the discussion, participants were reminded of the original goal of forming the network: to establish a group of laboratories spanning the globe that were capable of providing rapid and accurate analyses of environmental samples following an accidental or intentional release of radioactivity. Topics suggested for discussion included: ways that regional laboratories could attain and/or maintain the high analytical standards required by the network; approaches that could be used to monitor and improve the analytical quality of the existing network participants; and, future intercomparisons.

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List of ALMERA Network members

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