The Research Laboratory for Radionuclide Transfer in Aquatic Ecosystems (LRTA) is located in Cadarache, near Marseille.  

Context and research themes

LRTA is part of the Research Department for radionuclide transfer and effects on ecosystems (SRTE), which is assigned to the Director for the environment in the Health and Environment Pole (PSE-ENV). Main research areas covered include spatiotemporal analysis of radionuclide concentrations in the environment, modelling of radionuclide transfer and assessment of risk to ecosystems and human populations.

Research axes

Research objectives of the LRTA include:

• development of operational modelling tools to assess radionuclide concentration as a function of time and potential impact on all biosphere compartments as a result of accident and chronic releases;
  
• development of models describing main mechanisms influencing the path of pollutants due to nuclear applications (radionuclides and associated chemical substances) in Europe;
  
• development and operation of databases bringing together radioecological settings and environmental descriptions required for models developed elsewhere;
  
• participation in laboratory and/or field research in order to enrich these databases and validate models;
  
• mutual comparison of corresponding parts of developed models with models from various sources;
  
• development of methods and tools to justify numerical choices inherent in modelling, such as the selection of input data, and mastery of uncertainty and reliability level of models;
  
• participation in research and assessment programmes to manage post-accident situations, especially with regard to modelling transfers of radionuclides in the biosphere;
  
• making its technical skills available as part of IRSN’s emergency response;
  
• participation in departmental and interdepartmental training efforts on the content and implementation of the environmental impact study for regulated nuclear facilities;
  
• participation, in the framework set by the research unit, in national and international assessments and discussions (including as part of provided services) relating to environmental risk assessment related to the presence of pollutants from nuclear applications and the contribution of modelling in this area.
   

Research team

Researchers and engineers

Patrick Boyer (research engineer, HDR)

Sabine Charmasson (research engineer)

Céline Duffa (research engineer)

Frédérique Eyrolle-Boyer (research engineer, HDR)

Rodolfo Gurriaran (head of laboratory)

Hugo Lepage (research engineer)
Valérie Nicoulaud-Gouin (research engineer​)

Olivier Radakovitch (research engineer, HDR)

Technicians
Franck Giner

David Mourier

PhD and post-doc students

Partnership and research networks