Preliminary results of a risk assessment study for uranium contamination in central Portugal

This study applied DPSIR methodology for developing response indicators and establishing the relationship between central and local governments as far as risk management is concerned, and was also based on the findings from an EC project, the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) 2006 PROGRAMME Action 1.3.1. In order to apply the appropriate response indicators it is necessary to identify driving forces (D), pressure (P), state (S), and impact (I) indicators. The purpose of this study is to show the application of two methodologies in dealing with the 'uranium mine contamination' hazard in central Portugal with the available indicators. The central region of Portugal (NUTS II, Nomenclature des Unites Territoriales Statistiques, Level II) occupies an area of 23 666 km2 (25.7% of Portugal) and comprises 78 municipalities. Its population is almost 1.8 million inhabitants (17.2% of the country's total). The 10 NUTS III areas of central Portugal contain a large number of mineral occurrences, as well as abandoned uranium mines exploited since 1907 and located mainly in granitic rocks. Two different methodologies were applied consecutively: (1) a methodological approach where specific regional indicators were studied per municipality; (2) the ESPON-HAZARDS project methodology, using the identified ESPON-HAZARDS indicators studied per NUTS III region. It was concluded that the risk map created by the application of the regional methodology needed revision. Considering the available indicators in the present scenario the highest risk municipality was Nelas and the possible response indicators for the higher risk areas could be: 'monitoring of water supply' and 'conditioned water and agriculture use'. The ESPON-HAZARDS methodology is applied using the available data, and the achievements indicate that the map of central Portugal needs revision. The reason is that although the presence of the mines per NUTS III is raised, the risk is determined by the type of storage and volume of waste that influences the hazard occurrence according to ESPON definitions. With the present map the higher risk NUTS III were Dao-Lafoes and Pinhal Interior Norte. (author)