Areas in Focus

The Symposium will address theory and overall approaches as well as practical case studies. It will give insight into the problem of transparency in risk assessment and how procedures can be established to clarify the role of values versus facts, and to build trust. The Symposium will consist of a combination of invited speeches and contributions resulting from the open call for papers. Papers addressing various areas of risk management are welcome. However, the organizers have chosen to focus the call for abstracts on four areas. These AREAS IN FOCUS are introduced below.

Risk assessment of mobile telephone systems

Mobile telephones are an essential component of modern technology and communication. To have a good mobile phone system is seen necessary for any country that wants to be a high tech society. The development has, however, caused opposition and controversy in many countries. There are concerns over radiation risk from the phones themselves, base stations and masts, although international organizations and national authorities assure that there are no such risks. There is clearly a need for more dialogue and more transparency in order to increase awareness in this area. The intention is that VALDOR will make a substantial contribution to the needed dialogue.

Dariusz Leszczynski, Professor, STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland “The question whether electromagnetic radiation, like this emitted e.g. by mobile phones or power lines, exerts any detrimental health effects still remains to be convincingly answered. Many studies have shown that this radiation induces biological effects. However, we are still missing sufficiently robust evidence that would show the impact of these changes on human physiology. We need more specifically targeted research that would examine effects of the electromagnetic radiation on human physiology (provocation studies) and on human cells (molecular mechanisms).”

Cleaning-up and remediation of contaminated sites

As the awareness about the existence of waste landfills, contaminated sites and contaminated sediments, and their risks for humans and the environment, has gradually increased world-wide – so has the need for assessing and managing them in the best possible way. The technical complexity, the potentially high costs associated with remediation projects and their impact on the local area require efficient, reasonable and democratic risk reduction policies and strategies.

Bo Lind, Research Director, Swedish Geotechnical Institute, SGI “The management of millions of contaminated sites around the world should be integrated into the physical planning process and the possible decision options must be analysed with regard to land use, acceptable environmental and health risks and acceptable costs.”

Nuclear waste management

This is undoubtedly a very controversial area. Failures in the siting of nuclear waste repositories have caused waste management organizations to change their attitudes and approaches to risk communication. As a consequence, new approaches to participation and transparency have emerged in this sector that are now being disseminated to other fields. At the same time, several countries still face problems to find a way forward and to reach solutions with public support.

John Dalton, UK Nirex Limited “Our experience at Nirex of dealing with the long-term management of radioactive waste has shown that this controversial issue is not only a scientific and technical one, but has social and ethical aspects as well. The VALDOR Symposium provides an excellent opportunity to discuss how the social and ethical dimensions of societal problems are being dealt with in different countries.”

Issues in biotechnology and food safety

The term “biotechnology” covers a very wide range of areas with intimate links to academic research, health care, food supply, industrial development etc. It also contains a wide range of controversial ethical and political issues that require transparency and understanding of the stakeholder views. The conference organizers especially encourage contributions about issues related to agriculture such as genetically modified animal feed, food marking and genetically modified tree plantations. Papers about genetic testing and genetic data banks – issues that include aspects of human health, societal security and individual integrity – are also much welcomed.

Kristina Glimelius, Professor and vice-rector, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences “The on-going controversy in Europe about genetically modified maize demonstrates the need for bridging the gap between science and society. We need a better dialogue on possibilities, risks and ethics with biotechnologies.”