IAEA/RCA Regional Training Workshop (RTW) on Contaminant Transport and Ecological Risk Assessment Models for Response to Environmental Emergencies will be held at Qingdao, China during 5-12 December 2006 in cooperation with the Government of China through the First Institute of Oceanography in Qingdao.

IAEA/RCA has been carrying out a project on Improving Regional Capacity for Assessment, Planning and Responding to Aquatic Environmental Emergencies since 2005 with the purpose of improving the regional capacity for the management of aquatic radiological and environmental risks and to develop capacity in the RCA countries to assess, plan and respond to such pollution in coastal aquatic environment. It is noted that the major growth of industrial activities in RCA Member States has increased the potential for radiological and environmental contamination of receiving waters.

In fact, actual levels of contamination in receiving waters have also increased in specific locations, leading to reduced populations of the flora and fauna through direct toxic effects. The accumulation of contaminants in the water, flora and fauna can adversely impact the health of local communities, their food supplies and local economy.

The course will provide specific training in the theoretical background combined with practical applications and interpretation of state-of-the-art probabilistic ecological risk assessment modelling (AQUARISK) for radionuclides and non-radioactive contaminants. The results of the contaminant transport model for Jakarta Bay, developed with the Project, will be presented and used as an example scenario for application of AQUARISK.

Outcomes of the Regional Project and National Project activities will be presented at the PEMSEA East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006 to be held in Haikou, Hainan Province in China on 13 December 2006 during a seminar on Radioisotope Technology for Coastal and Ocean Movement, jointly organized by RCARO and PEMSEA.