The Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) studies the harmful effects of radiation on organisms and the ecosystem as a whole, to improve the protection of people and environment.

CERAD’s fundamental research into sources of radiation, transfer in ecosystems and biological responses provides new insights into the environmental impacts of low radiation (without or in combination with other environmental stressors). In particular, the centre has developed tools and methods to address key uncertainties in risk assessment. A more accurate assessment of the risks from environmental radioactivity will greatly assist their management and mitigation.

CERAD receives long-term funding (2013-2022) under the Centre of Excellence (CoE) scheme of the Norwegian Research Council. This scheme supports collaboration between scientists through generous funding of ambitious and innovative research projects. The CoEs work on complex problems that require coordinated, multidisciplinairy and long-term research activities to achieve their objectives.

CERAD is a partnership of NMBU, DSA, NIVA, MET and FHI, based at NMBU.

CERAD scientists work on research questions such as:

• What determines the movement of radioactive particles through air and water?
• What determines the way that radioactive particles are transferred in an ecosystem, and are taken up and accumulated by living organisms?
• Can effects at the organism level be correlated with responses at the cellular or molecular biomarker level?
• Can we improve the modelling of transfer and exposure of radioactive particles by taking account of time- and temperature dependent changes? 
• What is the effect of multiple stressors (ionising radiation, UV and chemical stressors). Are there additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects?