Overview of radionuclide behaviour in the natural environment.

Abstract: This chapter provides a short introduction and sets the scene for this book on environmental radionuclide behaviour. The focus is laid on those radionuclides extracted from ores and/or produced in the course of human activities related to energy production. These can be of natural or anthropogenic origin potentially released during mining and processing ores, during operation of nuclear power installations, reprocessing plants and nuclear waste repositories, and in case of accidents. Their manifold interactive reactions being typical to individual radionuclides and isotopes within various environmental compartments in geo-, eco- and biosphere are briefly described but will be the subject of more detailed descriptions and discussions in the individual chapters.