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Inter-comparison of models to estimate radionuclide activity concentrations in non-human biota

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Abstract

A number of models have recently been, or are currently being, developed to enable the assessment of radiation doses from ionising radiation to non-human species. A key component of these models is the ability to predict whole-organism activity concentrations in a wide range of wildlife. In this paper, we compare the whole-organism activity concentrations predicted by eight models participating within the IAEA Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety programme for a range of radionuclides to terrestrial and freshwater organisms. In many instances, there was considerable variation, ranging over orders of magnitude, between the predictions of the different models. Reasons for this variability (including methodology, data source and data availability) are identified and discussed. The active participation of groups responsible for the development of key models within this exercise is a useful step forward in providing the transparency in methodology and data provenance required for models which are either currently being used for regulatory purposes or which may be used in the future. The work reported in this paper, and supported by other findings, demonstrates that the largest contribution to variability between model predictions is the parameterisation of their transfer components. There is a clear need to focus efforts and provide authoritative compilations of those data which are available.

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Notes

  1. Note the AECL approach adopted the guidance as presented in the FASSET documentation [16] to derive a CR value for 226Ra for amphibian (Table 10).

  2. Note where comparatively high or low predicted activity concentrations (i.e. biased predictions) are noted relatively high z-scores can also be assumed.

  3. Subsequent to participation in the exercise a number of papers detailing the ERICA approach in more detail and presenting updated transfer databases have been published [40, 50, 51].

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Author notes

  1. T. Yankovich

    Present address: EcoMetrix Incorporated, Missisauga, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK

    N. A. Beresford, C. L. Barnett & B. J. Howard

  2. Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway

    J. E. Brown & A. Hosseini

  3. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA

    J. J. Cheng, S. Kamboj & C. Yu

  4. England and Wales Environment Agency, Warrington, UK

    D. Copplestone

  5. Institute of Physics, Vilnius, Lithuania

    V. Filistovic & T. Nedveckaite

  6. Westlakes Research Institute, Moor Row, UK

    S. R. Jones, J. Vives i Batlle & S. Vives-Lynch

  7. SPA Typhoon, Obninsk, Russia

    A. Kryshev & T. Sazykina

  8. SCK·CEN, Mol, Belgium

    G. Olyslaegers

  9. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Helsinki, Finland

    R. Saxén

  10. Atomic Energy Canada Limited, Chalk River, Canada

    T. Yankovich

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  1. N. A. Beresford
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  2. C. L. Barnett
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  3. J. E. Brown
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  9. S. R. Jones
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  19. C. Yu
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Correspondence to N. A. Beresford.

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Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Brown, J.E. et al. Inter-comparison of models to estimate radionuclide activity concentrations in non-human biota. Radiat Environ Biophys 47, 491–514 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-008-0186-8

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