Study of the uncertainty in estimation of the exposure of non-human biota to ionising radiation

Avila, R.; Beresford, N.A..; Agüero, A.; Broed, R.; Brown, J.; Iospje, M.; Robles, B.; Suañez, A.. 2004 Study of the uncertainty in estimation of the exposure of non-human biota to ionising radiation. Journal of Radiological Protection, 24 (4A). A105-A122. https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/24/4A/007

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Abstract/Summary

Uncertainty in estimations of the exposure of non-human biota to ionising radiation may arise from a number of sources including values of the model parameters, empirical data, measurement errors and biases in the sampling. The significance of the overall uncertainty of an exposure assessment will depend on how the estimated dose compares with reference doses used for risk characterisation. In this paper, we present the results of a study of the uncertainty in estimation of the exposure of non-human biota using some of the models and parameters recommended in the FASSET methodology. The study was carried out for semi-natural terrestrial, agricultural and marine ecosystems, and for four radionuclides (137Cs, 239Pu, 129I and 237Np). The parameters of the radionuclide transfer models showed the highest sensitivity and contributed the most to the uncertainty in the predictions of doses to biota. The most important ones were related to the bioavailability and mobility of radionuclides in the environment, for example soil-to-plant transfer factors, the bioaccumulation factors for marine biota and the gut uptake fraction for terrestrial mammals. In contrast, the dose conversion coefficients showed low sensitivity and contributed little to the overall uncertainty. Radiobiological effectiveness contributed to the overall uncertainty of the dose estimations for alpha emitters although to a lesser degree than a number of transfer model parameters.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/24/4A/007
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > SE01B Sustainable Monitoring, Risk Assessment and Management of Chemicals > SE01.4 Monitoring and predicting the distribution of chemicals in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ Environmental Chemistry & Pollution
ISSN:	0952-4746
Additional Keywords:	radioecology
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	24 Apr 2012 15:18 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/17733

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