A new simplified allometric approach for predicting the biological half-life of radionuclides in reptiles

Beresford, N.A.; Wood, M.D.. 2014 A new simplified allometric approach for predicting the biological half-life of radionuclides in reptiles. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 138. 116-121. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.08.012

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Abstract/Summary

A major source of uncertainty in the estimation of radiation dose to wildlife is the prediction of internal radionuclide activity concentrations. Allometric (mass-dependent) relationships describing biological half-life (T1/2b) of radionuclides in organisms can be used to predict organism activity concentrations. The establishment of allometric expressions requires experimental data which are often lacking. An approach to predict the T1/2b in homeothermic vertebrates has recently been proposed. In this paper we have adapted this to be applicable to reptiles. For Cs, Ra and Sr, over a mass range of 0.02–1.5 kg, resultant predictions were generally within a factor of 6 of reported values demonstrating that the approach can be used when measured T1/2b data are lacking. However, the effect of mass on reptilian radionuclide T1/2b is minimal. If sufficient measured data are available for a given radionuclide then it is likely that these would give a reasonable estimate of T1/2b in any reptile species.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.08.012
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
ISSN:	0265-931X
Additional Keywords:	radioecology, reptile, biological half-life, allometry, radionuclide
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	29 Sep 2014 11:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508509

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