RadCon: a radiological consequences model: technical guide - version 2.0
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Date
2000-05
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Publisher
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Abstract
A Radiological Consequence model (RadCon) is being developed at ANSTO to assess the radiological consequences after an incident in any climate using appropriate meteorological and radiological transfer parameters. The major areas of interest to the developers are tropical and subtropical climates. This is particularly so given that it is anticipated that nuclear energy will become a mainstay for economies in these regions within the foreseeable future. Therefore data acquisition and use of parameter values have been concentrated primarily on these climate types. Atmospheric dispersion and deposition for Australia can be modelled and supplied by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC one of five in the world) which is part of the Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (BMRC) Puri et al. (1992). RadCon combines these data (i.e. the time dependent air and ground concentration generated by the dispersion model or measured quantities in the case of an actual incident) with specific regional parameter values to determine the dose to people via the major pathways of external and internal irradiation. For the external irradiation calculations data are needed on lifestyle information such as the time spent indoors/outdoors the high/low physical activity rates for different groups of people (especially critical groups) and shielding factors for housing types. For the internal irradiation calculations data are needed on food consumption effect of food processing transfer parameters (soil to plant plant to animal) and interception values appropriate for the region under study. Where the relevant data are not available default temperate data are currently used. The results of a wide ranging literature search has highlighted where specific research will be initiated to determine the information required for tropical and sub-tropical regions. The user is able to initiate sensitivity analyses within RadCon. This allows the parameters to be ranked in priority of impact within the scenario being investigated. The model provides a tool for directing future research and has application as a planning tool for emergency response operations.
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Keywords
ANSTO, Dosimetry, Radioecological concentration, Programming languages
Citation
Crawford, J. Domel, R. U., Harris, F. F., & Twining, J. R. (2000). Radcon : a radiological consequences model : technical guide, version 2.0 (ANSTO/E744). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Atomic Energy Commission.