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Prompt simulation of the transfer of radioactivity in the Irish food chain following a nuclear accident

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut ,
P. McGinnity ,
K. J. Smith ,
C. A. McMahon  and
P. A. Colgan
P. McGinnity
Affiliation:
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 3 Clonskeagh Square, Dublin 14, Ireland
K. J. Smith
Affiliation:
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 3 Clonskeagh Square, Dublin 14, Ireland
C. A. McMahon
Affiliation:
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 3 Clonskeagh Square, Dublin 14, Ireland
P. A. Colgan
Affiliation:
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 3 Clonskeagh Square, Dublin 14, Ireland
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Abstract

The ARGOS Food and Dose Module has been adopted by the RPII to simulate the transfer of radioactivity in the food chain in the event of a large scale nuclear incident and to enhance its capability to assess the radiological consequences. This paper describes adaptation of this model for Irish conditions and its intended use, illustrated with examples from a recent national emergency exercise. By enabling time series of activity concentrations of individual radionuclide or radionuclide groups in a range of food and animal feeds and comparison with appropriate action levels, the model would assist the formulation of early advice regarding countermeasures and would be an important factor in refining a pre-defined sampling strategy. The current implementation provides a basis for more detailed modelling which would inevitably be required in the event of a real incident. As the situation evolved and monitoring results became available, FDM could be refined and used to predict future concentrations or those over a wide spatial area with increased confidence.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 707 - 712
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

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