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Radiation Protection of the Environment (Environment Agency Course, July 2015)

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be aware of Reference Organisms understand how activity concentrations in organisms are predicted (if not known) appreciate how transfer parameters are selected when data are lacking By the end of this presentation and practical you should.

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A series of imaginary entities that provides a basis for the estimation of the radiation dose rate to a range of organisms that are typical, or representative, of a contaminated environment. These estimates, in turn, would provide a basis for assessing the likelihood and degree of radiation effects. It is important to recognise that they are not a direct representation of any identifiable animal or plant species

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Selection criteria, reference organisms should encompass: Organisms likely to have comparatively high exposures Radiosensitive organisms Protected (European) species Range of trophic levels ICRPs proposed Reference Animals and Plants

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Lichen & bryophytes Grasses & herbs Shrub Tree Mollusc - gastropod Flying insect Arthropod detritivorous Annelid Mammal - large Bird Mammal small-burrowing Reptile Amphibian Transfer (& effects) data collated at these broad levels Representative geometry selected for dosimetry

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Mammal large Mammal small-burrowing Flying insect Annelid Bird Amphibian Pelagic fish Benthic fish Crustacean Tree Grasses & herbs Macroalgae

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Most approaches use concentration ratios (CR)

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x CR = Bq/kg

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Time Activity Statistical exponential process Half-life = Time taken for activity to reduce by 50% CR is by element NOT isotope half-life ignored

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Water Sediment

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www.wildlifetransferdatabase.org

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Freshwater RadionuclideFishVascular plantMolluscReptileAlgaePhytoplanktonCrustaceanInsect larvaeInsectZooplanktonMammalAmphibian Cs Sr Am Cm Pu Ra Ce Co Mn U Pb Cd Po Sb Se I Ni Th Zr Eu Ru Cl P Np S Tc Te Ag Nb n10 n>1020