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Effect of including decay chains on predictions of equilibrium-type terrestrial food chain models

Gerald Kirchner

Journal of Radiological Protection, 1990

Abstract

Equilibrium-type food chain models are commonly used for assessing the radiological impact to man from environmental releases of radionuclides. Usually these models do not take into account the build-up of radioactive decay products during environmental transport. This may be a potential source of under prediction. For estimating the consequences of this simplification, the equations of an internationally recognised terrestrial food chain model have been extended to include decay chains of variable length. Example calculations show that for releases from light water reactors as expected both during routine operation and in the case of severe accidents, the build-up of decay products during environmental transport is generally of minor importance. However, a considerable number of radionuclides of potential radiological significance have been identified which show marked contributions of decay products to calculated contamination of human food and resulting radiation dose rates.

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