Suggestions for improvement of the methodology and use of MEPAS, the Multimedia Environmental Pollutant Assessment System. Environmental Restoration Program

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10140748· OSTI ID:10140748

Shevenell, L; Hoffman, F O

The Multimedia Environmental Pollutant Assessment System (MEPAS) has been evaluated for the purpose of determining if the current ranking of waste sites is realistic and reliable. There are two main reasons for the uncertainty of the rankings identified in this study: the use of the hazard potential index (HPI) and the user input. The HPI contributes to unreliable rankings because risks to human populations are summarized in a single numerical value. A final result from MEPAS should include risks to the maximally exposed individual, average individual, and the population (noting the population size) so that users can evaluate and weigh these risks. Examination of user input indicates that exposure pathways and exposed populations were sometimes arbitrarily selected. Users must be better informed about the characteristics of the waste site and its potential interaction with human populations for realistic input to the MEPAS model to be developed. Without realistic and consistent input to the MEPAS, or any model, reliable results cannot be expected and any prioritizations based on the results will be questionable.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10140748
• Report Number(s): ORNL/ER-47; ON: DE92013135
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Apr 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RISK ASSESSMENT
ORNL
STORAGE FACILITIES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
EVALUATION
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
CARCINOGENS
RADIATION PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
DOSE RATES
NEOPLASMS
WASTE STORAGE
054000
052002
560101
HEALTH AND SAFETY
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE
DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING