BIODOSE: a code for predicting the dose to man from radionuclides released from underground nuclear waste repositories
The BIODOSE computer program simulates the environmental transport of radionuclides released to surface water and predicts the resulting dosage to humans. This report describes the program and discusses its use in the evaluation of nuclear waste repositories. The methods used to estimate dose are examined critically, and the most important parameters in each stage of the calculations are identified as an aid in planning for measurements in the field. Dose predictions from releases of nuclear waste to a large northwestern river (the baseline river) are presented to point out the nuclides, compartments and pathways that contribute most to the hazard as a function of waste storage time. Predictions for five other water systems are presented to identify the most important system parameters that determine the concentrations of individual nuclides in compartments and the resultant dose. The uncertainties in the biological parameters for dose prediction are identified, and changes in current values are suggested. Various ways of reporting dose estimates for radiological safety assessments are discussed. Additional work needed to improve the dose predictions from BIODOSE and specific areas and steps to improve our capabilities to assess the environmental transport of nuclides released from nuclear waste repositories and the resultant dose to man are suggested.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5465361
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-18652; TRN: 80-009623
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
B CODES
DOSE COMMITMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FORECASTING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RIVERS
SURFACE WATERS
COMPUTER CODES
DOSES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
POPULATIONS
SIMULATION
STREAMS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
520301* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987)
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety