Effects of the new wildlife transfer factors on RESRAD-BIOTA's screening Biota Concentration Guides and previous model comparison studies

Abstract

The RESRAD-BIOTA Level 1 default Biota Concentration Guides (BCGs) are generic screening environmental medium concentrations based on reasonably conservative concentration ratios (CRs). These CRs had been identified from available literature for a variety of biota organisms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Report Series (TRS) handbook on radionuclide transfer to wildlife was recently published with data that can be compared with the RESRAD-BIOTA values. In addition, previous IAEA Environmental Modeling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) II Biota Working Group model comparison results are examined by comparing them with those obtained using the new TRS CR values for wildlife. Since the CR affects only internal doses, the effect on the overall dose depends on the relative contribution from internal and external exposure pathways.