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Environmental radionuclide concentrations below which non-human biota experience no effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut ,
S. L. Chouhan ,
T. L. Yankovich  and
P. A. Davis
S. L. Chouhan*
Affiliation:
AECL, Chalk River, K0J 1J0 Ontario, Canada
T. L. Yankovich
Affiliation:
AECL, Chalk River, K0J 1J0 Ontario, Canada
P. A. Davis
Affiliation:
AECL, Chalk River, K0J 1J0 Ontario, Canada
*
chouhans@aecl.ca
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Abstract

Conservative no-effect concentrations were derived for nine radionuclides, four generic organisms (terrestrial plant and animal and aquatic plant and animal) and six environmental compartments (air, soil, fresh water, marine water, freshwater sediments and marine sediments). The concentrations were calculated using the concentration ratio (CR) approach that is used in both FASSET and RESRAD-BIOTA. In the CR approach, a single transfer factor is used to predict concentrations in plants or animals from concentrations in soil or water. Most of the CR values required for the calculations were taken from FASSET documentation. Because of the importance of tritium and C-14 in the context of CANDU reactors, CR values for these radionuclides were derived from specific activity (SA) concepts. Sediment partition coefficient (Kd) values, which were used to derive no-effect levels for sediments from the levels for water, were chosen to be the best-estimate values from the IMPACT database. Dose conversion coefficients (DCCs) were taken from FASSET and the dose rate benchmarks used were those recommended by UNSCEAR. The results provide environmental concentrations below which no detrimental effects are expected on non-human biota at CANDU sites in Canada.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 107 - 114
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

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References

Chouhan S.L., Yankovich T.L. and Davis P.A., Generic environmental concentrations below which no effects are expected on non-human biota in Canada, CANDU Owners Group Report COG-05-3068, 2006.
FASSET - Framework for Assessment of Environmental Impact, Final Report. A project within the EC 5th Framework Programme, Contract No: FIGE-CT-2000-00102, Project Co-ordinator: Swedish Radiation Protection Authority, 2004. www.erica-project.org.
IMPACT User Manual Version 4.0. Stantec Consulting Ltd., 14 Abacus Road, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, 2003.
RESRAD-BIOTA: A tool for implementing a graded approach to biota dose evaluations, U.S. DOE User's Guide, Version 1, DOE Report No. DOE/EH-0676, 2003. http://homer.ornl.gov/oepa/public/bdac/.
UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation), Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Environment. A/AC.82/R.549, United Nations, Vienna, 1996.
Kotzer, T.G. and Kramer-Tremblay, S., Behaviour of radiocarbon in the freshwater environment around CANDU nuclear power generating stations, CANDU Owners Group Report COG-01-080, 2003.