Environmental Pathways and Radiological Dosimetry for Biota

Abstract

Radionuclides entering the environment as a result man's activities may be transported. cycled, and/orconcentrated in the biotic and abiotic compartments of the ecosystem. Organisms in an environmentcontaminated with radioactive waste may be irrad iated externally by radionuclides in air. water. vegetation. soilor sed iment and internally by radionuclides accumulated within their bodies by inhalation or by d irect absorptionthrough their skin. The purpose of this paper is to examine the pathways in which biota are exposed toradioactive releases to the environment and to review the methods used to calculate radiation doses to the biota.In general, the methodology for estimating radiation doses to biota in their natural environment is betterdeveloped for aquatic biota than for terrestrial biota. The different methodologies which have been used forcalculating radiation doses to aquatic biota were reviewed. If the protection of non-human biota is an issue inaddressing environmental assessments of nuclear faci lities. then the methodology for estimating radiation doses to biota should be improved. It is recommended that dose calculations should be simplified and standardized bydeveloping dose conversion factors for a number of generic aquatic and terrestrial organisms.