Radionuclide transfer to animal products: revised recommended transfer coefficient values

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Protection
• Nuclear Safety

Background:

• Accurate transfer coefficients are crucial for assessing radionuclide contamination in food chains.
• Previous data, such as in IAEA TRS 364, requires updating with new compilations.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) handbooks provide essential parameters for nuclear safety assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compile and review data for deriving animal product transfer coefficients for radionuclides.
• To provide updated recommended transfer coefficient values for milk, meat, and eggs.
• To inform the development of a new IAEA handbook on transfer parameters, replacing TRS 364.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of existing data, including extensive review of Russian language information.
• Development of a database for radionuclide transfer coefficients.
• Identification and collation of data, with clear documentation of assumptions and procedures.

Main Results:

• Recommended transfer coefficient values for radionuclides in cow, sheep, and goat milk, cattle, sheep, goat, pig, and poultry meat, and eggs.
• Significant differences observed between new recommended values and TRS 364 'expected' values.
• Specific radionuclides (e.g., Cr, Pu, Ni, Am, Cd, Sb, I, Ru, Sr, Zn, Mn) show substantial deviations in transfer coefficients for different animal products.

Conclusions:

• The new database and recommended values offer a significant update to radionuclide transfer parameters.
• Notable discrepancies highlight the need for revised safety assessments and food chain modeling.
• Data gaps remain, indicating areas for future research in radionuclide transfer dynamics.