Transfer functions for Q A / Q B international regulatory limits for the safe transport of radioactive materials.

Autor: Frosio T; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025-7015, United States of America., Thomas S; Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France., Endres J; Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit gGmbH, 50667 Cologne, Germany., Eberhardt H; Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit gGmbH, 50667 Cologne, Germany., Louis B; Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France., Cabianca T; UK Health Security Agency, Chilton Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom., Brown I; UK Health Security Agency, Chilton Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom., Foster M; UK Health Security Agency, Chilton Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom., Menaa N; Radiation Protection Group, European Organization for Nuclear Research, 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland., Bertreix P; Radiation Protection Group, European Organization for Nuclear Research, 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection [J Radiol Prot] 2024 Jul 26; Vol. 44 (3). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 26.
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ad6453
Abstrakt: This paper presents a proposed revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency transport regulations, related to the A 1 and A 2 limit values used to determine the radioactive transport classification. Based on the ' Q system', a novel methodology was introduced to derive Q A and Q B values related to scenarios involving external exposure from a distant source. These values are key parameters that respectively represent the total effective dose and total equivalent dose to the skin, from all primary and secondary particles contributing to radiation exposure. The International Working Group (WG A 1 / A 2 ) is established and associated with the TRANSSC Technical Expert Group on Radiation Protection. A review of the A 1 and A 2 values is performed in response to identified limitations within the existing Q system. The followed approach is based on Monte Carlo simulations that enabled the development of transfer functions aimed at reducing computational time and increasing the flexibility of dose evaluations for any radionuclide with known particle emission spectra. This method allows updating the Q A and Q B values to account for future data evolutions (decay data, fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients) and standardizing the calculation of regulation limits across all referenced radionuclides and scenarios related to external exposure. The transfer functions are established using three Monte Carlo simulation codes-FLUKA, Geant4, and MCNP-and address the previous limitations of the ' Q system', reflecting the latest International Commission for Radiation Protection recommendations and improvements in calculation techniques. The results of the WG show consistent agreement across the codes, with minor discrepancies observed at low primary energies due to statistical uncertainties and different handling of stopping power for electrons/positrons in the codes. This revised approach aligns with current standards and recommendations, ensuring that the radiological consequences of transport accidents are acceptable for the new A 1 and A 2 limits from a radiological protection perspective.
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Databáze: MEDLINE