NRPB - W49 Review of the Transfer of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides to Terrestrial Plants and Domestic Animals

Synopsis

A non-technical summary of this report is available.

There is increasing interest in radiological assessments of discharges of naturally occurring radionuclides into the terrestrial environment. Such assessments often require the use of predictive models because measurements in environmental materials generally contain a contribution from the natural background. Moreover, the concentrations of these naturally occurring radionuclides may vary considerably across the UK. Predictive assessment models therefore require well-founded default parameter values. The objectives of this review were to compile data on the transfer of uranium (U), thorium (Th), radium (Ra), lead (Pb) and polonium (Po) along the soil - crop and feed - animal pathway, to review the data in terms of its applicability to the UK and derive default parameter values for use in the current NRPB foodchain model FARMLAND. The derived values have been compared with those in current use.

Last reviewed: 5 August 2009