Evaluating variability and uncertainty in radiological impact assessment using SYMBIOSE. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simon-Cornu, M.; Beaugelin-Seiller, K.; Boyer, P.; Calmon, P.; Garcia-Sanchez, L.; Mourlon, C.; Nicoulaud, V.; Sy, M.; Gonze, M.A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 139(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Multi-media modelling -- Probabilistic exposure assessment -- Transfer factors -- EMRAS TRS 472 -- Dosimetric impact; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.09.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: SYMBIOSE is a modelling platform that accounts for variability and uncertainty in radiological impact assessments, when simulating the environmental fate of radionuclides and assessing doses to human populations. The default database of SYMBIOSE is partly based on parameter values that are summarized within International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) documents. To characterize uncertainty on the transfer parameters, 331 Probability Distribution Functions (PDFs) were defined from the summary statistics provided within the IAEA documents (i.e. sample size, minimal and maximum values, arithmetic and geometric means, standard and geometric standard deviations) and are made available as spreadsheet files. The methods used to derive the PDFs without complete data sets, but merely the summary statistics, are presented. Then, a simple case-study illustrates the use of the database in a second-order Monte Carlo calculation, separating parametric uncertainty and inter-individual variability. Highlights: Parametric uncertainty in radioecology was derived from IAEA documents. 331 Probability Distribution Functions were defined for transfer parameters. Parametric uncertainty and inter-individual variability were propagated.