Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 20
Relevant Radiological Phenomena,
Fundamentals of Radiological Emergency
Management, Modeling of Radiological
Situation
Abstract
The chapter summarizes relevant radiological phenomena, the funda-
mentals of radiological emergency management, and the modeling of the radiolog-
ical situation in computer programs. Topics as the data requirements of the models
and the actual availability of data in the different phases of an accident and the
respective uncertainties are also addressed. The chapter is mainly intended for
readers without deeper familiarity with the respective scientific field.
For the emergency management in case of a nuclear or radiological accident,
radioactive releases into the atmosphere are the primary point of interest as they
can jeopardize the population quickly by external exposure and by inhalation, and
also may lead to a rapid contamination of food products. Subject of the present
chapter are the “terrestrial exposure pathways”, namely the exposure of people by
airborne radioactive substances or those deposited on the ground or on other
surfaces. The “aquatic pathways” resulting from direct or indirect contamination
of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are described in the chapter on “The Hydrolog-
ical Model Chain.”
The descriptions of the relevant radiological phenomena and of the fundamen-
tals of radiological emergency management are oriented on the German “Radio-
logical Principles of Decisions about Measures Protecting the Population against
Accidental Releases of Radionuclides” [
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] that contain also many further details
and references to other literature.
On the internet, searching e.g. for “Dictionary of Radiation Terms” yields
several sites that provide reliable and understandable information and links to
other sites related to the topics described in the current chapter, for example from
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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