Voxelized scomber japonicus phantom and its application for internal dose evaluation by Monte Carlo calculations

Abstract

This study developed a voxelized scomber japonicus phantom through CT scanning images for the purpose of radiation protection in the environment, which gives a realistic description of the scomber japonicus ’s anatomy. The absorbed fraction (AF) values of the voxelized scomber japonicus phantom were calculated for photons and electrons in the energies of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 MeV using Monte Carlo toolkit Geant4. Furthermore, the S-factor values for four radionuclides ( ^134 Cs, ^137 Cs, ^131 I and ^90 Sr) in the organs/tissues were evaluated using the monoenergetic AF values based on the radioisotope decay data, and compared with that obtained directly through whole emission spectra simulation. The voxelized scomber japonicus phantom would be a good candidate for dosimetry in non-human biota for the environmental dosimetry, and the built database of AF values can be used for dose calculations of any radioactive contaminations.

Keywords

• voxelized scomber japonicus phantom
• Monte Carlo toolkit Geant4
• dosimetry
• absorbed fraction