Dose estimates of 137Cs in bank voles inhabiting research sites within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone considering the age-related dynamics of change in physiological parameters

Abstract

Methods for dose estimation of 137Cs in mouse-like rodents, specifically bank voles (Myodes glareolus), commonly found within the research sites in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, are being proposed. The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends using the specially developed "BiotaDC" software, but it needs to be adapted to solve specific applied issues. It is shown that the "BiotaDC" approach adequately describes dose accumulation of 137Cs for external exposure inside nest chambers if the mean integral value of soil activity concentration at a depth of 0.5 m is used, for external exposure above soil – if the mean integral value of soil activity concentration at a depth of 0.2 m is used. However, the authors propose a method considering the age of animals at the time of capture and the age-related dynamics of changes in such parameters as excretion and accumulation of radioisotopes for internal dose estimation using the "BiotaDC" software. A detailed dose estimation algorithm is being proposed. Dose estimates for internal irradiation according to the authors' method and the method of the International Commission on Radiological Protection are being compared.

Keywords

• absorbed dose
• mouse-like rodents
• bank vole
• cesium
• chornobyl exclusion zone.