Biota Working Group
The Biota Working Group http://www-ns.iaea.org/projects/emras/emras-biota-wg.htm (BWG)was formed in 2004 by the IAEA as part of the Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS)programme to address the gap of little validation and comparison of the different models and approaches being used and developed to estimate the radiation exposure on wildlife. The primary objective of the BWG, was: to improve Member State's capabilities for protection of the environment by comparing and validating models being used, or developed, for biota dose assessment (that may be used) as part of regulatory process of licensing and compliance monitoring of authorised releases of radionuclides.
In total, 15 models and approaches have been applied to one or more of the exercises conducted by the BWG. The models/approaches applied encompass those being developed, and in some instances, used in a regulatory context, in Belgium, Canada, France, Lithuania, Russia, the UK and the USA, as well as the outputs of recent EC EURATOM programmes. The participating models included those available to any interested user ([RESRAD-BIOTA], the [ERICA Tool], England and Wales Environment Agency [R&D 128] and [FASSET]) and in-house models being used/developed by various BWG participants (see IAEA \[2\] for a description of all participating models). Group members included modellers, regulators, industry and researchers. |