- 8:15 – 9:00 am
Introduction to the Course and Plan for the Week, Dr. John E. Till, Risk Assessment Corporation
Objectives of the course; schedule; problem solving - 9:00 – 10:30 am
Risk from Exposure to Radiation, Dr. John D. Boice, Jr., Vanderbilt University
The human health effects and environmental impacts associated with exposure to ionizing radiation are described and the current understanding of the underlying processes and mechanisms presented. The role of epidemiology in quantifying the risks of these health effects is covered. - 10:45 am – 12:00 pm
Radiological Risk Assessment — Overview, Dr. John E. Till, Risk Assessment Corporation
The overall concepts and goals of radiological risk assessment and environmental analysis are reviewed. The basic steps of the assessment process are described and the way they relate to each other and the overall process explained. Specific examples are provided to highlight the multi-disciplinary nature of the process and the different methods to consider for successful completion. - 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Source Terms and Screening, Mr. Paul G. Voillequé, Risk Assessment Corporation
This lecture will describe what is needed to estimate source terms for radionuclides released to the environment. The focus will be on different types of nuclear facilities and will include a discussion of both chemical and physical properties of nuclear materials. The second part of the lecture will explain how sources can be screened in order to focus the risk assessment on important radionuclides and pathways of exposure. - 3:15 – 4:30 pm
Case Studies, Problem Solving, and Software Demonstrations, Risk Assessment Corporation
Planning a risk assessment, source terms and screening.
- 8:15 – 10:15 am
Atmospheric Transport of Radionuclides, Mr. Arthur S. Rood, Risk Assessment Corporation
A general overview is provided of atmospheric modeling principles used to account for the advection, dispersion and deposition of radionuclides released into the air. The range of computer models available to describe this process is reviewed together with the modeling assumptions and data requirements. Methods to determine the most appropriate model to use for a given assessment are described. - 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Transport of Radionuclides in Surface Water, Dr. Peter Shanahan, Risk Assessment Corporation
Surface waters include rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans which exhibit different physical and hydraulic behavior and are therefore modeled with different dimensionality. Basic processes (advection, dispersion, and reactions) that control radionuclide transport in surface waters are reviewed, and simple models developed. Available screening models and computer codes applicable to various surface-water environments including rivers, vertically stratified lakes, two-dimensionally stratified reservoirs, and variably stratified estuaries are reviewed. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of these models. - 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Transport of Radionuclides in Groundwater, Dr. Bruce L. Jacobs, Risk Assessment Corporation
Modeling the fate and transport of chemicals in saturated ground water requires prediction of both ground-water flow and chemical transport. The basic principles of ground-water flow, contaminant transport in ground water, and their mathematical representation are reviewed. Available methods for calibrating models and evaluating model uncertainty are surveyed, with case studies illustrating how they may evolve over time based on modeling results and field investigations. - 3:15 – 4:30 pm
Case Studies, Problem Solving, and Software Demonstrations, Risk Assessment Corporation
Atmospheric transport, surface water transport, groundwater transport.
- 8:15 – 10:15 am
Pathway Analysis, Dr. F. Ward Whicker, Colorado State University
The basic principles of terrestrial and aquatic food chain modeling are described beginning with the development of compartmental models of these biological systems. The physical and biological processes that control the behavior of radionuclides in these systems are discussed. The various compilations of plant-soil concentration ratios, animal transfer coefficients, and fish bioconcentration factors are covered. - 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Scenarios of Exposure, Defining the Representative Individual, Dr. Helen A. Grogan and Dr. John E. Till, Risk Assessment Corporation
This lecture will explain how to develop scenarios of exposure on which to base risk assessment calculations. Also included will be a discussion of the most recent recommendations of ICRP on how to define the representative individual and the use of probabilistic risk assessment for determining compliance. - 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Internal and External Dosimetry, Dr. John Poston, Texas A&M University
Methods used to estimate dose following exposure to external radiation or from an intake of radioactive material are described. The ICRP dosimetric models are reviewed and the availability and applicability of compilations of dose coefficients for exposure assessments discussed. - 3:15 – 4:30 pm
Case Studies, Problem Solving, and Software Demonstrations, Risk Assessment Corporation
Pathway analysis, scenarios of exposure, internal and external dosimetry.
- 8:15 – 10:15 am
Estimating and Applying Uncertainty in Assessment Models, Mr. Arthur S. Rood, Risk Assessment Corporation
The methods to evaluate the uncertainty in overall assessment and computer models are presented. Evaluating the uncertainty in the overall assessment involves propagating the uncertainty in the source term, transport, exposure assumptions, and dose or risk coefficients to the final answer. Model uncertainty will cover parametric uncertainty and uncertainty in model formulation. - 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Regulations and Standards, Dr. David C. Kocher, SENES, Oak Ridge
The current national and international standards for controlling or limiting routine and accidental radiation exposures to the public are reviewed. The laws that are concerned with public health and the environment and that regulate radiation exposures to the public are described. How the assessment analysis is framed to demonstrate that a specific regulation or standard is met is presented. - 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Model Validation and Testing, Dr. Helen A. Grogan, Risk Assessment Corporation
The issue of validation for radiological assessments is discussed. In the context of radiological assessments, model validation is defined as determining those situations in which the model can be relied upon to make predictions that are sufficiently accurate with regard to the assessment question. The components of a model validation process are presented together with a framework for achieving this. Examples are provided throughout. - 3:15 – 4:30 pm
Case Studies, Problem Solving, and Software Demonstrations, Risk Assessment Corporation
Uncertainty analysis, model validation and testing, regulations.
- 8:15 – 10:15 am
Public Involvement and Risk Communication — Building Credibility and Trust in Risk Assessment, Dr. John E. Till, Risk Assessment Corporation
Societal issues associated with the risk assessment process and the situations where it is applied are described. Risk communication and public involvement in the assessment process is a relatively new discipline that continues to evolve. A number of case studies are used to highlight advantages and pitfalls of various approaches, and the lessons learned. - 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Case Studies and Problem Solving Summary, Risk Assessment Corporation - 11:45 – 12:00 pm
Course Wrap-up and Close
