What are environmental pathway models and what are they used
for?
They’re mathematical models that characterize a source,
transport path, and effects of hazardous and radioactive material. They’re used
to determine the effect of a radioactive release and the necessary actions that
must be taken to clean up the radioactive material or to determine remedial
options.
Why would you use a model?
Models might be used for one of three overarching reasons;
scope, characterization, or remediation. Scope means that actual measurement of
radiation may not be possible due to access, budget or time. It could also mean
that field data isn’t enough and estimated measurements for locations not
immediately affected by radiation releases are needed. Characterization means
that the actual measurements may not be possible due to rapidly changing
environmental factors such as wind or water flow. Remediation is concerned with
how radiation is affected by time and conditions in order to determine a course
of action.
Why are they important?
Doses to the public and health impacts can be determined by
determining how radiation releases, accidental and routine, move through an
environment. It also gives scientist a good way to know what’s ok and what
isn’t. Referencing my Fukushima post, are we going to see high levels of
radiation carried by air or water to the US? No. We know not just because we
haven’t measured anything but because we’ve made tons of models and we see that
the maximum quantities expected to reach the US are within safe boundaries.
I like how you characterized why you would use a model. Understanding it's uses and when to use it is very important for a new tool. I wonder which type of characterization is most popular. It probably depends on who is doing the modeling.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading a lot about EPM following some sort of incident or accidental release of radionuclides...I wonder if there are any models in place to track the concentrations and locations of natural, pre-existing radionuclides in the atmosphere, water, crust, etc.
ReplyDeleteScott - there are definitely EPMs that track those things
ReplyDeleteRadioactiveTruth - I think it's very important to understand context of why something even exists or is useful in order to explain a subject matter. I think the type of characterization depends less on who is doing the modeling and more on what the end goal is. Like Scott said, are you looking at the a location or distribution, is your radiation moving or still, are you looking at natural sources or man made ones... all these things contribute to the type of model used.