The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has invested in the development of software to model radionuclide transport in terrestrial foodchains following accidental or planned releases of radioactivity to the atmosphere. The PRISM code uses a 'wrapped' version of the AMBER compartmental modelling software with a bespoke Graphical User Interface (GUI) that provides direct access to a parameter database.
The currently available version of the code (PRISM 3.1) provides a powerful capability for undertaking deterministic and probabilistic foodchain calculations, including the representation of correlated model parameters. It uses up-to-date models for radionuclide metabolism by animals and also the soil and plant parts of the terrestial foodchain. The use of PRISM's probabilistic capabilities enables uncertainties in the calculation of potential contaminant concentration in crops and animal products to be evaluated.
PRISM includes models for trace contaminants, covering 40 elements and 76 associated radionuclides. The code also includes models for the radionuclides H-3 and C-14, which require a different approach to other elements since hydrogen and carbon play fundamental roles in plant and animal metabolism. The assumption that contaminants are only present in trace quantities is no longer valid for these two radionuclides.
For further information please contact Russell Walke.