Most of the exercises at this workshop were related to prospective dose assessment, i.e. the calculation of internal dose from given intake parameters. In 7 out of 9 exercises the intake is known and all relevant parameters for calculation of the resulting internal exposure are provided in the description of the exercise. These exercises can be solved perfectly with IMBA. So IMBA is a perfect tool for theoretical investigations in the field of internal dosimetry. However, these 7 exercises don’t reflect the normal situation in practical incorporation monitoring.

 

 

 

In practice you know – maybe – the involved radionuclides, in few cases also some intake parameters, such as time, mode and pathway if intake, physical and chemical form of involved materials, but never you would know the intake in terms of Bq a priori. So in IDEA all kind of prospective dose assessment is based on parameters which are known or which could be derived from official regulations or recommendations, respectively. Thus, with respect to prospective internal dosimetry, IDEA is orientated more to the practical requirements whereas IMBA is focused more on the theoretical aspects.

 

 

 

Similar conclusions can be drawn for the complex of retrospective internal dose assessment. As can be seen from exercise 4, the evaluation can be performed perfectly with IMBA. All intake parameters can be calculated with a high statistical significance but there is no check of the practical relevance of the results. So the results reflect the measured values rather than the real situation, i.e. there is no plausibility check of the results. With IDEA the measured values can be evaluated as well, but in addition to the pure mathematical evaluation there is a complex system of plausibility checks. These checks are mainly based in the structural approach of the IDEAS guidelines. In addition, the results are checked for consistency with the regulations and recommendations. So, for example in exercise 4, IDEA claims that I-131 cannot occur in the form of type S compounds and stops the evaluation procedure consequently. So, also with respect to retrospective internal dosimetry, IDEA is orientated more to the practical application whereas IMBA is focused on the pure mathematical aspects.

 

 

 

 


 

 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Richard Doerfel

IDEA System GmbH, Am Burgweg 4, D-76227 Karlsruhe, Germany.

E-Mail: info@idea-system.com