Astral: a software for the estimation of accidental release of radionuclides in the environment

ASTRAL is an software for the estimation of accidental release of radionuclides in the environment. ASTRAL, is acronym for 'radioprotection in post accidental situation'. Should an important release of radionuclides in the environment occur, it would be necessary to rapidly assess the concentration of radionuclides in the environment and in the elements of the food chain, derive from that the potential exposure of concerned populations to the radiations, forecast the evolution in time of the exposure and propose different scenarios of remediation actions in the contaminated zones. For this purpose it was decided three years ago to create a software fit for a relatively large group of personnel involved in the management of radioactive releases, or staffing crisis centres. The starting point of the evaluations is the ground deposition of radionuclides. The atmospheric dispersion phase, the exposure to plume and to short-lived radionuclides is not treated here. The calculations performed concern the evolution in time of concentrations in the soil and the elements of the food-chain, and the evaluation of the doses due to external and internal exposure. The results are compared to the admissible limits and intervention levels. Different simulations of management of contaminated zones, by implementation of countermeasures may be conducted. So, the ASTRAL, software may be used as an element for decision making. (authors)