Selected approaches to pathway analysis

Prediction of potential radionuclide exposure and the resulting health risk to individuals working on the site of a mining operation as well as to off-site individuals located down-wind or down-stream of such an operation, is facilitated by applying well-defined models and well-documented computer codes. Such methodologies and codes may have the advanages of being previously verified and applied, of having readily available data bases, of having supporting codes that may be used to prepare data sets or graph predictions, and of generating hard copy summaries containing intermediate calculations and the results of simulations. Several methodologies and codes developed for application to shallow-land disposal of radioactive wastes are of particular interest. One such methodology and code, PRESTO-II (Prediction of Radiation Effects from Shallow Trench Operations) is designed to evaluate possible doses and risks (health effects) from shallow-land disposal operations. This code, its supporting codes and data bases are discussed, together with several applications. 16 refs., 2 tabs