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A revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Report Series No. 472 (TRS 472) transfer parameter data for root uptake of radionuclides by crops in tropical environments was conducted under the IAEA Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments (MODARIA II) programme (2016-2019). Data on concentration ratios between plant and soil (CR plant-soil ) were collated and summarised following a specific data selection process based on the Köppen-Geiger classification of tropical (class A) climates. An overview of the data collation and analysis methods is presented together with a comparison of CR plant-soil values between the revised tropical dataset and TRS 472 datasets. The revised dataset of CR plant-soil values for tropical environments is part of the IAEA MODARIA II programme Technical Document on soil to plant transfer of radionuclides in non-temperate environments., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The diffusion length of 222 Rn in uraniferous waste rock was determined through a novel experiment. Large PVC columns were filled to different depths in the range from 0.5 m to 3.0 m with waste rock material from the Ranger uranium mine and the build-up of 222 Rn activity concentration in the column headspace above the material was measured after closing the columns with a lid. Measurements were made approximately one month after filling the columns and again after approximately one and two years. The average 222 Rn diffusion length derived from the measurements was 1.9 ± 0.2 m in the dry material. The corresponding diffusion coefficient was (7.3 ± 0.7) × 10 -6  m 2  s -1 . For an infinitely thick layer of the dry material, the average value of the 222 Rn exhalation flux density relative to the 226 Ra activity concentration was estimated as (5.3 ± 0.3) × 10 -4 Bq m -2 s -1 per Bq kg -1 . From the diffusion length, the waste rock material was characterised as both a source and attenuator of 222 Rn for its proposed use as the surface cover on the final landform of the remediated Ranger uranium mine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Preliminary values of whole organism concentration ratio (CR wo-soil ) were derived for terrestrial vertebrates of an Australian tropical savanna environment. Wildlife groups included bird, bat, ground-dwelling mammal and reptile. Sample data for some of the wildlife groups (bird and bat in particular) were limited. The bird and bat CR wo-soil values were generally lower than the ground-dwelling mammal and reptile CR wo-soil values based on the available data. Arithmetic mean CR wo-soil values for two species of native marsupial and two species of non-native placental were not significantly different (p < 0.05) when tested using a one-way analysis of variance. The results hinted at possible sampling efficiencies for terrestrial vertebrates. However, verification with additional data was recommended. Used cautiously, the CR wo-soil values may assist in environmental assessments of Australian uranium mining sites. They also enhance the available data on radionuclide transfer to wildlife for use internationally., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The dispersion of radionuclides in dust and inhalation dose rates to the public from the planned remediation of the Ranger uranium mine in the wet-dry tropics of Australia was modelled using RESRAD-OFFSITE. Dust inhalation dose rates were predicted to be highest on the remediated site and decrease with an approximate inverse square to inverse cubic dependence with distance from the site. The annual dose above natural background to a hypothetical individual permanently occupying the remediated site (representing the worst case scenario for radionuclide in dust exposure) was estimated to be 5.3 × 10 -3 mSv. The estimated doses from exposure to radionuclides in dust were two to three orders of magnitude lower than those from exposure to 222 Rn. A sensitivity analysis showed that source-related and receptor-related model parameters had direct proportional influences on dust inhalation dose rates. Four transport-related model parameters (atmospheric stability class, deposition velocity of particulates, precipitation and wind speed) were also influential and generally had an increasing influence with distance from the source. The results of this study may provide general guidance to similar sites elsewhere on the relative importance of dust versus gaseous 222 Rn transport pathways and the relative influence of dispersion modelling parameters on predicted exposures and doses., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

More than 10,000 whole organism concentration ratio (CR wo-water ) values for freshwater wildlife were derived from radionuclide and stable element data representing an Australian tropical U mining environment. The CR wo-water values were summarised into five wildlife groups (bird, fish, mollusc, reptile and vascular plant). The summarised CR wo-water values represented 77 organism-element combinations. The CR wo-water values for U decay series elements were used in a tier 3 ERICA assessment. The assessment results were used to derive a water radiological quality guideline value (GV) for radiation protection of freshwater ecosystems in the context of the planned remediation of the Ranger U mine. The GV was an above-background water 226 Ra activity concentration of 14 mBq L -1 (filtered fraction) or approximately 22 mBq L -1 (total fraction). The GV was based on the results of mollusc-bivalve as the limiting organism for the freshwater ecosystem., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The dispersion of 222 Rn from the planned remediation of the Ranger U mine in the wet-dry tropics of Northern Australia was modelled. Dry and wet season contour maps of 222 Rn dose normalised to 226 Ra activity concentration in the proposed waste rock substrate on the remediated landform were developed. Three example exposure scenarios were assessed based on an anticipated waste rock 226 Ra activity concentration of 800 Bq kg -1 . The estimated above-background annual dose from 222 Rn to hypothetical receptors at the Aboriginal community at Mudginberri (∼10 km NNW) was 0.005 mSv and at the township of Jabiru (∼7 km W) was 0.033 mSv. The estimated above-background annual dose for the hypothetical worst case scenario, representing a receptor 1 km WNW of the landform centroid during the dry season and at the centroid during the wet season, was 0.13 mSv. Variability analysis on the 20 y meteorological dataset used in the dispersion modelling showed that the dry and wet season 222 Rn dose predictions in any single year could be approximately double those of an average year, which suggests that estimates of average 222 Rn dose should potentially be doubled if the assessment aim is to demonstrate compliance with the public dose limit., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Whole organism to tissue concentration ratios (CR wo-tissue ) were derived for six wildlife groups (freshwater birds, freshwater bivalves, freshwater fishes, freshwater reptiles, freshwater vascular plants and terrestrial mammals). The wildlife groups and data represented species common to tropical northern Australia. Values of CR wo-tissue were derived for between 6 and 34 elements, depending upon wildlife group. The values were generally similar to international reference values. However, differences for some element-tissue combinations could affect radiation dose estimates for wildlife in certain environmental exposure situations, including uranium mining, where these data are intended to be applied., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Natural radionuclides and stable elements were measured in weaver ants, leaves and soils collected from three sites in tropical northern Australia. Radionuclide concentration ratios for ants relative to soil were derived from the measurements and used to refine the current environmental radiological assessment for remediation of Ranger uranium mine. Use of site-specific concentration ratios for weaver ants gave a more conservative estimate of environmental exposure to the arthropod wildlife group than use of default concentration ratios in the ERICA Tool. This was primarily because the 226 Ra concentration ratio for weaver ants was more than 7 times greater than for generic arthropods., (Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents a calculator to facilitate assessments of ingestion doses from Aboriginal bush foods. The calculator combines information on traditional diet and land use with radionuclide concentration ratios and ingestion dose coefficients to estimate doses. The calculator was applied to the planned remediation of Ranger uranium mine to derive a set of scaling factors between radionuclide activity concentrations in environmental media and ingestion dose from bush foods. The scaling factors can be used to estimate doses from bush foods once the post-remediation radiological conditions of the mine and surrounding environment are known., (Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chemical data for freshwater mussels (Velesunio spp.) and water from 15 sampling sites in the Alligator Rivers Region and Rum Jungle uranium provinces in tropical Northern Australia were analysed to develop a predictive model of radium-226 ( 226 Ra) bioaccumulation for variable water calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations. Application of the model as a 226 Ra screening approach for freshwater mussels in tropical waterbodies potentially impacted by operational or remediated uranium mine sites is discussed in relation to Mudginberri Billabong, located approximately 12 km downstream of Ranger uranium mine in the Alligator Rivers Region., (Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents a tool for calculating concentration ratios from a large and structured environmental dataset of radionuclide activity and metal concentrations. The tool has been developed in MS Excel™ and includes a simple user interface for setting up queries. The tool is capable of matching environmental media samples to biota samples based on user-defined spatial and temporal criteria to derive a representative estimate of the environmental exposure conditions of an organism and its accumulation. Some potential benefits and uses of the tool are discussed., (Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents a database of radionuclide activity and metal concentrations for the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) uranium province in the Australian wet-dry tropics. The database contains 5060 sample records and 57,473 concentration values. The data are for animal, plant, soil, sediment and water samples collected by the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS) as part of its statutory role to undertake research and monitoring into the impacts of uranium mining on the environment of the ARR. Concentration values are provided in the database for 11 radionuclides ( 227 Ac, 40 K, 210 Pb, 210 Po, 226 Ra, 228 Ra, 228 Th, 230 Th, 232 Th, 234 U, 238 U) and 26 metals (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn). Potential uses of the database are discussed., (Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A soil guideline value for radiological protection of the environment was determined for the impending rehabilitation of Ranger uranium mine in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. The guideline value was 1000 Bq kg(-1) of (226)Ra in the proposed waste rock substrate of the rehabilitated landform and corresponded to an above-baseline dose rate of 100 μGy h(-1) to the most highly exposed individuals of the limiting organism. The limiting organism was reptile based on an assessment using site-specific concentration ratio data., (Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Radon-222 exhalation flux densities from two different substrates of several metres thickness, waste rock and waste rock mixed with approximately 30% lateritic material, were measured over a period of five years in the wet-dry tropics of Northern Australia. Fourteen measurement campaigns using activated charcoal canisters (n > 1000) covered both dry and wet seasons and showed differences in seasonal and long term trends of the (222)Rn exhalation flux densities normalised to the (226)Ra activity concentrations of the substrate. Dry season (222)Rn exhalation was generally higher for the mixed substrate, due to the larger fraction of fines. Seasonality established within the first year of landform construction on the mixed substrate, due to the higher water holding capacity of the lateritic material. In contrast, waste rock only shows no seasonality until years four and five after construction, when average normalised dry season (222)Rn exhalation flux densities from waste rock increase to values (0.47 ± 0.06 mBq m(-2) s(-1) per Bq kg(-1)) similar to the mixed substrate (0.64 ± 0.08 mBq m(-2) s(-1) per Bq kg(-1)), likely due to an increase in fines from rapid weathering of the schistose waste rock. Volumetric water content has been used to parametrize relative (222)Rn exhalation and we determined that wet season (222)Rn exhalation is about 40% of the dry season exhalation., (Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Many wetlands support high biodiversity and are protected sites, but some are contaminated with radionuclides from routine or accidental releases from nuclear facilities. This radiation exposure needs to be assessed to demonstrate radiological protection of the environment. Existing biota dose models cover generic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, not wetlands specifically. This paper, which was produced under IAEA's Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) II programme, describes an evaluation of how models can be applied to radionuclide contaminated wetlands. Participants used combinations of aquatic and terrestrial model parameters to assess exposure. Results show the importance of occupancy factor and food source (aquatic or terrestrial) included. The influence of soil saturation conditions on external dose rates is also apparent. In general, terrestrial parameters provided acceptable predictions for wetland organisms. However, occasionally predictions varied by three orders of magnitude between assessors. Possible further developments for biota dose models and research needs are identified.

The mobility of plutonium (Pu) in soils, and its uptake into a range of wildlife, were examined using recent and ∼25 year old data from the Taranaki area of the former Maralinga weapons test site, Australia. Since its initial deposition in the early 1960s, the dispersed Pu has been incorporated into the soil profile and food chain through natural processes, allowing for the study of Pu sequestration and dynamics in relatively undisturbed semi-arid conditions. The data indicate downward mobility of Pu in soil at rates of ∼0.2-0.3 cm per year for the most mobile fraction. As a result, while all of the Pu was initially deposited on the ground surface, approximately 93% and 62% remained in the top 0-2 cm depth after 25- and 50-years respectively. No large-scale lateral spreading of the Taranaki plume was observed. Pu activity concentrations in 0-1 cm soils with biotic crusts were not elevated when compared with nearby bare soils, although a small number of individual data suggest retention of Pu-containing particles may be occurring in some biotic crusts. Soil-to-animal transfer, as measured by concentration ratios (CRwo-soil), was 4.1E-04 (Geometric Mean (GM)) in mammals, which aligns well with those from similar species and conditions (such as the Nevada Test Site, US), but are lower than the GM of the international mammal data reported in the Wildlife Transfer Database (WTD). These lower values are likely due to the presence of a low-soluble, particulate form of the Pu in Maralinga soils. Arthropod concentration ratios (3.1E-03 GM), were similar to those from Rocky Flats, US, while values for reptiles (2.0E-02 GM) were higher than the WTD GM value which was dominated by data from Chernobyl. Comparison of uptake data spanning approximately 30 years indicates no decrease over time for mammals, and a potential increase for reptiles. The results confirm the persistence of bioavailable Pu after more than 50 years since deposition, and also the presence of larger-sized particles which currently affect CRwo-soil calculations, and which may serve as an ongoing source of bioavailable Pu as they are subjected to weathering into the future., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Beryllium-7 ((7)Be) daily data from the four International Monitoring System (IMS) radionuclide particulate stations on mainland Australia are analysed over the period 2001 to 2011. The analysis indicates that levels of (7)Be in surface air at the stations follow annual cycles, with yearly peak activity concentrations occurring later at stations further south. The yearly peak migrates north-south at a rate of approximately 4.4° latitude per month. The change in phase of the (7)Be annual cycle between the stations corresponds with the seasonal migration of the Southern Hemisphere Hadley cell across mainland Australia. The implication is that the changing position of the downward limb of the Southern Hemisphere Hadley cell regulates the phase of the annual cycle in (7)Be activity concentrations in surface air in the Australian region., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An IAEA handbook presenting transfer parameter values for wildlife has recently been produced. Concentration ratios (CRwo-media) between the whole organism (fresh weight) and either soil (dry weight) or water were collated for a range of wildlife groups (classified taxonomically and by feeding strategy) in terrestrial, freshwater, marine and brackish generic ecosystems. The data have been compiled in an on line database, which will continue to be updated in the future providing the basis for subsequent revision of the Wildlife TRS values. An overview of the compilation and analysis, and discussion of the extent and limitations of the data is presented. Example comparisons of the CRwo-media values are given for polonium across all wildlife groups and ecosystems and for molluscs for all radionuclides. The CRwo-media values have also been compared with those currently used in the ERICA Tool which represented the most complete published database for wildlife transfer values prior to this work. The use of CRwo-media values is a pragmatic approach to predicting radionuclide activity concentrations in wildlife and is similar to that used for screening assessments for the human food chain. The CRwo-media values are most suitable for a screening application where there are several conservative assumptions built into the models which will, to varying extents, compensate for the variable data quality and quantity, and associated uncertainty., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Surface air concentrations of 7Be at a number of stations in Oceania show a distinct annual cycle. We apply a sinusoidal model to describe this cycle. The results show that peak 7Be concentrations in surface air occur during early spring at tropical latitudes and during mid-to-late summer at middle latitudes. Comparison with available 90Sr surface air data for the southern hemisphere indicates that stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange is an active atmospheric process controlling the 7Be annual cycle throughout the Oceania region. Vertical transport of air within the troposphere also seems to influence the observed annual cycle. Seasonality in rainfall is not thought to control the annual cyclic behaviour of 7Be in surface air.

Measurements of 7Be concentrations in near-surface air and 7Be deposition were carried out at Brisbane, Australia. Concentrations of 7Be in near-surface air measured over 4 years show seasonal variations with values above the annual mean occurring mainly in the spring and summer months of each year. These higher concentrations coincide with the expected influx of stratospheric air to the planetary boundary layer in early spring and higher rates of convective circulation within the troposphere during summer. 7Be deposition measurements over 3 years show seasonal variations similar to the seasonal rainfall pattern. There is a statistically significant (p<0.001) linear relationship between monthly (7)Be deposition and rainfall amount. This relationship is used to calculate the net cumulative (7)Be areal activity density.

Net accumulated areal activity densities and profiles of (210)Pb(ex), (7)Be and (137)Cs in the surface 10 cm of the soil are reported for eight sites in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Areal activity densities of (210)Pb(ex) and (7)Be varied from 1,080 to 4,100 Bqm(-2) and from 176 to 778 Bqm(-2), respectively. A significant (p < 0.001) portion of the variance (R(2) > 0.99) in their vertical distributions was explained by depth in the profile using an exponential function. Around 85% of accumulated (210)Pb(ex) was present in the surface 10 cm of the soil. Beryllium-7 was mainly confined to the grass and surface 2 cm of the soil. Average penetration half-depths of 3.6 +/- 0.2 and 0.3 +/- 0.1cm were determined for (210)Pb(ex) and (7)Be, respectively. Areal activity densities of global fallout (137)Cs varied from 10 to 361 Bqm(-2). Its signal was well mixed within the surface 10 cm. Comparison of the measured (137)Cs values to the estimated input value for the region ( approximately 490 Bqm(-2)) and profiling of a 1m deep soil core suggests a vertical migration of (137)Cs over the past decades. The paleo-radon activity flux determined from the (210)Pb(ex) areal activity density (5.1 +/- 0.9 mBqm(-2) s(-1)) was not statistically different to that measured using activated charcoal cups (5.5 +/- 0.4 mBqm(-2) s(-1)), tending to suggest that Southeast Queensland is neither a net source nor a net sink of (210)Pb-bearing aerosols.