Using the Latest Dose Coefficients: ICRP’s Data Viewer, IDEAplus, and TAURUS

2020-08-24

With the Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides (OIR) series of publications almost complete, the full set of internal dose coefficients for occupational exposures is nearly finished.

ICRP Publication 130 Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 1 lays out the methodology, while Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 provide coefficients for different sets of radionuclides. Part 5, now in press, focuses on radionuclides less often encountered, and will complete this series.

The latest data set is available as a freely downloadable electronic supplement to ICRP Publication 141 Occupational intakes of radionuclides: Part 4. This data set includes all radionuclides from the OIR parts 2, 3, and 4 combined, as well as a free data viewer. (When published, the electronic supplement to OIR Part 5 will supersede it.) The data viewer can display dose per intake, dose per content functions, content for specified doses, and content per intake (Reference Bioassay Functions).

Third-party software that uses ICRP’s latest data is also becoming available.

For example, ICRP has permitted IDEA System GmbH to use ICRP data in their commercial IDEAplus Expert System for Internal Dosimetry. IDEA has developed the expert system to help users perform all phases of incorporation monitoring and internal dosimetry in exact agreement with ICRP recommendations.

As well, Public Health England’s Radiation Hazards and Emergencies Department is developing TAURUS, which will supersede their earlier IMBA (Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis) suite of software modules. Taurus is designed to be an easy-to-use tool for standard internal dose assessments, both prospective and retrospective. It can handle assessments involving up to 20 different intakes by either inhalation (particulate or gas/vapour), ingestion or direct injection; and up to 2000 measurements for a variety of bioassay quantities. This also uses ICRP’s latest data with our permission.

NB: ICRP does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any third-party software, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from its use. Questions and inquries can be directed to Kelsey Cloutier, Development and Communications Manager for ICRP.