Article

CONFIDENCE overview of improvements in radioecological human food chain models and future needs

¹ UKCEH – UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster, UK
² DSA – Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Østerås, Norway
³ SCK-CEN − Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Mol, Belgium
⁴ LARUEX – University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
⁵ NMBU/CERAD − Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Ås, Norway
⁶ CIEMAT – Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid, Spain

^* Corresponding author: nab@ceh.ac.uk

Abstract

Radioecological models used to make predictions of the radionuclide activity concentrations in human foodstuffs must be sufficiently robust and fit for purpose with uncertainties reduced where practicable. The CONFIDENCE project had a work package with the objective to improve the capabilities of radioecological models and this paper presents the key findings of this work. Recommendations for future radioecological studies/model developments are made based on the findings of the work conducted and consultations with end-users.