title: A general methodology for structuring models to predict the long-term migration of radionuclides from catchments.
abstract: In the present paper a generic model for predicting the long-term migration of radionuclides and heavy metals from catchments is described. The model subdivides the catchment into a number of homogeneous, infinitesimal sub-catchments and integrates the radionuclide contributions from such sub-catchments to calculate the total flux of contaminant. It relates the radionuclide behaviour to the statistical distribution of the pollutant partition coefficient on the "ensemble" of sub-catchments. The methodology was validated for 90Sr and 137Cs by using data for water contamination in some European rivers. Values of migration parameters for Pu, Tc, I and Cd isotopes were obtained.
authors.affiliation: ENEA CR Casaccia, Roma, Italy. monte@casaccia.enea.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monte
mesh_terms: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D005544:Forecasting; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011210:Power Plants; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D014455:Ukraine; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive