title: Assessment and interpretation of internal doses: uncertainty and variability.
abstract: Internal doses are calculated on the basis of knowledge of intakes and/or measurements of activity in bioassay samples, typically using reference biokinetic and dosimetric models recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). These models describe the behaviour of the radionuclides after ingestion, inhalation, and absorption to the blood, and the absorption of the energy resulting from their nuclear transformations. They are intended to be used mainly for the purpose of radiological protection: that is, optimisation and demonstration of compliance with dose limits. These models and parameter values are fixed by convention and are not subject to uncertainty. Over the past few years, ICRP has devoted a considerable amount of effort to the revision and improvement of models to make them more physiologically realistic. ICRP models are now sufficiently sophisticated for calculating organ and tissue absorbed doses for scientific purposes, and in many other areas, including toxicology, pharmacology and medicine. In these specific cases, uncertainties in parameters and variability between individuals need to be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Direction de la Stratégie, du développement et des partenariats, Service des programmes stratégiques, Saint Paul Lez Durance 13115, France francois.paquet@irsn.fr.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.affiliation: Retired from Health Protection Agency, UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Leggett
authors.affiliation: Oxford Brookes University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D035501:Uncertainty
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes
keywords: Biokinetic model; Internal dosimetry; Uncertainty