UTILIZATION OF FISH AS BIOLOGICAL MONITORS IN CONTINENTAL AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FROM RADIATION

Abstract

The present work revisits methodologies to evaluate radiation absorbed dose in fish, while presenting parameters on which a methodology for evaluating environmental radiological impact based on the amount of absorbed dose of the biota can be mounted, herein focusing on continental fishes. This approach is recent and subsided by national and international organizations. A general review of biota dose calculation methods is given. From these data we listed formulas for calculating the conversion factors from activity concentration to dose rate, and to calculate derived water and sediment limits. Herein is also presented a new model to calculate the absorbed dose per year based on the model designed by the US Department of Energy, and a dose limit is proposed based on this model. We tried to point out new perspectives for the development of environmental radiological evaluation methods by suggesting a way of managing the absorbed dose by the biota based on the methods to quantify environmental damage.