Modeling Considerations for Ingestion Pathway Dose Calculations Using CAP88.

The CAP88-PC computer model was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to demonstrate compliance under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS). The program combines atmospheric transport models with the terrestrial food chain models in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guide 1.109 to compute the radionuclide concentrations in the air, on ground surfaces and plants, and the concentrations in food to estimate the dose to individuals living in the area around a facility emitting radionuclides into the atmosphere. CAP88 allows the user to select the size of the assessment area and the receptor locations used to calculate the radionuclide concentrations in non-leafy vegetables, leafy vegetables, milk, and meat consumed by the receptors. Depending on the food scenario selected and the type of calculation ("Population" or "Individual") chosen, the annual effective dose from ingestion can depend on both the size of the assessment area and the location of the receptors. Illustrative examples demonstrate the effect of the choice of these input parameters on the annual effective dose from ingestion. An understanding of the model used in CAP88 and the differences between "Population" and "Individual" run types will enable the CAP88 user to better model the ingestion dose.