Dose assessment from activated sodium within a body in criticality accidents

Takahashi, Fumiaki  ; Endo, Akira   ; Yamaguchi, Yasuhiro

Some data were derived using recent sophisticated methods to convert rapidly specific activity of induced sodium-24 to average dose over a whole body in criticality accidents. Monte Carlo calculations using the MCNP-4B code were performed to study energy spectra of neutrons and gamma rays for some criticality systems with fissile uranium. Absorbed dose to human body and activation of sodium were also analysed against external radiation by simulations using a phantom. It was found that neutron dose assessment from induced Na would be important to give an initial guidance of a treatment. The condition of neutron exposure, however, did not influence the quantitative relation dose by gamma rays induced within a body and activity of Na. Analyses were made to clarify the dependence of conversion from Na specific activity to dose on the orientation and the size of human body. This study suggested that the size of uranium solution and material around the fuel should be informed to properly estimate dose against external photons from neutron dose.