Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg

The staff of the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, introduced their research program on 15 and 16 March 1973 before a gathering of invited experts from inside and outside Germany. The proceedings were conducted by Prof. Th. Wieland of the Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, who is Chairman of the Scientific and Appointments Commission of the Board of Governors of the Cancer Research Center. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss with the experts the relevance and significance of the Center's current research program with a view to shaping future research projects along optimum lines.     

Transfer of radionuclides in aquatic ecosystems--default concentration ratios for aquatic biota in the Erica Tool

The process of assessing risk to the environment following a given release of radioactivity requires the quantification of activity concentrations in environmental media and reference organisms. The methodology adopted by the ERICA Integrated Approach involves the application of concentration ratios (CR values) and distribution coefficients (K(d) values) for aquatic systems. Within this paper the methodologies applied to derive default transfer parameters, collated within the ERICA Tool databases, are described to provide transparency and traceability in the documentation process. Detailed information is provided for the CR values used for marine and freshwater systems. Of the total 372 CR values derived for the marine ecosystem, 195 were identified by literature review. For the freshwater system, the number of values based on review was less, but still constituted 129 from a total of 372 values. In both types of aquatic systems, 70-80% of the data gaps have been filled by employing "preferable" approaches such as those based on substituting values from taxonomically similar organisms or biogeochemically similar elements.