Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning

Iodine thyroid blocking (ITB) is an important aspect of the emergency protective action critical in safeguarding the population from adverse health effects from radioiodine that may potentially be released in a nuclear accident. Efficacy and impact of ITB has been dependent on qualitative assessment...

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Main Authors: Jia Hao Tang, Sung-yeop Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002694
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author Jia Hao Tang
Sung-yeop Kim
author_facet Jia Hao Tang
Sung-yeop Kim
author_sort Jia Hao Tang
collection DOAJ
description Iodine thyroid blocking (ITB) is an important aspect of the emergency protective action critical in safeguarding the population from adverse health effects from radioiodine that may potentially be released in a nuclear accident. Efficacy and impact of ITB has been dependent on qualitative assessment and expert judgement. To better evaluate the influence of ITB, this study aims to provide a methodology to tap into the results from iodine biokinetic models and couple them with Level 3 PSA MACCS code. In this methodology, ITB efficacy is determined from plume exposure time data derived from Level 3 PSA and the efficacy curve from an iodine biokinetic model. As a result, acute radiation doses can be obtained to provide an informative analysis of ITB. This study also showcases three applications of the methodology to evaluate ITB distribution strategies and incorporation into emergency action plans. The results suggest that pre-distribution is preferred for the population at a close distance from the release site. It is also noted that timely activation of the ITB strategy is a critical factor in ensuring efficacy. Finally, potential improvements to emergency action plans regarding the incorporation of ITB by considering the time points of accident sequences are suggested.
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spelling doaj-art-5b440516a24d4ce2b92551e354fa41a22025-08-20T03:50:48ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332025-10-01571010370110.1016/j.net.2025.103701Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planningJia Hao Tang0Sung-yeop Kim1Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beongil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea; Korea National University of Science and Technology (UST), 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea; Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI), 16 Prince George's Pk, Singapore 118415Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beongil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea; Korea National University of Science and Technology (UST), 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author. Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beongil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea.Iodine thyroid blocking (ITB) is an important aspect of the emergency protective action critical in safeguarding the population from adverse health effects from radioiodine that may potentially be released in a nuclear accident. Efficacy and impact of ITB has been dependent on qualitative assessment and expert judgement. To better evaluate the influence of ITB, this study aims to provide a methodology to tap into the results from iodine biokinetic models and couple them with Level 3 PSA MACCS code. In this methodology, ITB efficacy is determined from plume exposure time data derived from Level 3 PSA and the efficacy curve from an iodine biokinetic model. As a result, acute radiation doses can be obtained to provide an informative analysis of ITB. This study also showcases three applications of the methodology to evaluate ITB distribution strategies and incorporation into emergency action plans. The results suggest that pre-distribution is preferred for the population at a close distance from the release site. It is also noted that timely activation of the ITB strategy is a critical factor in ensuring efficacy. Finally, potential improvements to emergency action plans regarding the incorporation of ITB by considering the time points of accident sequences are suggested.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002694Iodine thyroid blockingEmergency protective actionEmergency planningLevel 3 probabilistic safety assessmentMACCS
spellingShingle Jia Hao Tang
Sung-yeop Kim
Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Iodine thyroid blocking
Emergency protective action
Emergency planning
Level 3 probabilistic safety assessment
MACCS
title Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
title_full Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
title_fullStr Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
title_full_unstemmed Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
title_short Methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via Level 3 PSA to support emergency planning
title_sort methodology to quantify the efficacy of iodine thyroid blocking via level 3 psa to support emergency planning
topic Iodine thyroid blocking
Emergency protective action
Emergency planning
Level 3 probabilistic safety assessment
MACCS
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002694
work_keys_str_mv AT jiahaotang methodologytoquantifytheefficacyofiodinethyroidblockingvialevel3psatosupportemergencyplanning
AT sungyeopkim methodologytoquantifytheefficacyofiodinethyroidblockingvialevel3psatosupportemergencyplanning