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Design - Module Specifications

Constituent : con - Environmental Transport Factors

The MMEDE database contains several parameters useful in estimating the transfer of pollutants through food chains. Values for these parameters for radionuclides are provided in the database from compilations published by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Values for a few chemicals are included based on literature values. Correlations are available for estimating these parameters for most organic chemicals. For inorganic chemicals, values are based on data for radionuclides involving the same element.

Bioaccumulation in Fin Fish (L/kg):

This parameter relates the pollutant concentration in edible fish flesh to the pollutant concentration in the surface water body from which the fish was caught.

Bioaccumulation in Shellfish (L/kg):

This parameter relates the pollutant concentration in edible shellfish parts to the pollutant concentration in the surface water body from which the shellfish was caught. The parameter is defined for water as the source of the pollutant: effects of transfer to/from sediment are not explicitly addressed by use of this parameter.

Soil to Plant Transfer Factor (mg/kg wet plant per mg/kg dry soil, or pCi/kg wet plant per pCi/kg dry soil):

The vegetation concentration ratio provides an estimate of the uptake of a pollutant from soil to edible plant parts. One value is provided in the MMEDE database for use with all vegetation types. When specific plant types are of interest in an analysis, the user may wish to explore other sources of concentration ratios for a more representative analysis.

Feed to Meat Transfer Factor (d/kg):

This parameter relates the pollutant concentration in edible animal meat to the intake rate in animal feed, water, or soil. The parameter gives the meat concentration (i.e., mg/kg) per unit intake of the pollutant per day.