Transfer of radionuclides to fruits: The activities of the biomass fruits working group

Given the potential radiological significance of the transfer of radionuclides to fruit, a Fruits Working Group was set up in 1997 within the framework of the Programme on BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment (BIOMASS), promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and in co-operation with the International Union of Radioecology (IUR). The aim of this working group was to improve understanding of the processes affecting the migration of radionuclides in fruit systems and to identify uncertainties associated with modelling the transfer of radionuclides to fruit. The main activities of the Fruits Working Group included : (i) a review of experimental, field and modelling information on the transfer of radionuclides to fruit ; (ii) a derivation of a fruit conceptual model ; (iii) a database of model parameters ; (iv) a collection of additional information from experimental studies ; (v) model intercomparison studies ; and (vi) a validation study. This paper presents an overview of the main activities and results.