Comparative study of the PARK and ASTRAL post-accidental decision support software.

The French radioecological assessment model ASTRAL and the German model PARK have been developed to evaluate the radiological situation in the case of an accidental release of radionuclides and a widespread contamination of the environment. For decision makers it is of importance that the results on foodstuff contamination and on dose to humans are in fairly good agreement, when areas of the common border are affected. Therefore a comparative study has been done for two scenarios, assuming accidental releases on 1 June and 1 October. The study indicates that the models' structures and the transfer parameters are in good agreement. Only model principles for root vegetables are different in both models. Significant differences in results on the contamination of foodstuff and on dose to humans by ingestion are caused by different assumptions on dates of harvest and feeding methods of animals. A corresponding harmonization is essential with respect to decision making.