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VARSKIN 3: A Computer Code for Assessing Skin Dose from Skin Contamination (NUREG/CR-6918)

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Publication Information
Abstract

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NUREG/CR-6918 (PDF - 933.03 KB)

Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: October 2006
Date Published: October 2006

Prepared by
J.S. Durham

Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
Southwest Research Institute
6220 Culebra Road
San Antonio, TX 78238-5166

H. Karagiannis, NRC Project Manager

Prepared for
Division of Fuel, Engineering and Radiological Research
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001
Job Code Y6266

Availability Notice

Abstract

The computer code VARSKIN Mod 2, which calculates skin dose from radioactive skin contamination, has been significantly modified. The new code, VARSKIN 3, operates in a Windows® environment and is designed to be significantly easier to learn and use than VARSKIN Mod 2. Six different predefined source configurations are available: point, disk, cylinder, sphere, slab, and syringe. Improvements in VARSKIN 3 include a backscatter correction for three-dimensional sources, an upgraded photon dose model, air gap and cover material models. The default area for skin dose calculations has been changed to 10 cm2 to conform to regulatory requirement pursuant to 10 CFR 20.1201(c), but the area can be changed by the user. Data entry for the code has been condensed to a single screen, and the user does not need to enter the data in any particular order. A variety of unit options are provided, including both English and System Internationale units, and the source strength can be entered in units of activity or distributed in units of activity per area or activity per volume. The output page also has been simplified. In addition, adding radionuclides to the library has been greatly simplified. Previously, users added radionuclides to the library using SADDE Mod 2, the companion code to VARSKIN Mod 2. SADDE Mod 2 required the user to supply basic nuclear data so that radionuclides could be added to the VARSKIN Mod 2 library. In addition, SADDE Mod 2 did not include the contribution to dose from beta particles below a radionuclide-dependent cutoff energy, which affected the accuracy of the dose calculations at skin depths below 7 mg/cm2 for high-energy-beta sources. In VARSKIN 3, the user merely needs to select the radionuclide name for the radionuclide to be added to the library. The library file also contains data on photons, internal conversion electrons, and Auger electrons. VARSKIN 3 also allows the user to build a customized library, eliminating radionuclides that are not of interest. Finally, an extensive, context-sensitive help file is available to provide guidance and to offer new users a tutorial in the use of VARSKIN 3. The help file contains all of the information in this document. This document describes the revised code, provides installation and operation instructions, provides detailed descriptions of the models used, and suggests methods for avoiding misuse of the code.