Task Group 4 (DOCAL)
Dose Calculations

The Task Group on Dose Calculations (DOCAL) is concerned with the development of computational models and reference data needed to assess organ and effective doses from both internal and external radiation sources to both occupational workers and members of the general public.  For many years, the ICRP has utilized stylized or mathematical anatomic models of reference individuals for these calculations.  Recently, the task group developed for the ICRP two 3D voxel-based anatomic representations of the reference adult male and adult female.  These two reference phantoms were distributed electronically to the research community within ICRP Publication 110.  These phantoms are presently being used by DOCAL to compile a wide range of organ doses from external radiation sources – to include occupational and environmental  radiation fields, as well as those experienced by airline crew in the upper atmosphere and in space by astronauts.  In addition, these two voxel reference phantoms are being used to update values of internal radiation dose from photons, beta particles, and alpha particles emitted from internalized radionuclides.  Future work by DOCAL includes the development of new techniques for assessing radiation dose to the skeletal tissues and the development and applications of modern state-of-the-art phantoms representing children, pregnant females, and the developing foetus.