Numerical Techniques for Speeding up the Calculation of the Life Extension Brought About by Removing a Prolonged Radiation Exposure

The judgement- or J-value, which enables the worth of any health or safety scheme to be measured on a common, objective scale, may be applied to a scheme to reduce or eliminate a prolonged radiation exposure provided the life extension achieved can be calculated. The calculation is necessarily complex because of the long and stochastic incubation periods associated with radiation-induced cancers. However, numerical techniques are presented here that speed up the calculation of the improved life expectancy by a factor of about one hundred. The J-value assessment of new safety systems on nuclear plant is thus made much quicker and easier.