Biokinetic Models of Radionuclides

Biokinetic models play a fundamental role in radiological protection by providing a framework to understand the behaviour of radionuclides within the human body. This chapter explores the evolution of reference biokinetic models, focusing on default respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and systemic models for specific radionuclides. Biokinetic models find applications in radiation protection, nuclear medicine and environmental risk assessment. They provide estimates of radiation doses, optimize diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and assess the impacts of radionuclide releases. Mathematical approaches, such as matrix equations, are employed to solve the biokinetic models, considering transfer rates and radioactive decay constants. The evolution of biokinetic models has significantly enhanced our understanding of radionuclide behaviour within the human body, enabling more accurate assessments of internal contamination and radiation dose. Continued research and refinement of these models are necessary to improve their accuracy and applicability in diverse scenarios, ensuring effective radiological protection measures. This chapter highlights the importance of biokinetic models as essential tools in radiological protection and sets the stage for further advancements in this field.