PC COSYMA Version 2: an accident consequence assessment package for use on a PC

COSYMA is a probabilistic accident consequence assessment (ACA) system, for use in calculating the risk posed by potential nuclear accidents giving rise to atmospheric releases, taking into account the range of conditions which may prevail should an accident occur. COSYMA prov...

COSYMA is a probabilistic accident consequence assessment (ACA) system, for use in calculating the risk posed by potential nuclear accidents giving rise to atmospheric releases, taking into account the range of conditions which may prevail should an accident occur. COSYMA provides a flexible package which will allow users in different countries to carry out both deterministic and probabilistic assessments: deterministic assessments give detailed results for a release in a single set of atmospheric conditions; probabilistic assessments give results taking account of the full range of atmospheric conditions.

Endpoints calculated include:

- Air concentration and deposition, both at specific locations and as a function of distance from site;
- Numbers of people and areas affected by counter measures and their time integrals;
- Amounts of food banned;
- Duration of countermeasures at particular locations;
- Probability of implementing counter measures, both at specific locations and as a function of distance from the site;
- Doses received in selected periods, both at specific locations and as a function of distance from the site;
- Number of early and late fatal and non-fatal health effects;
- Economic costs of the off-site consequences of an accident.

COSYMA was developed with support from the European Commission Radiation Protection Research Programme. The code system was principally developed by Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK) and the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB) with significant input from a number of other contractors within the EC MARIA (Methods for Assessing the Radiological Impact of Accidents) Research Programme.

A version of COSYMA for use on mainframe computers was first made available in 1990. A PC version of COSYMA, with user-friendly input and results interfaces, was developed by RPB and FZK shortly after this and the first version of the system was made available, through the European Union, in 1993. A revised and extended version is now available. This system is described in detail in the document "PC COSYMA Version 2: An accident consequence assessment package for use on a PC" Brussels, EC, EUR16239 (1995).

The system can be obtained, subject to a signed agreement, between the European Commission and the intended user, on the conditions of its use. The version of the system to be provided will be determined by the EU in consultation with the applicant, taking account of the applicant's experience and knowledge in this area and the intended use of the system.