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Current Situation with Regard to Permissible Radiation Exposure Levels

Current Situation with Regard to Permissible Radiation Exposure Levels Current Situation with Regard to Permissible Radiation Exposure Levels 1 Lauriston S. Taylor 2 Atomic and Radiation Physics Division National Bureau of Standards Washington 25, D. C. ↵ 1 Presented at the Forty-second Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, Ill., Dec. 2–7, 1956, and at the meeting of the American Nuclear Society, Dec. 12, 1956. ↵ 2 Chief, Atomic and Radiation Physics Division, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. Excerpt This discussion will deal primarily with permissible radiation levels in relation to occupational exposure. While such levels are intimately related to those for the general population, this phase of the problem will not be discussed in detail. For the past twenty-five years this country has based its permissible occupational exposure levels on the recommendations of the National Committee on Radiation Protection (NCRP) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). In both cases the exposure levels have been determined primarily by the effect of radiation upon the individual. The current permissible weekly level is based on the premise that a whole-body exposure of 0.3 rem∕week for an indefinite period would not produce any detectable harmful effect. It should be pointed out that at the time these levels were set, in 1948, extensive consideration was given to the effect of radiation on the genetic system and upon the average expected life-span of the occupationally irradiated population. Handbook 59 , which set forth the recommendations on permissible exposure from external radiation, made numerous references to the fact that this basic requirement might have to be changed in the future (1). This is typified by the following statement: “As the applications of atomic energy expand and the number of exposed individuals increases, genetic effects will become more important. Accordingly, it may be expected that at some time in the not too distant future a reappraisal of the situation will become necessary. On the basis of present knowledge of the genetic effects of radiation, it may be predicted that any future revision of permissible doses to the gonads of young persons will be downward. This should be borne in mind, and unnecessary exposure to radiation should be avoided at all times.” Similarly, the effect of radiation on the average life expectancy was considered. The knowledge of a few years ago was vastly less than at present, and even today the question is one in which there is considerable quantitative doubt. The present permissible exposure levels took into consideration the fact that only a small fraction of the population would be subjected to radiation exposures approaching the maximum permissible levels. No allowance was made, however, for the fact that the great majority of radiation exposures would be considerably below the permissible levels. An additional safety factor was thus automatically introduced. An estimate that there may be as many as 500,000 radiation workers in this country would undoubtedly be on the high side. This would be about one-third of 1 per cent of the population. Considering occupational exposure alone, compared with medical and other sources of irradiation, the total exposure to this group would be regarded as genetically relatively unimportant. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Radiology Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Current Situation with Regard to Permissible Radiation Exposure Levels

Taylor, Lauriston S.
Radiology , Volume 69 (1): 6 – Jul 1, 1957
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References (1)

Publisher
Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
Copyright
Copyright © 1957 by Radiological Society of North America
ISSN
1527-1315
eISSN
0033-8419
DOI
10.1148/69.1.6
pmid
13453707
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Current Situation with Regard to Permissible Radiation Exposure Levels 1 Lauriston S. Taylor 2 Atomic and Radiation Physics Division National Bureau of Standards Washington 25, D. C. ↵ 1 Presented at the Forty-second Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, Ill., Dec. 2–7, 1956, and at the meeting of the American Nuclear Society, Dec. 12, 1956. ↵ 2 Chief, Atomic and Radiation Physics Division, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. Excerpt This discussion will deal primarily with permissible radiation levels in relation to occupational exposure. While such levels are intimately related to those for the general population, this phase of the problem will not be discussed in detail. For the past twenty-five years this country has based its permissible occupational exposure levels on the recommendations of the National Committee on Radiation Protection (NCRP) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). In both cases the exposure levels have been determined primarily by the effect of radiation upon the individual. The current permissible weekly level is based on the premise that a whole-body exposure of 0.3 rem∕week for an indefinite period would not produce any detectable harmful effect. It should be pointed out that at the time these levels were set, in 1948, extensive consideration was given to the effect of radiation on the genetic system and upon the average expected life-span of the occupationally irradiated population. Handbook 59 , which set forth the recommendations on permissible exposure from external radiation, made numerous references to the fact that this basic requirement might have to be changed in the future (1). This is typified by the following statement: “As the applications of atomic energy expand and the number of exposed individuals increases, genetic effects will become more important. Accordingly, it may be expected that at some time in the not too distant future a reappraisal of the situation will become necessary. On the basis of present knowledge of the genetic effects of radiation, it may be predicted that any future revision of permissible doses to the gonads of young persons will be downward. This should be borne in mind, and unnecessary exposure to radiation should be avoided at all times.” Similarly, the effect of radiation on the average life expectancy was considered. The knowledge of a few years ago was vastly less than at present, and even today the question is one in which there is considerable quantitative doubt. The present permissible exposure levels took into consideration the fact that only a small fraction of the population would be subjected to radiation exposures approaching the maximum permissible levels. No allowance was made, however, for the fact that the great majority of radiation exposures would be considerably below the permissible levels. An additional safety factor was thus automatically introduced. An estimate that there may be as many as 500,000 radiation workers in this country would undoubtedly be on the high side. This would be about one-third of 1 per cent of the population. Considering occupational exposure alone, compared with medical and other sources of irradiation, the total exposure to this group would be regarded as genetically relatively unimportant.

Journal

Radiology – Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Published: Jul 1, 1957

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