[ RadSafe ] New average annual medical dose

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

It was also presented by the EPA (I don't recall the individual) at the CRCPC meeting in May.  The factor driving this increase in the "average" is the large number of procedures such as CAT scans, where the high resolution and large information content comes at the cost of higher dose, and the increase of radiation based options replacing conventional surgery.

While I have no problem at all with updating the pie chart, I do take issue with including "average" medical dose in the same display as other, presumably non-healthy, dose.  I believe it sends the wrong message to the public.

As an example, the average dose in my family has gone up very dramatically in the last six months.  My mother has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She has had a number of CAT scans of her head, radiation treatment of the tumor, and undoubtedly several other exposures that I don't remember at the moment.  I don't know what her total dose is, and frankly, I don't really care; I don't think that viewing this dose to her in the standard ways we view dose is productive.

While her no-doubt large dose increased the average dose of any demographic she is included in, it does not increase the risk from radiation to anyone but her.  And for her, the dose resulted in an overall reduction in risk.  Both those points will be lost in a dose pie chart.

When the media sees the new pie chart I can see the lead stories about the HUGE increase (unless, of course, Paris Hilton does something more interesting that day).  I can almost hear news anchors and special reporters speaking in concerned tones about this development, and asking why somebody doesn't do something.  I wouldn't be surprised if some Congressional committee looks into it to see if there aren't some good sound bites available.  It will all come to a bad end.

But we will always have Paris. 

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of Muckerheide, Jim (CDA)
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:20 AM
To: Wes Van Pelt; radsafe
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] New average annual medical dose

Hi Wes,

The new estimate is 320 mrem/yr.  This was presented by Fred Mettler at the NCRP April Annual meeting.  This will be in an update of the NCRP 93 report (1987) in which medical exposure is estimated to be 54 mrem/r.

I've seen a ref to a later presentation by Dr. Mettler also, but I forget where.

Regards, Jim 
 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of Wes Van Pelt
>Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:59 AM
>To: 'radsafe'
>Subject: [ RadSafe ] New average annual medical dose
>
>A few weeks ago there was some discussion on a new revised estimate of 
>annual dose from diagnostic medical procedures (e.g., x-rays, CT, mamo, 
>etc.). I recall that the annual average medical dose went from about 70 
>to about 250 mrem per year. A BIG increase!
>
>I cannot find the reference(s) to this new estimate. Can anyone help?
>
>Best regards,
>Wes
>Wesley R. Van Pelt, PhD, CIH, CHP
>Wesley R. Van Pelt Associates, Inc.  
> 
>
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