[ RadSafe ] ALARA

Mon Jun 23 18:18:20 CDT 2008

As I recall, "Reasonable" was one of the key words in the acronym ALARA.  I believe most of the regulations and implementing guides contain some provision for using "optimization" or what are essentially "cost-benefit" analyses, much like those used in other industries.  As with many things though, the devil-in-the-detail hits during attempts to implement ALARA measures. I have participated in exercises where Tc-99 was used and it did provide a level of realism not otherwise attainable.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of Jerry Cohen
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 2:17 PM
To: Conklin, Al (DOH); garyi at trinityphysics.com; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] ALARA

"So, is ALARA stupid? From a purely dose perspective (saving a few
millirem) probably. But in a political atmosphere, it's not stupid at all."  Al Conklin

Al,
    I certainly agree that in a political atmosphere, ALARA can be a particularly effective tool. Especially when the objective is to instill fear and apprehension. The clear message that ALARA imparts is that radiation must be extremely dangerous even at very low dose levels. Otherwise, how could such extreme control measures
be justified?   Jerry Cohen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Conklin, Al (DOH)" <Al.Conklin at DOH.WA.GOV>
To: <garyi at trinityphysics.com>; <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 8:07 AM
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] ALARA

I can tell you one very valuable use of the ALARA principle. We do a lot of training here in Washington State of first and second responders.
Included in that training are a series of exercises we run with radioactive materials, simulating detonated and undetonated dirty bombs to show the responders how to approach a scene ,collect evidence, do surveys, identify isotopes, etc. We use two cesium-137 calibrators, a variety of mixed calibration sources, occasionally some natural sources, and Tc-99m, diluted in a gallon of water and sprayed on debris to represent real contamination. The training is very popular among the responders, but not so much among our political non-technical upper management. In fact, most political entities wouldn't allow this type of realism. The reason we can continue to do it, is because we are very careful about keeping our doses ALARA. We have RSOs who keep an eye on everyone and ask them to move if they stand in a radiation field too long. We send in electronic dosimetry if they don't have their own, and we record their doses. More often than not, there are no measurable doses or they are very very small. We keep that as evidence that we can do the training safely, and we are allowed to continue. We do the work in an isolated bomb pit that we can keep secure until the Tc-99m decays.
We have a security company guard the only entrance.

So, is ALARA stupid? From a purely dose perspective (saving a few
millirem) probably. But in a political atmosphere, it's not stupid at all. Our trainees get a good and valuable experience, and practicing ALARA doesn't hurt it at all. But, it does keep us in business providing realism that the responders cannot get other places.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of garyi at trinityphysics.com
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 7:59 AM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] ALARA

ALARA is just stupid.  No doubt, people believe they are fulfulling ALARA, but does anyone really do it?  Or do they just reach a point where they think, consciously or not, "Thats low enough" and stop trying to reduce doses?

Consider bone densitometers.  The operater sits unshielded at a computer about 1 to 2 meters from the scanner.  Is that ALARA?  Yes, the dose is very low, but ALARA does not care how low it is.  It does not matter.
So if it is reasonable to shield a radiographic room or fluoro room, why is it not reasonable to shield a DEXA unit the same way, with about 1/16"
lead and a shielded control barrier?  If ALARA is applied consistently, then perhaps all medical imaging rooms should have 1/8" lead on all barriers, including floor and ceiling.

This is the bottom line.  Do we get anything from ALARA that we could not have just by writing clear regs?  I'm sitting here trying to think of anything at all, but I can't.  I think its better to just tell people what the limits are and what you expect them to do to comply with those limits.

Somebody might say that ALARA results in lower doses to the population.
That's probably true, but you could have that just by writing the dose limits lower in the regs.  And this I think shows why we have ALARA - because nobody in authority has the guts to say "This is safe enough.
This dose level is safe enough."  There are too many nuts who would froth at the mouth upon hearing those words applied to radiation.

If transportation risk was made ALARA, what would that look like?  I drive a lot in my business. That puts myself and anybody I pass on the road at risk.  People in houses along my route are at risk, and I bet the risk is significantly higher than the risk to someone exposed to 0.1 cSv.  How about that vacation you are planning?  You mean you are free, legally, to put all those innocent people at risk?  Without even warning them?  OMYGOSH!

-Gary Isenhower
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