[ RadSafe ] interesting new question

[Stabin, Michael]

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/10/19/x-ray-vans-security-measure-invasion-privacy/?test=latestnews

This particular application of radiation raises some interesting new questions in the justification-regulation-optimization philosophy of health physics (I have always thought that optimization comes after regulation, although the ICRP lists them in the opposite order). Exposing unknowing persons to radiation (admittedly low level) to ostensibly prevent terrorism, particularly when the exposed persons may not be citizens of the country doing the irradiatiing, is a new balancing of risks and benefits that has not been part of the normal equation until now. And the balance is different if we are talking about daily screening of everything or particular screening of containers, naval vessels, etc., in the case of a specific, credible risk scenario. Fun stuff philosophically, frightening stuff practically.


Mike

Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP
Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences
Vanderbilt University
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2675
Phone (615) 343-4628
Fax   (615) 322-3764
e-mail     michael.g.stabin at vanderbilt.edu
internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com<http://www.doseinfo-radar.com/>