[ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart

Mon Mar 28 20:00:20 CDT 2011

Sandy,

You may recall in the Johns-Hopkins study of nuclear vs. non-nuclear
shipyard workers that the cohort of some 70,000 participants were paired at
random.  "You there, go to the nuclear ships, and you there to the
non-nuclear."  How could a "healthy worker affect" be possible under these
circumstances?  But the nuclear workers had a Standard Mortality Ratio of
0.74 when compared to the non-nuclear cohort.  Not what the study was
expected to show.  (And probably why it was not published for almost 20
years after analysis of the data.)

Ed Hiserodt
Controls & Power, Inc.
President & Janitor

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Perle, Sandy
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 6:54 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart

Sandra,

On the contrary, studies have demonstrated that nuclear workers have a
lower incidence of cancer. Those who are opposed to nuclear attempt to say
this is a "healthy worker" affect. However, lower incidence is lower
incidence, no matter what you want to call it.

Regards,

Sandy

-----------------------------------
Sander C. Perle
President
Mirion Technologies
Dosimetry Services Division
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

+1 (949) 296-2306 (Office)
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On 3/28/11 5:59 AM, "Sandra Matzkin" <matzkin at invap.com.ar> wrote:

>Thank you Rick,
>
>The 200 mSv chronic exposure threshold is sort of scary. Are nuclear
>industry (or other radiation-related) workers are really more prone
>to cancer than other groups of people? I thought there was no
>evidence of this.
>
>Regards,
>
>Sandra
>Radiation Transport
>INVAP SE
>Bariloche
>Argentina
>
>
>At 04:19 PM 3/22/2011, you wrote:
>>Sandra,
>>
>>
>>Here are two other relative radiation dose charts.
>>
>>
>>
>>Nicole Metting, the Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy
>>(DOE) Low Dose Radiation Research Program, has compiled two
>>"Ionizing Radiation Dose Range Charts," intended as a simple,
>>user-friendly, "order-of-magnitude" reference for radiation
>>exposures of interest to scientists, managers, and the general
>>public." The same information is shown in two charts, one in units
>>of rem and one in sieverts.
>>
>>In regards to cancer risk and 10 rem [100 mSv] "threshold," these
>>charts state the following:
>>"Evidence for small increases in human cancer above 10 rem [100 mSv]
>>acute exposure or 20 rem [200 mSv] chronic exposure."
>>
>>For the PDF version of the charts:
>>http://www.lowdose.energy.gov/pdf/DoseRanges.pdf
>>
>>The DOE Low Dose Radiation Research Program funds basic research to
>>determine the responses induced by radiation exposures at doses of
>>10 centigray (cGy) [10 rem and 100 mSv for gamma radiation] and
>>below. Program research will provide a scientific underpinning for
>>future radiation protection standards.
>>
>>I encourage anyone who has questions about the cancer risks for
>>"low" doses of radiation to contact the experts at the DOE Low Dose
>>Radiation Research Program. Nicole Metting has been very helpful in
>>the past when I needed some assistance for our training materials.
>>http://www.lowdose.energy.gov/
>>
>>Best regards,
>>Rick
>>
>>Rick Hansen
>>Senior Scientist
>>CTOS - Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training at the Nevada
>>National Security Site
>>National Security Technologies, LLC
>>Contractor to the United States Department of Energy
>>Office: 702-295-7813
>>Cell:    702-630-1131
>>hansenrg at nv.doe.gov<mailto:hansenrg at nv.doe.gov>
>>www.ctosnnsa.org
>>
>>The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the author
>>and not necessarily those of the United States Government or any
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>>Message: 1
>>Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:51:03 -0300
>>From: Sandra Matzkin <matzkin at invap.com.ar<mailto:matzkin at invap.com.ar>>
>>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] xkcd:  Relative Radiation Dose chart
>>To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
>>                 List"
>> <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu<mailto:radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>>
>>
>>Thank you for all your comments and references. The HPS paper
>>(Position Statement of the Health Physics Society) is particularly
>>interesting and balanced.
>>
>>This question came to me a few days ago when I heard a RP expert
>>explanation addressed to a general (but educated) public. I was
>>surprised to see the 100 mSv (10 rem) threshold stated as a fact.
>>Now I see that it is more widely accepted than I initially thought.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>
>>Sandra
>>
>>
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