Re: ALARA

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Jeff Hoffman stated the following:

> Can some of you actually be arguing against ALARA?  Don't you think it
> good to minimize your dose? 

Jeff,

I would say that the issue isn't whether or not ALARA is a good or 
bad, rather it's the degree to which it is applied. In your example, 
you reference a dose of 1 rem. The question then is, would you apply 
the same level of effort to reduce a dose of 0.1 rem as you would to 
the dose of 1 rem? Obviously the answer is no. The Reg. Guides and 
other guidance documents seem to forget that degree of relevance is 
an important consideration. I personally believe that we do not need 
to expend hundreds of millions of dollar each and every year to 
reduce dose that poses no measurable consequences or risks to those 
who receive the dose. Not only did the industry need the BRC policy, 
but also a policy that states that the risk is for all practical 
purposes, inconsequential and insignificant, as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
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