Re: background vs man-made emmissions

["D. Kosloff" <dkosloff@ncweb.com>]

One of the problems with explaining TEDE is the general failure of educators
to effectively teach the concepts of radioactivity and its relationship to
radiation.  Without an understanding of the basic concepts it is not
possible to understand TEDE.  Generally when there is a leak of "radioactive
material" it is reported as a "radiation leak", which it is not.  This is
done even by generally respected publications with experienced science
reporters.  If the general public is to understand the effects of
radioactive materials and radiation, this lack of knowledge must be
overcome.  Here is an analogy I have been playing with in my mind.  As I
type I am working on it.  If we are all lucky, someone else has already
fully developed this anaology,  Light is radiation.  A light bulb is a
source of light (radiation).  When we speak of radiation from a radioactive
source, visualize the sources as tiny lightbulbs emitting light.  A
radioactive atom (source) is like a tiny lightbulb.  When there is a leak of
radioactive material it like releasing many tiny light bulbs.   On the other
hand a large radiation source is like a very large light bulb.  Shielding is
like a piece of cardboard held in front of the light.  Mrem per year of
radiation dose can be compared to the wattage of a light bulb.  Natural
background radiaton is a 150 watt bulb and radiation from a nuclear power
plant (to someone outside the plant) is a tiny bulb from the street lamps on
a model railroad layout.  To radiation, people are like those "visible man"
or "visible woman" models except the organs are translucent.

I know it needs a lot of work, that is why I am hoping someone else has
already done it.

Don Kosloff dkosloff@ncweb.com
2910 Main St, Perry OH 44081

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandy Perle <sandyfl@earthlink.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2000 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: background vs man-made emmissions


> > It seems to me that radiation is not just radiation is some of it gets
concentrated in
> > different body parts like teeth and bones, or thyroid.
>
> Your interpretation is a bit off, and let me explain. Radionuclides
> migrate and accumulate in specific body parts, or, are simply
> passed through the body, based on the chemical characteristics,
> not because of the radioactive emissions. Iodine is found in the
> thyroid, and therefore, when the body has an uptake of I-131 (for
> example) it migrates to the thyroid. It is for this specific reason that
> I-131 is used for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Sr-90
> accumulates in the bone, such as Calcium does. Now, what about
> the radiation aspects of this. Each radionuclide decays and emits
> specific types of radiation. Each organ is exposed to a specific
> amount of radiation based on the type of emission, and obviously
> the total dose is based on the time the organ is exposed. The
> science is that whether the organ is irradiated from within, due to
> internal deposition, or externally, due to whole body irradiation, the
> effect on the organ is the same. That is why the industry is
> regulated based on total dose, called TEDE (Total Effective Dose
> Equivalent)> The total dose from external added to the internal. It
> doesn't matter where the dose originated. So, if there is no internal
> irradiation, the entire dose is due to external. This is what we are
> all exposed to from natural background, terrestrial, internal
> radionuclides, etc.
>
> In essence, there is no difference from radiation exposure. The only
> difference is from internal deposition, and where the radionuclides
> accumulate. The effect though is the same as if the exposure was
> due to external sources.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
> Sandy Perle Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
> Director, Technical Extension 2306
> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division Fax:(714) 668-3149
> ICN Biomedicals, Inc. E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
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>
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