LD/50 for rats and humans

[james.g.barnes@att.net]

Good afternoon,

I have a question regarding the application of LD-50 from 
laboratory animals to humans.

1)  What is the generally accepted value for LD-50 for 
laboratory rats?

2)  What is the generally accepted value for LD-50 to 
humans?

3)  When interpreting dose data from rats to humans, what 
is the generally accepted conversion methodology (i.e, 
would one merely do a linear ratio of the LD-50s to get a 
rough equivalent dose, or is there a more sophisticated 
conversion method).

Specifically, I have been reviewing a paper written in 
1967 that demonstrates that rats would avoid flavored 
water that they had been conditioned to associate with 
low levels of radiation exposure.  Specifically, doses of 
10 - 50R (independent of dose rate) were cited as 
adequate to induce this aversion response.  What would 
this be in "human rem?"

Thanks in advance,

Jim Barnes, CHP
Radiation Safety Officer
Rocketdyne/Boeing
james.g.barnes@att.net
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