external dose evaluation

[William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>]

A recent NRC "exercise of enforcement discretion" indicates that the NRC

is considering the use of weighting factors in calculating an "effective

dose equivalent" for external exposure.



The case involves a cardiologist at Jameson Memorial Hospital, New

Castle, PA.  This person wears 2 dosimeters - (1) on his collar, outside

of his lead apron, and (2) on his chest, under his lead apron.

Dosimeter (1) was found to have 5.401 rems for the monitoring period,

but this was not reported as an overexposure because the licensee uses a

weighted average of the dosimeters to determine the whole body dose.

This is allowed by the State of PA, which regulates the individual's

exposure from nonlicensed sources, but not by the NRC.  Nevertheless,

the NRC stated that it is exercising enforcement discretion in this

matter, and is considering allowing this practice for NRC licensees.

Dose evaluation methodologies being considered are those of the

Conference of Radiological Control Program Directors Suggested State

Regulations, ANSI/HPS N13.41-1997, ICRP 35, and NCRP 122.



See NRC Inspection Report No. 03002977/2001-001 for more details.  This

is available through the "enforcement" link on the NRC web page

(www.nrc.gov) or through the ADAMS link on this web page.



The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

It's not about dose, it's about trust.



Bill Lipton

liptonw@dteenergy.com







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