Re: dose limits for members of the public

[BLHamrick@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 02/12/2002 4:53:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET writes:



> Consider that currently, it is a rare situation 
>
> where an occupational worker not only never exceeds this threshold, but rarely 
>
> approaches it. The only instances I've observed are for physician who conduct 
>
> interventional procedures, and they often use dose weighting factors to determine the 
>
> EDE. So, if nobody approaches the 5 rem, why would any management agree to 
>
> maintain a rad protection staff of any size > 1? Also consider that with lower dose limits, 
>
> most staffs continue to be cut by management.


Actually, the place I see overexposures most often is in operations involving unsealed alpha-emitters (i.e., internal dose situations).  I think that increasing the dose limits for members of the public without a comparable increase in limits for workers would do little to change the protections included in the regulations for the workers.  


I think the place this would provide the most benefit for society (in terms of dollars spent unwisely vs. the actual risk from 25 mrem/yr) is in the decommissioning situation.


Barbara L. Hamrick