Re: variations in background

["Thomas E. Potter" <pottert@erols.com>]

I'm unaware of any systematic study of variability of radiation dose

from all natural background sources on a state-by-state basis.  NRC took

a reasonably good semi-quantitative cut at variability on a national

basis in NUREG-1501, "Background as a Residual Radioactivity Criterion

for Decommissioning."  I refer specifically to Section 2, and, in

particular to pages 28-31.  This report is posted in PDF format at:



http://www.orau.com/ptp/infores.htm



on 9/7/02 12:55 PM, Michael G. Stabin at michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu



wrote:

>

> I quite often cite levels of natural background radiation, for

comparisons

> to other exposures. Sometimes, we say that very low exposures are

"within

> the variability" of natural background. Can anyone tell me, for the

US, what

> a reasonable value is for this variability? For Tennessee, we cite an

> average value of 3 mSv/y, but what would a reasonable estimate be for

the

> variability of this number, for ex, one standard deviation? Thanks.

>

> Mike

>

> Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP

> Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Vanderbilt University

> 1161 21st Avenue South

> Nashville, TN 37232-2675

> Phone (615) 343-0068

> Fax   (615) 322-3764

> e-mail     michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu

> internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com



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