Those who may be unfamiliar with
the methodology for estimating dose consequences of given contamination
levels, should be made aware that the results are predominately a function of
the imagination of the analyst. Within a very wide latitude, if one were to
specify what dose level they want, it is not difficult to
find a "credible" (i.e., not impossible) scenario to obtain that result.
Fundamentally, it is a phony process that is given official sanction by
regulatory agencies. A process that causes an enormous waste of our limited
resources, and one that will likely continue until the first regulatory
official is fired or jailed for the crime of exercising "excessive caution". I
wouldn't hold my breath until that happens.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 11:27
AM
Subject: RE: Dirty bombs
A little followup to my previous message. I found the spreadsheet used to
make relocation and re-entry calculations, using factors developed by EPA for
radionuclide retention out to 50 years assuming only natural removal
processes. Running through the calculations, I come up with the
following:
A deposition of 22.2 uCi/m^2 of Cs-137 will result in a first year
"occupancy" dose of 1 rem.
A deposition of 17.4 uCi/m^2 of Cs-137 will result in a second year
"occupancy" dose of 0.5 rem
A deposition of 8.2 uCi/m^2 of Cs-137 will result in a 0-50
year "occupancy" dose of 5.0 rem.
Don't ask me all the assumptions that went into this calculation ...
because I don't know what they are. I'd have to look in EPA 400. Even certain
individuals in EPA admit that the 50 year calculations may be somewhat
suspect, but I'd venture that any agreed upon cleanup level would be below
that 8.2 uCi/m^2 value.