[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: recommended dose limits to radiation workers by NCRP and ICRPin1934.
John.
In 1987, I presented a paper titled "Rethinking ALARA" at an ANS
meeting. In this paper I reviewed the history of radiation standards
including pretty much the same information you have summarized and noting
that the Manhattan Project during WW-2 was conducted using the 1934 NCRP
guidance - with no apparent problem. From this assessment, I couldn't help
but wonder:
1) What would have happened (in terms of health consequences) if the
1934 guidance had been maintained until now?
2) What would be the current status of the Health Physics profession if the
1934 standards had not been ratcheted down and the ALAP and ALARA policies
were never implemented?
3) What effect, if any, did the economic self-interest of radiation safety
professionals have upon the determination of radiation standards?
I know that these questions cannot be answered definitively, but it is
interesting to
conjecture. Any thoughts? Jerry
----- Original Message -----
From: john cameron
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 6:52 PM
Subject: RE: recommended dose limits to radiation workers by NCRP and ICRP
in1934.
Mike Stabin wrote: " The highest dose limit that I am aware
of, from the early years, was 50 R/year (Mutscheller and ICRP, 1920's
and 30's)."
The ICRP was founded in 1928 and what is now the NCRP was founded in
1929. Both organizations made recommendations for radiation workers in 1934.
The NCRP recommended 0.1 r/day (~ 250 mGy/y assuming a 5 day week)
The ICRP recommended 0.2 r/day (~ 500 mGy/y assuming a 5 day
week)
In 1980 Dr. Lauriston Taylor wrote: " No one has been identifiably
injured by radiation while working within the first numerical standards set
by the NCRP and the ICRP in 1934.The theories about people being injured
have still not led to the demonstration of injury and, if considered as
facts by some, must only be looked upon as figments of the imagination." (
NON-SCIENTIFIC INFLUENCES ON RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS AND PRACTICE by
Lauriston S. Taylor, ScD Health Physics 1980;32, pp 851-874.)
The article: Berrington, A, Darby, SC, Weiss, HA, Doll, R. 100 years
of observation on British radiologists: mortality from cancer and other
causes 1897-1997 Br J Radiol. 74, 507-519 (2001) shows that after 1920 UK
radiologists never had a statistically significant excess of cancers
compared to other UK MDs.
See my article: Cameron, J.R. Longevity is the most appropriate
measure of health effects of radiation, Radiology 229, 14-16 (2003).
Cameron, J.R. Longevity is the most appropriate measure of health effects of
radiation, Radiology 229, 14-16 (2003).
http://www.medphysics.wisc.edu/~jrc/art_longevity.htm
For a different view of health effects of moderate dose rate radiation.
Aunt Minnie didn't consider it news worthy!
Best wishes,
John Cameron
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
Pager (615) 835-5153
e-mail michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu
internet www.doseinfo-radar.com
************************************************************************
You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/
--
John R. Cameron (jrcamero@wisc.edu)
3100 Lake Mendota Dr. #502, Madison, WI 53705 (608) 238-9694 until 10/20
2678 SW 14th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608 Phone: (352) 371-9865 after
10/20/04
My web page is http://www.medphysics.wisc.edu/~jrc/
************************************************************************
You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/