[ RadSafe ] Space and Cancer, NASA

[Jaro]

-----Original Message-----

RADSAFERS,

A short article I enjoyed on the NASA web-site about radiation damage
and space travel.  No new ground here (an easy read) but IMHO
interesting never-the-less...

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/09may_mysteriouscancer.htm?list15095
9

Joel Baumbaugh (joel.baumbaugh at navy.mil)
SPAWARSYSCEN, San Diego
=================================


Thanks -- that's a good one.
I also found the linked backgrounder interesting :

http://srag-nt.jsc.nasa.gov/AboutSRAG/Why/Why.htm

Astronauts have been classified as radiation workers and, monitoring their
radiation exposure has been a key requirement for spaceflight since Project
Mercury. Terrestrial radiation guidelines are considered too restrictive for
space activities. Therefore, NASA has adopted the recommendations of the
National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) for spaceflight activities.
These limits, which are considerably higher than those for terrestrial
radiation workers (5 rem per year), are detailed in the table below.

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Organ Specific Exposure Limits for Astronauts

Exposure Interval      Blood Forming Organs                    Eye
Skin
30 Days                                  25 rem
100 rem 150 rem
Annual                                    50 rem
200 rem 300 rem
Career 150 - 400 rem [200 + 7.5(age - 30) for men]
          100 - 300 rem [200 + 7.5(age - 38) for women]  400 rem 600 rem
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