Health Physics

[mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU (Michael P. Grissom)]

1.  The recent comments on Health Physics have been essentially
on target.  There is no question that radiation biology is not
a critical element to day-to-day radiation safety operations
(I would contend, however, that neither are radiation transport
codes!).  As Melissa has observed in her brief exposure (pardon
the expression) to the business, most of the day-to-day activity
is related to the MANAGEMENT of a radiation safety program (which
only occassionally--maybe often RARELY involves technical health
physics decisions/calculations).

2.  Regarding classical radiation biology's role, I disagree that
a better foundation in radiation biology is not useful to any
practicing HP (as part of the core knowledge).  I believe it is
unfortunate that the many powerful new molecular biology techniques
(and knowledge of cellular function and tissue interactions in
general) have not been applied to some of the questions the BEIR
Committee has been making recommendations on!  In fact, the literature
is so large in that direction (a lot of radiobiologists are now
working in those areas--expatriates if you will--not actively
involved in the Radiation Research community), making the link
between their findings and matters of interest in the HP community
is getting more difficult.

3.  I have seen some of the consequences of less than thorough
foundations in this area demonstrated on radsafe via the confusion 
over the CNS problem discussed some time ago (which may indicate
that more radiobiology research--more focused and hopefully in a less 
consumptive of our fellow metazoans manner than was seen in the kilo-
and mega-mouse days).  When I was involved in research 
in this area (not really radiobiology, we had already made the link
to medical issues of current interest which is why I am still a 
member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine), the discussions of 
phenomena such as the "transient incapacitation syndrome" and
the "permanent incapacitation syndrome" were of more than academic
interest.  My old colleagues Jim Conklin and Dick Walker summarized
that work in the book "Military Radiobiology" since to an aviator
entering a nuclear environment this knowledge might be highly useful
(along the lines of "Will I wake up again and be able to complete the
mission if I go to point A from point B?").

4.  Perhaps the ABHP will create a new exam now that the power reactor
option has been discontinued:  Administrative HP!!
     Michael P. Grissom                                                   
     Asst Dir (ESH) for Env/RadProt/WasteMan            
     Stanford Linear Accelerator Center                         
     MS-84
     2575 Sand Hill Road
     Menlo Park, CA 94025
     Phone:  415-926-2346
     Fax:       415-926-3030
     MIKEG@SLAC.STANFORD.EDU