RE: NRC requirements on retention of film

[loesch@viper.eh.doe.gov (Robert M. Loesch)]

>Why do you think it is important to keep processed film?  What purpose does it
>serve after the densities have been read?
>
>
>     Joel
>
>  Joel E. Gray, Ph.D.
>  Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology
>  Mayo Clinic
>  Rochester, MN 55905
>

You are assuming that the recorded results indeed represent the actual doses.
I am aware of a situation at a facility where a routine review of some
old neutron films revealed that a technician at the time most probably never 
even read some films but just recorded 0 in the records.  A reevaluation of
the films along with the calibrations and controls have revealed several
positive results from that period, one in excess of 10 mSv (1 rem) which
were recorded as 0.  Without the luxury of having saved the processed films,
one would not know the situation existed, must less having the ability to
perform dose reconstruction/reevaluation.

Bob Loesch

Robert M. Loesch
DOELAP Administrator
U.S. Department of Energy
Germantown, MD 20874
(301) 903-4443
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Random number generation is too important a task
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