Re: 5 rem (50 mSv)/y as BRC Level

[baumbaug@nosc.mil (Joel T. Baumbaugh)]

     Ron,

     As  you are well aware, there are many places on this planet
where  every man, women and child are exposed to total  effective
dose  equivalents in excess of 5 rem/yr (Poco de Caldas in Brazil
is  one).  These populations have been studied pretty extensively
with  no  ill effects noted (no higher rates of leukemia etc.)  I
myself  have  a bathroom with 202 uranium oxide tiles (the  house
was  built in 1926) and let me tell you, it is a "warm and toasty
bathroom".  Yet I let my 4 1/2 year old take her bath there every
night.   Yes,  I've weighed the risks and yes, I've come  to  the
conclusion   that   the   risks   are   so   small   as   to   be
negligible/unmeasurable - God only knows there are enough "other"
things  that  all  of  us ingest through  our  food,  respiratory
systems etc., that have an equal or greater potential to cause us
harm.

     Yet,  I  must admit, I am a true believer in "prudence"  for
prudence  sake.   I  handle  large  sealed  sources  with  remote
handling tools, I don't spend more time than necessary in bunkers
with high radon levels, etc.

     I  guess what I'm trying to say is that as H.P.'s we have (I
believe)  knowledge  of  the  risks, and each  of  us  puts  that
knowledge  into his or her own perspective of what or how great a
risk  is.   All  of us know a LOT of "people  who  have  attained
years"  (i.e.  old)  health  physicists who  have,  in  the  past
received "big time" doses with no ill effects.  Is this a case of
"familiarity  breeds  contempt"??   Maybe, but in most  cases,  I
don't  think so.  Five rem/yr sounds like a big number, but is it
really?   Can  you  tell me that 5 rem/year is going to  give  me
cancer  or  otherwise  shorten my life-span?   Would  it  really?
Prove  it!  Don't give me a bunch of clever (you better watch out
for the bogey man) rhetoric, Prove it!


     Joel Baumbaugh  (baumbaug@nosc.mil
     NRaD
     San Diego CA

     Std.  disclaimer:  These are my and only my opinions and  do
not  necessary reflect those of my boss', the Navy or the Federal
Govt.

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__________________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 00:08:26 -0500
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
From: "Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Subject: 5 rem (50 mSv)/y as BRC Level

Just  out  of curiosity, I wonder how many on RADSAFE  would  be
willing  to  be exposed a 5 rem (50 mSv) annually each and  every
year?   Or have their children, pregnant wives or selves  exposed
to this level?

Just asking.  Let the flak fly -- I'll be away from e-mail for 10
days  or  so but would be interested in hearing opinions.  In  my
own case, I would not be willing to incur such an exposure.  And,
when  my  wife  was  pregnant with twins many years  ago,  at  my
recommendation  she declined an x-ray that the obstetrician  when
asked admitted was likely of no use but was something he had been
taught  in  medical school.  ALARA anyone?  Don't forget,  the  R
stands for reasonable.

Ron Kathren

PS  to Melissa and fellow Radsafers -- These discussions are,  in
my  view,  highly  informative  and educational.   My  thanks  in
advance to those who help me to shape my own views.