Re: Radionuclide in Sediment

[pcharp@ix.netcom.com]

On Wed, 10 Jan 96, stephens@lamar.ColoState.EDU (John Stephens) wrote:
>
>    I would like to ask if anyone recognizes that there are 2
>fundamentally different ways to regulate environmental contamination?
>and in particular for the radionuclides in the sediment (I did my
>thesis on Sr and Cs in sediments).

I agree that there are several ways of regulating contamination: real 
(measurements) and imaginary (risk).  The current proposal of 0.15 mSv/y is 
supposed to orrespond to a risk of 10E-4 which approximates the upper end of 
Superfund risk numbers.  At least the powers that be are not pushing 1E-6 to 
1E-5 risk values. As readers of Radsafe have seen over the past several months, 
the LNT is/is not (pick one) adequate to those who develop regs/standards.  As 
long as the public is the ultimate recepient of our efforts, risk methodology 
may override what many of us consider common sense.
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paul charp  (pcharp@ix.netcom.com)

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