Re: Definition of Health Physics

[nolan.hertel@me.gatech.edu (Nolan Hertel)]

>     Does any one know of an "official" definition of Health Physics and/or
>     Radiological Engineering?
>     Thanks
>     Ellen

Here are the definitions we are using at Georgia Tech -- the HP one is
borrowed from others and has some additions of our own:

Health physics is a profession that cuts across the boundaries of the
physical, life and earth sciences as well as applied sciences such as
toxicology, industrial hygiene, medicine, public health and engineering.
The discipline is based upon a broad knowledge of scientific principles and
their practical application in radiation protection.  The primary objective
of a health physicist is to protect people from unnecessary exposure to
radiation and to protect the environment from the inadvertent release of
radioactive materials.  In order to ensure the safe beneficial uses of
radiation, the health physicist must be trained to perform physical
measurements of radiation and radioactivity, relate radiation exposure to
health impact, analyze the fate of radioactive materials in the
environment, design radiologically safe processes, and maintain a healthy
environment.

Our definition of radiological engineering, still in progress, is more
encompassing than often used in industry and as is:

Radiological engineering is an emerging engineering discipline that
combines a broad-based knowledge of applied atomic, nuclear and radiation
physics; nuclear and radioactive materials; radiation detection; radiation
dosimetry and shielding; nuclear energy production and engineering
fundamentals to:
1. Design and analyze radiation sources and/or detection instruments for
medical, agricultural, industrial, research, and environmental
applications;
2. Apply radiation protection engineering principles to ensure the safe
uses of atomic and nuclear technology;
3. Address the problems of the nuclear fuel cycle; nuclear and radioactive
materials management; the production, and processing of nuclear source
materials and radioisotopes; materials transportation and storage; and
disposal of waste materials including assay,  criticality safety, worker
protection, cost and optimization of facility management
4. Assess the environmental impact of nuclear facilities using the
principles of radiological assessment.

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Nolan E. Hertel
Health Physics Program
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
(404) 894-3717
facs:  (404) 894-3733
nolan.hertel@me.gatech.edu
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