Re: EPA's acceptable risk

[Robert Owen <Robert_Owen@health.ohio.gov>]

     This was asked of Admiral Richard Guimond of the USEPA at a national 
     meeting, which I attended, a couple of years ago.  His only response 
     was that the radiological risk factor of 1E-6 was selected in order 
     to be consistent with the risk factor for other hazardous materials.  
     How does one decide what is acceptable?  You pick a number and run 
     with it - thus a "magic number."  Good luck on finding a white 
     paper!
     
     
     Robert Owen
     robert_owen@health.ohio.gov  
     


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: EPA's acceptable risk
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet
Date:    8/3/96 10:31 AM


Does anyone know the rationale for the EPA's acceptable lifetime risk of 1
E-4 to 1 E-6 that EPA uses for CERCLA evaluations?  

If there is a reference to a good "white paper," that would be useful.

Michael S. McGuire