Re: ALARA Cost/Benefit

[Ccja@aol.com]

It's actually pretty hard for a nuclear physician to get any measurable dose,
unless perhaps by inhaling radioiodine that's been exhaled/aerosolized by a
patient who's just received a dose; or maybe if it's a mom and pop operation
(or a resident) and he/she is running the hot lab. It's true that
cardiologists and interventional radiologists can get badge readings that are
big numbers, but these people are cloaked in lead equivalent armor (the
standard being 0.5mm) from at least their collarbones to their knees (though
arms are usually unshielded), many also wear thyroid shields. Thus the badge
reading does not accurately represent the effective dose equivalent. See NCRP
Report 122.

Chris Alston