RE: European Communities and Radiation Exposure of Flight

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

Charlie Willis said the following:

> The NCRP reports that the annual dose to the average member of the
> public from non-medical sources is about 300 mrem; the Dornsife data indicate that
> the maximum annual dose to a member of the public probably exceeds 3,000 mrem.
> 
> The threat is that the number of regulated sources tends to continue to be
> increased and the economic impact increased.  I believe we have a duty to oppose
> this trend, based on the principle of trying to do more good than harm.

Charlie,

Would you expand on what makes up the 300 mrem from non-medical 
sources, and, what makes up the 3 rem/year number quoted?  I was 
always under the impression that the majority of the public dose did 
in fact come from medical procedures. 

I would also be interested in where the increase in non-regulated 
sources is increasing from.  Perhaps a reference to which NCRP would 
be helpful. As far as opposing the trend, that can only happen with 
the above information. The determination of good is a more difficult 
subject to wrestle with. 

I had a series of about 10 different type x-rays yesterday. I was 
impressed that the first thing the technologist gave me was a gonadal 
shield (without me having to ask first). This was all for scattered 
radiation, not primary beam irradiation. Somebody was well trained!



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