RE: Children in Research Areas

["Kent N. Lambert" <lambert@auhs.edu>]

> > My question: If you let a child (<18) into the "restricted area" (for
> > whatever reason!), my understanding, by reading the NUREG then, is that the
> > child is subject to the occ. dose limit for minors (10% of adult limits).
> > Is my interpretation correct? 

Not any more.  The definitions of occupational and public dose have 
changed.  

"Occupational dose means the dose received by an 
individual in the course of employment in which the individual's 
assigned duties involve exposure to radiation and/or radioactive 
material from licensed and unlicensed sources of radiation, whether 
in the possession of the licensee or other person.

"Public dose means the dose received by a member of the public 
from exposure to radiation and/or radioactive material released by 
the licensee, or to any other source of radiation under the control 
of the licensee.

"Member of the public means any individual except when that 
individual is receiving an occupational dose."

So, clearly, a child visiting with a parent on "bring the rugrat in 
to disrupt everyone else" day is a member of the public and the dose 
limit is the public dose - 100 mrem/year.

BTW, what does this definition mean for a graduate student in the 
research lab?  The words "assigned duties" and "course of employment" 
do not apply.

Regards,


Kent N. Lambert, M.S., CHP
lambert@auhs.edu
Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
Hahnemann Division
Radiation Physics and Safety, MS 106
Broad and Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA  19102-1192

215-762-8768 (voice)
215-762-7683 (fax)