Re: Radiation doses from coal

[RADPROJECT <RADPROJECT@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-05-19 11:33:54 EDT, you write:

<< Note that the 
 largest indual dose to the general public was due to the use of 
 ash in building materials.
 
 Route				Max Individual Dose		Collective Dose
 				(uSv/y)			(manSv/GWy)
 GENERAL PUBLIC
 inhalation from plume	  0.3 (a)			2.0
 ground-gamma			  1.0 (a)			0.3
 resuspension			  0.7 (a)			0.1
 terrestrial food chain	 50.0 (a)			2.0
 marine food chain		 20.0 (b)			0.5 (c)
 blown ash (inhalation)	  5.0				small
 building materials		120.0 (e)			??
   (gamma rays) >>

It's not clear, although it appears unlikely, that the figure listed above for
building materials from coal ash takes into account the use of coal ash in
fill for highway and road construction materials (concrete). NCRP 93 [Ionizing
Radiation Exposure of the Population of the US, 1987] makes reference in Table
5.1 to radiation exposure from "Highway and road construction materials" which
expose an estimated 5,000,000 people to an average of 40 uSv/yr for an annual
collective effective dose equivalent of about 200 person-Sv. [20,000 person-
rem]. Most of this radiation exposure from what the NCRP terms a "consumer
product" would likely be due to coal ash. 

By comparison, NCRP 93 in Table 8.1 notes an annual collective effective dose
equivalent from the Nuclear fuel cycle of an estimated 136 person-Sv, or about
70% of the collective dose from technologically enhanced NORM from coal ash
used in highway and road construction.

Stewart Farber, MS Public Health
Consulting Scientist
Public Health Sciences
19 Stuart St.
Pawtucket, RI 02860

Phone: (401) 727-4947   Fax: (401) 727-2032   E-mail: radproject@usa.net