Re: Emergency Doses Allowed

[Steven.Rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     Steve,
     
     I have never seen "limits" for these activities. What I have seen is 
     "guidance" with recommendations, but I don't believe the NRC or any other 
     regulatory agency has ever codified emergency limits. I don't believe that 
     the NRC intended for the planned special exposure provisions and limits to 
     be used for emergencies, either.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com
     
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Emergency Doses Allowed
Author:  steve hand <hand@wam.umd.edu> at Internet
Date:    6/3/98 2:36 PM


Dear Radsafers:
     
    Please advise on the limits allowed in an emergency with references
to literature if possible.  I have NCRP REPORT No. 91 and 116.  In 116 
chapter 14 page 44 says
"for life saving or equivalent purposes the equivalent dose may approach 
or exceed 0.5 Sv to a large portion of the body in a short time.."  The 
highest limit I can find in 10 CFR 20 for allowed doses is .25 Sv or 5 
times the annual for a planned special exposure.
     
1.    In the case of an emergency that is life threatening to an 
individual, can someone get up to .5 Sv to try and save them, or up to 
.25 Sv to try and save them ?
     
2.   Rather than use one person in question 1 above, should several 
people be used for a total of .5 or .25 Sv for life saving?  I seem to 
remember reading something about not spreading the dose out anymore to 
several individuals.
     
 Thanks
     
     
steve hand
university of maryland
radiation safety
hand@wam.umd.edu