RE: Abbreviations

["Fulmer, Philip" <philip.fulmer@cplc.com>]

Lorna,

I'm not sure who's got the final answer on this one.  I've always
understood that rem stood for  "roentgen equivalent man" (and I have
several textbooks that make that assertion).  The choice of  "roentgen"
didn't bother me because dose equivalent includes the quality factor,
which used to be based on RBE, which used x-rays as the reference
radiation (how's that for contorted?).  But, lo and behold, FGR-11
includes in its definition section a statement that rem stands for
"radiation equivalent man," and your understanding is that rem stands
for "rad equivalent man."   Where's our historian?

Philip

__________________________
Philip C. Fulmer, PhD, CHP 
Carolina Power & Light Company
Harris Energy and Environmental Center
3932 New Hill-Holleman Road
P. O. Box 327
New Hill, NC 27562-0327
philip.fulmer@cplc.com
(919) 362-3363      

>----------
>From: 	Lorna Bullerwell[SMTP:ljb1@cornell.edu]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, August 05, 1998 3:12 PM
>To: 	Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: 	Re: Abbreviations
>
>I've seen a couple of posts saying that rem stands for Roentgen equivalent
>man.  I thought rem stood for rad equivalent man, thus not named after a
>person.  If it is Roentgen eqivalent man, wouldn't it only be valid for for
>x and gammas effects and for air-equivalent people?
>
>
>
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