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Re: Part 35 Revision
> "Roger Fenner" <rfenner@mail.state.tn.us> 05/05 4:33 PM >>>
Can someone explain how the NRC determined that 500 mrem from a medical patient is less harmful than say 500 mrem from an industrial radiography camera?
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The explanation is not that it is less harmful, but that the higher dose can be justified. The explanation can be found in NUREG-1492, "Regulatory Analysis on Criteria for the Release of Patients Administered Radioactive Material," 1997. In short, NRC regulations as well and NCRP and ICRP recommendations permit public doses up to 500 mrem in special situations that are not likely to be repeated or of long duration and when the practice can be justified. In this specific case, the main benefit from the higher dose is reduced hospitalization cost. The higher dose limit is justified because the benefit to society of lower hospitalization costs exceeds the detriment of the higher dose. Thus, the higher dose limit provides a net benefit to society.
Stephen A. McGuire
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