Re: Exposure during Cross Country Flights

[HardyKPhys@aol.com]

I found the NCRP report, "Radiation Exposure and High-altitude Flight".  It 
was published as NCRP Commentary No. 12 which was issued on July 21, 1995.  
The newer generation of commercial aircraft can fly higher, thereby 
increasing crew and passenger doses.  The Concorde aircraft carries an 
alarming radiation monitor.  To my knowledge it only has gone off once.  the 
dose results were inconclusive.  the highest exposure routes are those over 
the north Atlantic.  This is due to the weakening of the Earth's magnetic 
field which allows more cosmic radiation to get through.   There's a lot of 
naturally occurring ionizing radiation at high altitudes and in outer space, 
which makes for some interesting radiation safety and health physics 
problems.  As  believer in radiation hormesis I think it's probably good for 
you.  So keep flying!!

Ken Hardy
hardykphys@aol.com
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