Re: In-Flight radiation

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

Interesting observation, but not in accord with the practice relating to
regulation of other natural sources of ionizing radiation exposure including
the radon health mines in Montana, MSHA oversight of mining, possession of
natually occurring isotopes in various unenhanced slags and commercial
wastes etc. which may be regulated by the states.  My point is twofold:  1.
inconsistent application of regulations by the plethora of agencies with
regulatory authority  2.  persons who are occupationally exposed, such as
flight crews, not receiving the same health physics attention as other
occupastionally exposed workers.

Ron Kathren


-----Original Message-----
From: Kjell Johansen <kjell.johansen@wepco.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 6:38 AM
Subject: Re: In-Flight radiation


>In the discussion concerning the need to monitor the doses to airline
>crews, the comments by various responders about the 100 mrem/yr public
>dose limit is interesting in that this 10 CFR 20 limit is not applicable
>to airline crews, at least from a regulatory basis.  10 CFR 20 limits
>apply only to NRC licensed activites.  As far as I know, the NRC does
>not license the use of the sun or outer space (probably due to budgetary
>constraints) and has no plan to do so in the future. Therefore, cosmic
>radiation falls in the category of a NORM exposure and the elevated dose
>during flights is an example of a TENORM exposure.  Because there are no
>federally mandated limits from naturally occurring radiation,  we should
>be careful when we use the "limit."  Perhaps, we should use "LIMIT" when
>referring to federal or agreement state values for licensed activities
>and use "limit" when refering to doses above the average natural
>background of 300 mrem/yr.
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