Re: Astronaut Radiation Limits Urged

["David Whitfill/Kdhe" <DWhitfil@kdhe.state.ks.us>]

Those interested in learning more about spaceflight radiation may find the
below link to the Spaceflight Radiation Health Program at Johnson Space
Center interesting (since spaceflight radiation is not a normal part of the
CHP's toolkit):

http://srag-nt.jsc.nasa.gov/docs/TM104782/intro.html

A small portion of the document follows:

RADIATION PROTECTION ADMINISTRATION: LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Astronauts have been classified as radiation workers and therefore a
program must exist to protect them from excessive
radiation exposure. The Presidential Executive Order 12196 requires all
federal agencies, including NASA, comply with
Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations related to
ionizing radiation exposure. While NASA is required to follow OSHA
regulations, no OSHA standards exist for spaceflight. Terrestrial radiation
exposure guidelines provided in the Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR
1910.96) are too restrictive for space activities and therefore have been
judged to be inappropriate. NASA can establish supplementary standards for
appropriate control of radiation for astronauts in accordance with 29 CFR
1960.18. The following NASA requirements serve as a basis for the
implementation of the supplementary standard: (1) that its use applies to a
limited population, (2) maintenance of detailed flight crew exposure
records, (3) pre-flight hazard assessment/appraisal, (4) planned exposures
be kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA), (5) maintenance of
operational procedures and flight rules to minimize the chance of excessive
exposure and (6) man-made onboard radiation exposure complies with 29 CFR
1910.96 except where the NASA mission/objectives cannot be accomplished
otherwise.

NASA has adopted the recommendations that the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurements (NCRP)
presented in its Report 98, "Guidance on Radiation Received in Space
Activities" (July, 1989) as the basis for the supplementary standard for
spaceflight crew radiation exposures...

Table 1 of this section gives organ specific exposure limits and Table 2
gives career exposure limits by sex and age. The footnotes of Table 2 give
the following equations for approximating exposure limits:

Males, 400 rem max

200+7.5(age-30)

Females, 400 rem max

200+7.5(age-38)





"Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu on 12/11/99
09:08:42 AM

Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu

Sent by:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu


To:   Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
cc:

Subject:  Astronaut Radiation Limits Urged


Thursday December 9 5:04 PM ET

Astronaut Radiation Limits Urged

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. and Russian astronauts working on the
international space station should limit their exposure to radiation
during intense solar activity, a scientific advisory panel
recommended Thursday.

Plans for construction of the space station by 2004 call for some 43
space shuttle missions and about 1,500 space walks.

This work will coincide with the peak of the 11-year cycle of solar
activity next year, the National Research Council noted in its
report.

The council recommended that the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration take extra precautions to protect astronauts from
potentially dangerous radiation, including seeking additional data on
when solar storms occur so astronauts can be warned.

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
already cooperating in monitoring the sun's activity.

One satellite, already orbiting a million miles from Earth, will
detect a rise in charged solar particles and give an hour's warning
of dangerous radiation arriving. That warning also would allow
spacewalking astronauts to seek the safety of the shuttle or the
space station.

The council also urged adding radiation exposure meters to spacecraft
as soon as possible to determine the amount of exposure during a
flight.

The council is an arm of the National Academy of Science, which
provides scientific advice to government agencies.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle                        Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
Director, Technical                Extension 2306
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division         Fax:(714) 668-3149
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.                    E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue            E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/scperle
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

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