Re[2]: Ra, 25 mrem/y

[steve.rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     Dan,
     
     The NCRP (Report 93?) says that the annual average background dose for 
     a person in the U.S. is 360 mrem from all sources, with about 200 mrem 
     of that from radon. It's higher in Colorado due to the higher altitude 
     and the much higher concentration of naturally occurring uranium in 
     the soil of the region. When we're talking about average background 
     (no occupational exposure) it includes both environmental and man-made 
     sources. The majority is from "environmental" sources, including 
     cosmic, terrestrial and internal. So, if you lived where I do, and 
     received absolutely no occupational radiation exposure, you would 
     receive about 400 mrem/y. That's what I (and I believe most others) 
     consider to be background.
     
     BTW, Colorado has the highest average elevation, and a high 
     concentration of natural uranium in the soil, so it has one of the 
     highest average annual background doses in the U.S., yet it has one of 
     the lowest cancer rates in the country. Just one more reason that I 
     don't personally put much faith in the LNT at low doses. (Yes, I know 
     that doesn't prove anything to some of you due to the problems with 
     "environmental studies," but how come we can't find large 
     "environmental studies" that *support* the LNT at low doses???)
     
     flames welcomed; privately of course :-)
     
     Steve
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Ra, 25 mrem/y
Author:  Dan Burnstein <npro1@ziplink.net> at Internet
Date:    12/13/99 3:42 PM


Is the background 400mR or is that enviornmental burden plus some fraction of 
all
medical burden spread equally over the population as a whole with the assumption
we
are all equal?
     
Jim Tocci wrote:
     
     <snip>
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