RE: paleo-health physics

["Heinmiller, Bruce" <heinmillerb@aecl.ca>]

> Thanks; that clarifies it.  We should also note that the NCRP data are
> only applicable to the populations of the U.S.A. and Canada.  In fact, the
> estimates for Canada given by NCRP (in Report No. 94) are, in total, lower
> than those for the U.S.A.
> 
> Bruce Heinmiller 
> heinmillerb@aecl.ca
> 
> 	----------
> 	From: 	Karam, Andrew[SMTP:Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu]
> 	Reply To: 	radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> 	Sent: 	Thursday, December 16, 1999 11:35 AM
> 	To: 	Multiple recipients of list
> 	Subject: 	paleo-health physics
> 
> 	So then the statement, "presently, humans receive...", actually
> means,
> 	"presently, biota in contact with geologic and biologic materials
> 	receive..."?
> 
> 	Bruce Heinmiller
> 	heinmillerb@aecl.ca
> 	----------------------
> 	The writer, when he contacted me, asked for total background
> exposure levels
> 	and for anthropogenic contributions.  I cited the NCRP value of 360
> mrem/yr
> 	from all sources and a total of 63 (x-ray, medical, consumer
> products) for
> 	artificial.  Unfortunately, I think I was not clear about the fact
> that the
> 	63 was included in the background figure of 360 mrem/yr.  So, in the
> Physics
> 	News Update blurb, the statement refers to average exposure to
> humans from
> 	all sources and our exposure to background beta-gamma radiation
> would be
> 	about 160 (since 200 mrem/yr were assigned to radon).  Of this,
> about 100
> 	mrem/yr is from natural sources, including geologic materials,
> internal
> 	emitters, cosmic and cosmogenic dose.
> 
> 	Another way to look at it is that we have calculated historical
> doses from
> 	only two of the many source terms that exist.  We're working on the
> others!
> 
> 	Andy
> 
> 	Andrew Karam, CHP              (716) 275-1473 (voice)
> 	Radiation Safety Officer          (716) 275-3781 (office)
> 	University of Rochester           (716) 256-0365 (fax)
> 	601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH   Rochester, NY  14642
> 
> 	Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu
> 	http://Intranet.urmc.rochester.edu/RadiationSafety
> 
> 	We cannot prove that those are in error who tell us that society has
> 	reached a turning point, that we have seen our best days.  But so
> said
> 	all before us, and with just as much apparent reason.  On what
> principle
> 	is it that, when we see nothing but improvement behind us, we are to
> 	expect nothing but deterioration before us?    Lord Thomas B.
> Macaulay,
> 	1830
> 
> 	
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