7
ea.
Introcuvttian
— ©
This report is written in support of a petition by
-escurces
(AEC)
requesting
(EPA)
, 1)
Tovneil
to the Frnvironmentecl
and the Atomic Energy Commission
ava tucticn
ik
of
~,
Protection Agency
-ertons?
c
Lhe Natursl
the existing rediation
protection standards applicable to the internal exposure of
man to insoluble alscha-emitting hot particles and
establishment, with respect to such materials,
(2)
the
of standards
governing the maximum permissible concentrations in air and
maximum permissible surface contamination levels in unrestricted
areas.
Before proposing modifications to existing radiation
1
ated to plutonium exnosure”, we
ction stancaras
(D
prt
re
}-
all
review in the following section the gravity of the public
health concern as plutonium becomes a principal article of
commerce in the nuciear power industry.
s.
éf
.
P
1/ While much of this report focuses narrowly on plutonium-239,
the discussion is, nevertheless, germaine to all radionuclides
in insoluble particles with a high specific activity. (The
definition of specific activity and other technical terms
in this report are given in the Glossary).
The- justification
for focusing on plutonium has been aptly stated by the International Commission on Radiological Protection
(ICRP):
"the emphasis on plutonium is clearly a reflection of the gener-
al consensus that,
in terms of amount available,
projected
usage, extent of anticipated accidental human exposure, and
radiotoxicity,
plutonium is the most formidable radionuclide
in the periodic table."
[ICRP Publication 19, "The Metabolism
of Compounds of Plutonium and Other Actnides," Pergamon Press,
1972, p.l.]
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