report; the maximum permissible lung burden (MPLB) and the
maximum permissible concentration in air

(MPC,).

The MPLB

is the total amount of a given radionuclide in the lung of
an average size man that will result in the lung being
irradiated at the maximum permissible lung dose

(MPLD).

Tne MPC, is the concentration in air that will result in
an averace adult male obtaining a MPLB and hence a MPLD by
breathing the air.
It is important to recognize that the MPLD is the
orimary Standard;

it applies to all radionuclides and

radiation sources.

The MPLB and the MPCa are Gerived standards

anc are svecitic for a radionuclide.

These derived standards

are relatsc to the biological properties of a radionuclide
ang to the icrm of radiation it emits.
Tabie I lists the existing exposure standards for enplovees of the nuclear industry that apply to Pu-239 in insoiudle
form.

Tas MPLD of 15 ren/vr is included in the recommendations

of the International Commission on Radiological Protection
8
(ICRP), the Nacional Council on Radiation Protection and
Me2surements

(ucap)?,

and

ion 9,

the

Federal

Radiation Council

Retommendations of

the

Intern2tiona

tological Protection (Adosted Sentenbear 17,
S$, new fOrk, 1966, p. 14.
9’

NCRP Pavart No.

39, Basic Padiation Protection Criteria,

NIPP Publications, Washington, 0. C., Jan. 15, 1971, vo. 196.

1965),

Select target paragraph3