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RADIATION PROTECTION CUIBANCE
FOR FEDERAL AGENCICS
fAemorandsm for the President
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enerry ereater than anv the world has
9. Ifone assumes 8 direct Hnear r.*:
tion between bislotical eScct arc
yet had availabic. In Industry, it is used
as a tool to measure thickness, quantity
or qualily, to discover hiddcn Haws, to
amount of dose, it then becomes nc-::
to rclate very low dose to an uscurr:
trace liquid Mov, and for othicr purposcs.
blolomeal effect even thouth at i. no: c.
&o manyresearch uses for joniziny radia-
&
* tion have been found that scientists in
Pursuant to Uxccutive Order 10031 and many diverse ficlds now rani: radiation
Public Law 86-373, the Fedcral Radia- With the microscope in value as a worktion Council has made a study of the ing tool.
The haserds of tonizing radiation.
hazards and use of radiation. We herewith transmit our first report to you Tonizing radiation involves health hazeoncerning our findings and our rccom- ards just as do manyother useful tools.
mendations for the ruidance of Federal Scientific findings concerning the bioagencies in the conduct of their radia- logical effects of radiation of most imtion protection activities.
Mediate interest to the establishment of
It is the statutory responsibflity of the radiation protection standards are the
Council to “* * * advise the President {ollowing:
with respect to rediation matters, di1, Acute doses of rediation may prorecily or indirectly affecting health, duce immediate or delayed effects, or
including guidance for all Federal azen- both.
2. As acute whole body doses increase
eles in the formulation of radiation
standards and in the establishment and above approximately 25 reins (units of
execution of protrams of cooperation radiation dose), immediately observable
effects increase in severity with dose,
with States °° °”
from
barely
detectable
Fundamentcl'y, setting basic rediation beginning
protection standards involves passing changes, to biological signs clearly indicating damage, to death at levels of a
judgement on the extent ef the possible
health hazerd society is willing to accept few hundred rems.
3. Delaycd effects produced either by
in order to reauze the known benefits
of radiation.
I: involves inevitably a acute irradiation or by chronic irradia-.
balancing Letmeen total health protec- tion are similar in kind, but the ability of
tion, which might require forezoing any the body to repair radiation damage is
activities increasing exposure to radia- usually more effective in the case of
tion, and th: vizorous promotion of the chronic than acute irradiation.
4. The delayed effects from radiation
use of radiciion and atomic energy in
are in general indistinguishable from
order to achicve optimum benefits.
The Federal Radiation Council has familiar pathological conditions usually .
reviewed availctie knowledge on radian present in the population.
5. Deizyed effects include genetic
tion effects and consulted with scientists
within and outside the Government. effects (effects transmitted to succeeding
Each member has also examined the generations), increased incidence of
Guidance recornrnended in this memo- tumors, lifespan shortening, and growth
randum in licht of his statutory rerponsi- and development chanees.
6. The child, the infant, and the unBities, Althoush the guidance does not
cover all phases of radiation protection, born infant appear to be more sensitive
such a8 internal cmitters, we find that to radiation than the adult.
7. The various orrans of the body differ
the guidance which we recommend that
you provide for the use of Federal asen- in their sensitivity to radiation. _
8. Althouch ionizing radiation can incies gives appropriate consideration to
the requirements of health protection duce genctie and somatic effects (effects
and the beneficial uses of radiation and on ths individual during his lifetime
atomic energy. Our furtherfindings and other than genctic effects), the evidence
at the present time is insufficient to jusrecommendations follow.
Discussion. The fundamental problem tify precise conclusions on the nature of
gn establishing radiation proteciion the dose-ciTect relationship at low doses
fuides is to allow as much of the bene- and dcse rates. Moreover, the evidence
ficial uses of jonizing radiation as pose is insuiicient to prove cither the hypothsible while assuring that man is not esis of a “damase threshold” (a point
exposed to unduc hazard.
To ect a true
~
insight into the scope of the problem
and the impact of the decisions involved,
a review of the bencfits and the hazards
ds necessary.
,
It is important in considering both the
benefits and hazards of radintion to appreciate that man has existed Uhrouch-
out his history in oa bath of natural
Yadiation. This backsround radiation,
which varics over the carth. provides a
partial basis for understanding the ef-
Tee(s of radiation on man and serves as
an indicator of the ranees of radiation
exposures wilhin which the human popu
lation has developed and inereased.
The bencfis of tunizing radiation,
Radiation properly controled is a boon
to mankind. 1 has been of inestimable
waluc in the diasnosis and treatment of
diseases.
Jb can provide suurces of
we
below which no damage occurs) or the
hypothesis of “no threshold” in) man at
tecbuble.. It is gencrally arrecd thine Ln
effect that may actually occur will n
excced the amount predicted by. be.
assumption.
Basic biological assumptions. Tr«are insufficient data to provide a H-:
basis for evaluating radiation eco. f
oll types end levels of irradiation 31.-.
ds particular uncertainty with resprc. the biological eflects at very lew &:
and low-dose rates.
It is net prun::
therefore to assume that there is a
of radiation exposure below which
is absolute certainty that no effect :
occur. This considcration, in ecu::.:
to the adoption of the conservative !:
pothesis of a linear relation ksiweer. i.
lozical effect and the amount of ¢:Getesmines our basic approach to 2!
formulation of radiation protes..:
guides.
The Jack of adenuate scientific in’c
mation mokes it urgent that edd:
research be undertaken and nev
Eeveloped to provide a firmer basis :
evaluating biolegical risk.
Apprors::
member agencies of the Federa} Ric.
tion Council are sponsorinz ang entre.
aging research in these areas.
Recommendaiicns. In view cf t.
findings summarized above the folow::
Teccmmendations are made:
It is recommended that:
1. There should not be any man-m:
radiation exposure without the exnec:
tion of benefit resulting from such :
posure. Activities resulting in man-n-
rediation exposure should be authori:
for useful applications provided in 1.
ommendations &sct forth herein <
followed.
It is recommended that:
2. The term “Radiation Protes::
Guice” be adoptcd for Federal use. 7.
term is_defined_as_the_ radiation c:
which should not be exceeded wits:
careful consideration of the reaso:3 :
doing so; every eflort should be Mece.
encourage the maintenance of red...
doses as far below this guicc
practicable.
Ii is recommended that:
3. The following Radiation Proie:::
Guides be adopted for normal peacet:
operations:
lowdoses.
Condition
Type of e.posure
Radiation worker:
Gi) Whole boty, head and frank active blood form:
thy organs, gonads, or iusof eyo,
Dose (rem)
Accumutated dose_w.t § times fr number of yesrs b:
VD weeks... ccneewnees
4 fee
@) Shin of whole body and thyvold....c.cascecencetf ¥
(ec) Mans and forvarms, Wet and ankles...)
(a) Bone
Qe) Other Organs... coccccnccccsvanececncccecececccs
Yopulagon:
da) Dadi i Taal.
(b) Avesape....l.
CAP ..cccwworceveces
] Ul mictoprem of radinin-225 0.
soweneal equivalent,
.
33 WOCKS. ...cecceeeeee| &
oof Your...
eon] WO year...
The followine points are made in relation fo the Radiation Protection
Guides herein provided:
wecwsseee] 05 (whole body),
woovccne] & (Yunads),
(1) For the individual in the poy:
tion, the basic Guide for annual vb:
body dose ts 0.5 rem.
This Guide:
Tae eee eee
DOE ARCHIVES '