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recommendations for dose limits are necessarily arbitrary because
of their mixed technical and value judgement foundation.
The dose
limits for individual members of the public and for the average
population recommended by NCRP represent a level of risk considered
to be so small compared with other hazards of life, and so well
offset by perceptible benefits when used as intended, that public
approbation will be achieved when the informed public review process
is completed.
For peaceful uses of radiation NCRP provides yearly numerical
dose limits for individual members of the public, considering possible
somatic effects, and strongly advocates maintenance of lowest practicable
exposure levels especially for infants and the unborn.
NCRP also
recommends yearly dose limits for the average population based upon
somatic and genetic considerations and promulgates the ICRP limit of
5 rems in 30 years for gonadal exposure of the U. S. population.
Table III contains a summary of recommended values.
NCRP Report No.
39 entitled, "Basic Radiation Protection Criteria," dated January 15,
1971, contains the most recent updating of NCRP recommendations for
protection of the public.