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APERTIAS
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RADIATION POFECTION CUIDANCE
FOP FEDERAL AGENT
ftihemorondsm for the President
Pursuant to Cxecutive Order 10231 and
Public Law 66-373, the Federal Radiation Council has made a study of the
huzards and usc of rachation.
We here-
with transmit our first report to you
”
concerning our findings and our recom-
mendations for the ruidance of Fcacral
agencies jn the conduct of their radiation protection activities.
It is the stututsry responsibility of the
Counci! te "*" * * ndvise the President
with respect to rediation matters, directly or indirectly affecting health,
includine guidance for al) Federal azencies in the formulation of radiation
standards and in the establishment and
. execulion of programs of cooperation
with States * * *"
Fundamentahir, §setting basic radiation
protection standayds involves parsing
judgement on the extent cf the possible
health hazerd society is willing to accent
fn order to reaiize the Known benents
of radialisn. Ii involves inevitably a
balancing Letwvecn total health protection, which micht require forezoing any
activities intreesing exposure to radication, and (hs vizorous promotisn of the
use of radistion and atemuc energy in
order to cchieve otimum benents.
The Federal Radiation Ccuncil hos
reviewed avaiialie knowledec on rodiation effects and consulted with scientists
within and outsice the Government,
Each member has also examined the
guidance recornmended in this memoranown in Jizhi of his statutory retponsibilities. Although the guidance ates not
cover all phases of radiation protection,
such as internal emiiters, we find that
the guidance which we recommend that
you provide fer the use of Federal agencies gives apprcepriale consideration to
the requirements of health protection
and the bencf&cial uses of radiation and
niomicenersy, Our further findings and
recommendations fallow.
Discussion. The fundamental proklem
$n establishing radiation
prateciion
ruides is to allow as much of the beneficial uses of jonizing radialion as nosBible while assuring that man is not
exposed lo undue hazard.
To eect a true
insight into the scope of the prabiem
and the impact of the decisions involved,
\ a review of the bencfils and the hazards
is Necessary,
Ttis important in ecnsidering bof the
benefits and hanards of radiation to appreeciate (hat man has existed Chrowuchout his histers in oa bath of natural
ridiation.
This backsround radiation,
which varies over the carth, pravides a
partial basis for understandin: the cfSects of radiation on nian and serves as
on Indicator of the ranees of radiation
exposures wilhtin which Che human papiue
lation has developed and ineressed,
The benefiis of iunizing radiation,
Radiation properiy controavied is a boon
to innnkind. Vl dias been of Incatinable
‘value in the diannesis and treatment of
diseases.
JL can provide suurces of
2aedi
2eVoranr
Ave Pie bed
wyausy uv
-
enerty preater than anv the world has
yet had available. In industry, it 1s used
as 8 tool to measure thickness, quantity
or quality, to discover hidden flaws, to
trace Hquid flow, and for ulher purposes.
$. Ifonc assumes ao clroct ness 3."
tion between bicletical elect co: '
amount of dosc, it Chen become: pe:
to rciale very Jow dote to en usa
bigiasical clieck even thoursh at deii
tecLulie. It is penerally arrest,
Go manyrescareh uses for joniziny radiation have been found that scientists in effect that may actually occur wes r
many diverse ficids now rank: radiation excced the amount predicted by t..
With the microscope in value os a work- eBssum pion.
ing tool.
Basic biclocical aessumpvlions. TrrThe hazards of ftonizing radiation. ere insufiicien: data to provice a. Fo.
Ionizing radiation involves health haz- basis for evaluating radiation evioei.:
ot types and Jevils of irradiation ae
ards just as do manyother useful tools.
Scientifie findings concerning the bio- is particular uncertainty with resprt
logical cfficcls of radiaticn of most im- the biolorica) eects at very ics C: .
mediate interest to the establishment of and low-dose rates. Ti is net prucir
radiation protection slandards are the therefore to essume that there is a ::..
foliowing:
of radiation exposure below whieh i212:
1, Acute doses of rndiation may pro- is absolute certainty that no cffect tne:
duce immediate or delayed effects, or occur. This consideration, in 2¢2...:°
both.
to the adoption of the conservative |.
2. As acute whole body doses increase pothesis of a linear relation briwesr i.
ebove approximately 25 reins units of lozical eect and the @moubt ef c: .
radiation dose), immediately observable asterinines our basic approach toil.
effects increase in severity with dose, formulation cf radiation protcr.c:
beginning
from
barely
detectebie guides.
chanecs, to bjolozical siens clearly indiThe Jack of adecuate scjentine invcy
cating damage, to death at levels of a mation makes lt urgent that edciiin.
research be underteken and new crt
Tew hundred rems.
elayed efecis produced either by ceveloped to provide a firmer bne.: f:
acute irradiation or Ly chronic irradia-. evaluating biolezical risk. Approc
tion are simllarin kind, but the ability of member agencies of the Federal Fiz..the body to repzir racietion damese is tion Council are Sponsoring: anG €mtiw.:
utLally more effective in the case of aging research in thes# areé2s
Réecommendaricns.
In view cf ti.
chreiuc than acute irradiation.
4, Tne delaved effects from radiation finc.ngs summarized above the folliws.
are in general indistinguishabie from recemmencdations are made:
familiar patholozical conditions usually .
It is recommended that:
preseniin the popwation.
1. There should not be any mauemsis
§. Delayed effects include genetic radiation exposure without the exec: effects (effects transmitted to succeeding tion of benefit rezulting from such
generations), inercesed incidence of Fosure, Activities resuliing in man-ni' 5
tumors, lifespan snorteninz, and growth
radiation exposure Should be auiher.r..
and development changes.
for uSeful applications provided in:.
6. The chiid, the infant, and the unborn infant appear to be more sensitive ommendations -set forth herein <:followed.
to radiztion than the adult.
Ivjs recommended that:
7. The various orrcans of the bodydiffer
2. The term “Rociation Pretest.
in thelr sensitivity to radiation.
8. Ailhouzh jonizing radisiion can in- Guide" be adopted for
fer Federcl uce. 1...
duce genclic and somatic effects (effects term
js
isdefined. as_the, radiation mo.
on the individual during his lifetime which should not be excecced wits: other than genctic effects), the evidence carefu) considcration of the rtastu: 0):
at Che present time is insufficient to jusdoing so; every eTort should be misc:
tify precise conciusians on the nature of
enccurece the indintenance of readin. .
the dose-ciect relationship at low doses
doses as far below this guice. 2
and dese rates. Mereaver, the evidence
practicable,
is InSuMicient to prove cither the hypothIt is recommended that:
esis of a “damase threshold” (a point
3. The foliowine Radiation Praiec:.below which no damare occurs} or the
hypothesis of “no threshold” jn man at Guides be adopted for normal praceiin:
Jow doses,
operations:
Type of espostre
Condition
Ttadiatlon worker:
(a) Whole beets, head and tromk setive toad forin:
fig orpats, poets, wl deus of ese.
|
Dose (rem)
Accuintintod dose...
Sttmee the nuruber of yer: ! ot
Woweeks. ol. le.
a.
one Is
Qh}? Shin af whule hady aud (hyrold.. cl. cl eee eens {here sect asacnecsecce 10.
(ce) Vasds anil dearms, bet and nnkies.,...-...2..
Cl) Bone cool ee eee eee ee weer ec ene nee nenceneee
Ht WOuhsS.. ee eeccwceees
11,
{13 WHORS ccc cew eee!
OE.
VON, cenerevecccacene vA,
Hady burden... so... Ulinieaercrom of radiiin-23%
lavlupival equivalent,
‘
15.
Qt) Other oreans... lc eee a eesnewceceevee nemecnces { VOnr wee eee ewww ees
.
A weeks... eee ee
Voeqprration:
Cu) Dali ut ce ace ee eee eee were erent eee VON. can ccennnceceee 05 (whale boly),
? 00 wee eee eee nee WW) YU eee eee eee 6 (yonasls),
The following points are made fin reTation fo the Radiation ProteceWon
Guides herein provided:
5011512
f-?*
oo
.
(1) For the individual fia the pap tion, the basic Guide for ariumint vy): ,
body dose ts 0.5 rem. This Gitidy oo: