Rethinking ALARA
The recommendation to keep exposures to ionizing radiation {open_quotes}as low as reasonably achievable{close_quotes} (ALARA) has been a long-standing component of radiation safety programs. This recommendation is based on the assumption that there is no dose threshold below which harmful biological effects will not occur. With this assumption, it logically follows that there is no {open_quotes}safe{close_quotes} level of exposure and that any exposure, no matter how low, carries with it some risk of harm. This presumption was a departure from a previously established principle in public health that could be paraphrased {open_quotes}the dose makes the poison,{close_quotes} which held that high-dose effects of harmful agents are not necessarily indicative of low-dose effects. The concept of further minimizing radiation exposures to levels well below specified dose limits originated in the 1950s with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendation that doses be kept {open_quotes}as low as possible{close_quotes} (ALAP), In 1959, ICRP replaced {open_quotes}possible{close_quotes} with {open_quotes}practicable,{close_quotes} and in 1973, ALAP was changed to ALARA to convey ICRPs intent to achieve dose minimization with {open_quotes}economic and social considerations being taken into account.{close_quotes} To implement this guidance, ICRP recommended application of cost-benefit analysis to balance economic costs against benefits of dose reduction.
- OSTI ID:
- 411513
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951006-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 96:005493-0012
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 73; Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), San Francisco, CA (United States), 29 Oct - 1 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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