SAFE DOSES AND DOSE-RATES AND THERAPEUTIC OR PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:4766005
The history of the development of standards for radiation safety is reviewed. The current rule of thumb for occupational exposure is that it shall not exceed 5 rems/yr times the number of years of age of the worker beyond l8. Those under 18 years of age are excluded from occupational exposure. This level is often considerably reduced in hospitals and atomic energy installations without sacrificing satisfactory operations. It is postulated that any radiation is harmful, and the benefit to be obtained by the useful aspects of ionizing radiation and its application to the needs of man must be weighed against the potentially harmful genetic and somatic effects. The exposure of populations throughout the world to various doses of natural background radiation and to fall- out radiation is discussed. It is pointed out that the leukemia rate in man began to rise rapidly in 1930 before there was any appreciable rise in environmental radiation, while the rate of bone sarcoma has been decreasing rapidly. No explanation of this has been presented except the improvement in diagnosis and treatment of bone sarcoma. It is emphasized that there is no remedy that can be practically used to protect man against radiation, but that once radiation damage has been entailed, the acute damage can be modified to some extent by supportive treatment. The nature of fall-out and the role of shelters in protection of the population is discussed briefly. (C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- New England Deaconess Hospital. Cancer Research Inst., Boston
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-033315
- OSTI ID:
- 4766005
- Report Number(s):
- TID-16741
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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