Ionizing radiation exposure of the population of the United States

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6294128

The NCRP has recognized for some time the need for a clear assessment of the magnitude of the doses from various sources of radiation to which the population of the U.S. is exposed. In anticipation of the need to gather basic data for input into this process five assessment committees, each addressing a different source category, were established in 1971. NCRP reports assessing exposures from natural background and from consumer products were produced (NCRP 1975, 1977), but no attempt was made to develop a comprehensive account of all sources of exposure. In 1985, the NCRP reconsidered its overall effort in this area and, with the further support and stimulation of the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination (Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States), undertook to evaluate the exposure of the U.S. population from all sources. The sources involved are of three general types, those of natural origin, unperturbed by human activities, those of natural origin but affected by human activities (termed enhanced natural sources), and man-made sources. Natural sources include cosmic radiation from outer space, terrestrial radiation from natural radioactive sources in the ground, radiations from radionuclide naturally present in the body and inhaled and ingested radionuclides of natural origin. A variety of exposures results from man-made materials and devices, e.g. radipharmaceuticals and x rays in medicine, and consumer products containing radioactive materials such as some smoke detectors or static eliminators. Exposures may also result from episodic events due to man's activities, such as atmospheric nuclear weapons testing, accidents in nuclear power plants, etc.

• OSTI ID: 6294128
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSTRACTS
ACCIDENTS
COSMIC RADIATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
EVALUATION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEADING ABSTRACT
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POPULATIONS
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
X RADIATION