Document Details
Title:
THE FOLLOW-UP OF PERSONS OCCUPATIONALLY OVEREXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATIONS
Author(s):
DUNCAN, K P [RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION DIVISION, HARWELL, ENGLAND]
Subject Terms:
RADIATION PROTECTION; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS; EXTERNAL IRRADIATION; PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DOSEMETERS; RADIATION INJURIES; INTERNAL IRRADIATION; PROCEDURES; RISKS
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0010
Accession Number:
NV0071552
Document Number(s):
IAEASM11950
Originating Research Org.:
RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION DIVISION, HARWELL, ENGLAND
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
THE FOLLOW-UP OF PERSONS OCCUPATIONALLY OVEREXPOSED TO IONISING RADIAT IONS. THE NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ON WHICH WORKERS ARE OVEREXPOSED TO IONI SING RADIATIONS IS VERY SMALL EVEN WHEN THE DEFINITION OF AN OVEREXPOS URE IS TAKEN AS BEING ANY AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF AN ICRP PERMISSIBLE LEVE L THERE IS A NEED FOR THE FULLEST INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGNOSTIC SIG NIFICANCE OF OVEREXPOSURES TO BE OBTAINED. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT MUCH LARGER RADIATION DOSES ARE INCURRED IN THERAPY, OR EVEN IN SOME X-RAY DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS UNDERLYING DIS EASES, WHICH CAN COMPLICATE THE INTERPRETATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUEN CES IN THESE CASES. THEREFORE, A SIMPLE SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION FOR ALL OVEREXPOSURES TO WORKERS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED. SUCH A SYSTEM SHOULD C OVER ONLY THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF CASES EITHER OF EXTERNAL RADI ATION OR OF INTERNAL CONTAMINATION IN WHICH THE DOSE CAN BE CONSIDERED LIKELY TO BE IN ANY WAY SIGNIFICANT IN RESPECT OF ULTIMATE PROGNOSIS ANY NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE EFFECT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE BY A CRIT ICAL REVIEW OF THE EFFORT DEVOTED TO THE ROUTINE RECORDING OF VERY LOW DOSES. THIS PAPER OUTLINES AN EXAMPLE OF A REGISTRATION SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEN INSTITUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OUTLINES THE REASONING BE HIND THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF RECORDING WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE USEFUL. IN ADDITION TO STATISTICAL STUDIES OF OVEREXPOSURES, THERE IS A NEED TO APPLY SOUND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PRINCIPLES TO THE SUPERVISION AND F UTURE EMPLOYMENT OF WORKER INVOLVED IN SUCH INCIDENTS. THESE SHOULD RE FLECT AN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT OF ALL ASPECTS OF SUCH CASES AND RULE O F THUMB NUMERICAL RULES SHOULD NOT APPLY. RELEVANT FACTORS IN THESE IN DIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS ARE DISCUSSED.