662 RADIATION PROTECTION 7.10 There can, of course, be quite different numerical values for the Radiation Protection Guide, depending upon the circumstances. It seems useful, however, to recommend Guides which appear appropriate for normal peacetime operations. It is recognized that our present knowledge does not provide a firm basis within a factor of two or three for the selection of any particular numerical value in preference to another value. Nevertheless, on the basis set forth in Section V, the following Radiation Protection Guides are recommended for normal peacetime operations: 1Minor variations here from certain other recommendations are not considered significant in light of present uncertainties. 'See Section V for reasons why these values differ from those applicable to radiation workers. 'See Paragraph 5.5 (1) for applicability of these levels. 7.11 Recommendations are not made concerning the Radiation Protection Guides for individual organ doses to the population, other than the gonads. Unfortunately, the complexities of establishing guides applicable to radiation exposure of all body organs preclude their inclusion in the report at this time. However, current protection guides used by the agencies appear appropriate on an interim basis. 7.12 These guides are not intended to apply to radiation exposure resulting from natural background or the purposeful exposure of patients by practitioners of the healing arts. 7.13 The Federal agencies should apply these Radiation Protection Guides with judgment and discretion, to assure that reasonable probability is achieved in the attainment of the desired goal of protecting man from the undesirable effects of radiation. The Guides may be exceeded only after the Federal agency having jurisdiction over the matter has carefully considered the reason for doing so in light of the recommendations in this staff report. 7.14 This staff report also introduces the term Radioactivity Concentration Guide (RCG) defined as: the concentration of radioactivity in the environment which is determined to result in organ doses equal to the Radiation Protection Guide. Within this definition, Radioactivity Concentration Guide can be established only after the Radiation Protection Guide is decided upon. Any given Radioactivity Concentration Guide is applicable only for the circumstances under which use of its corresponding Radiation Protection Guide is appropriate. RADIATION PROTECTION 663 7.15 As discussed in Section VI, reasonably accurate estimates can be made of the amount of internally deposited radioactive material resulting in any particular organ dose. However, the establishment of guides as to the amount of material which, when taken into the body, will yield such organ doses is fraught with many uncertainties. Further extension of the estimation to indicate the equivalent amount of environmental contamination is even more uncertain. The potential errors are even greater with inhaled contamination than with ingested materials, Extension to individual portions of the environment further compounds the possible errors. 7.16 This staff report, therefore, does not contain specific numerical recommendations for Radioactivity Concentration Guides. However, concentration guides now used by the agencies appear appropriate on an interim basis. Where appropriate radioactivity concentration guides are not available, and where Radiation Protection Guides for specific organs are provided in this staff report, the latter Guides can be used by the Federal agencies as a starting point for the derivation of radioactivity concentration guides applicable to their particular problems. The Federal Radiation Council has also initiated action directed towards the development of additional Guides for radiation protection. 7.17 Particular attention is directed to the possibly different ratios of intake to uptake for adults and children. There is no simple numerical relationship between Radioactivity Concentration Guides for the worker and for the general population, even if such a simple relationship is adopted for Radiation Protection Guides. 7.18 With particular relationship to the establishment of Radioactivity Concentration Guides, the following research needs (in addition to those listed in paragraph 7.4) are pointed out: 1. Efforts to design design better and less expensive radiation monitoring instruments and methods. 2. Extensive studies to determine the relationship between concentration of radioactivity in food, air and water, and the ultimate disposition of these by the body. 3. Studies designed to elucidate the relationship between the intake of radionuclides in various chemical forms and their subsequent uptake. Presently, many compounds of a given radionuclide are treated as though they were the same compound. 4. Studies to elucidate the difference between children and adults in their uptake and disposition of radioactivity and their radiation sensitivity. 58016--U.S.Dept.of Comm--DC--1960 APPENDIX 7 FEDERAL RADIATION COUNCIL LETTER OF JULY 8, 1960 TO AGENCY HEADS FEDERAL RADIATION COUNCIL EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON 25, D.C. July 8, 1960 Dear Mr. Secretary In the May 18, 1960 issue of the Federal Register there was published z Memorandum for the President from the Chairman of the Federal Radiation Council containing seven recommendations which were approved by the President for the guidance of Federal agencies on radiation protection standards. This action vào pursuant to Executive Order 10831 and Public Law 86-373 which satablished the Federal Radiation Council to "advise the President with respect to radiation matters, directly or indirectly affecting health, including guidance for all Federal agencies in the formulation of radiation standards. The Memorandum for the President and the Staff Report of the Federal Radiation Council, "Background Material for the Development of Radiation Protection Standards," copies of which are enclosed for your convenience, discuss in detail the method by which the recommendations of the Federal Radiation Council were developed. It was pointed out that the formulation of radiation protection standards involves a balancing of the risks to man of exposure to ionizing radiation against the benefits to be derived from the many important usages to which radiation is applied. The staff of the Council, in addition to conducting a careful review of the current information on the hazards of ionizing radiation, consulted with staff members of many si the Federal agencies concerned with radiation protection in order to define the problem areas to be provided for in recommended protection standards. In order to provide continuing advice to the President on radiation protection standards, the Federal Radiation Council must have information from which it can determine the extent to which its recommendations represent an appropriate balance between the requirements of health protection and the beneficial uses of radiation and atomic energy. To this end, your assistance is requested. RADIATION PROTECTION 665 Specifically, the Federal Radiation Council would like a report on radiation protection activities to be conducted by the Department of Agriculture under the Radiation Protaction Guidance for Federal Agencies promulgated by the President. In particular, the Council would like to be informed on the operating standards developed by your agency and if any deviations from the Guides are planned under the provisions of Recommendation 7 which states: "The Guides may be exceeded only after the Federal On the basis of the reports received from the agencies, it is the plan of the Cowell to develop a regular mechanism for receiving such reports and we would welcome your suggestions on this matter. In order to expedite the development of a routine pattern, the Council would appreciate receving the report from your agency by August 1, 1960. Any questions you may have about this report may be directed to the Secretary of the Federal Radiation Council, Dr. Donald R. Chadwick, code 113 extention 2505. Sincerely yours. Arthur S. Flemming The Honorable Ezra Taft Benson Secretary of Agriculture Washington 25, D. C. Identical ltrs sent to heads of the attached list of Federal agencies cc: The Honorable Chet Holifield, Chairman, Spec. Subcomm, JCAE The Honorable Clinton P. Anderson, Chairman, JCAE |