Evaluation of guidelines for exposures to technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials / Committee on Evaluation of EPA Guidelines for Exposure to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Board on Radiation Effects Research Commission on Life Sciences National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Evaluation of EPA Guidelines for Exposure to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Radiation--Health aspects.

Radiation.

Low-level radiation--Health aspects.

Low-level radiation.

Radiation, Background--Health aspects.

Radiation, Background.

Radioactive pollution--Health aspects.

Radioactive pollution.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (293 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academy Press, 1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Naturally occurring radionuclides are found throughout the earth's crust, and they form part of the natural background of radiation to which all humans are exposed. Many human activities-such as mining and milling of ores, extraction of petroleum products, use of groundwater for domestic purposes, and living in houses-alter the natural background of radiation either by moving naturally occurring radionuclides from inaccessible locations to locations where humans are present or by concentrating the radionuclides in the exposure environment. Such alterations of the natural environment can increase, sometimes substantially, radiation exposures of the public. Exposures of the public to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) that result from human activities that alter the natural environment can be subjected to regulatory control, at least to some degree. The regulation of public exposures to such technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory and advisory organizations is the subject of this study by the National Research Council's Committee on the Evaluation of EPA Guidelines for Exposures to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.

Contents:

Evaluation of Guidelines for Exposures to Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive...

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY

RESPONSES TO COMMITTEE CHARGE

Technical Basis for Differences in Guidelines for TENORM

Relative Merits of Different Scientific and Technical Assumptions

Development of Contemporary Risk Analysis for NORM

OTHER CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Policy Judgments for Risk Management

Consistency of Radiation Guidelines

Importance of Natural Background for Guidelines for TENORM

Importance of Knowledge of Sources of TENORM

Differences in Approaches to Radiation Risk Assessment

Use of Linear, No-threshold Dose-Response Hypothesis

Directions for Further Research on TENORM

1 Introduction

DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF STUDY

THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS OF CONCERN

APPROACH TO THE STUDY

Evaluation of Guidelines for Indoor Radon

Evaluation of Guidelines for TENORM Other Than Indoor Radon

Other Considerations

STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

2 Natural Radioactivity and Radiation

NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES

Uranium

Radium-226

Thorium

Radium-228

Radon

Lead-210 and Polonium-210

Potassium-40

Rubidium-87

Induced Radionuclides

NATURAL SOURCES OF EXTERNAL IONIZING RADIATION

Terrestrial Sources of External Radiation

Cosmic Radiation

SUMMARY OF HUMAN EXPOSURES TO NATURAL IONIZING RADIATION

CONCLUSIONS

3 Major Sources of Technologically Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials

URANIUM MINING

PHOSPHATE-FERTILIZER AND ELEMENTAL-PHOSPHORUS PRODUCTION

RESIDUES OF COAL COMBUSTION

OIL AND NATURAL-GAS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING

MUNICIPAL WATER TREATMENT

METAL MINING AND PROCESSING

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION

OTHER INDUSTRIES.

MINIMIZATION OF TENORM

NONRADIOLOGIC IMPACTS

4 Role of Exposure and Dose or Risk Assessments in Developing Radiation Standards

RISK ASSESSMENT OF CARCINOGENS

Hazard Identification

Estimation of Dose-Response Relationship

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

ELEMENTS OF RADIATION RISK ASSESSMENT

USE OF DOSE OR RISK ASSESSMENT IN DEVELOPING RADIATION STANDARDS

SUITABLE APPROACHES TO RISK ASSESSMENT IN DEVELOPING STANDARDS

5 Basic Approaches to Regulating Radiation Exposures of the Public

JUDGMENTS ABOUT ACCEPTABILITY OF HEALTH RISKS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING STANDARDS

Justification of Practices

Measurability of Radioactivity In the Environment

Natural Background Radiation

SUMMARY

6 Organizations Concerned with Radiation Protection of the Public

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Guidance On Radiation Protection of the Public

Environmental Radiation Standards Developed Under Atomic Energy Act

Environmental Radiation Standards Developed Under Other Laws

Guidance and Regulations for Indoor Radon

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

STATE GOVERNMENTS

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON RADIATION PROTECTION AND MEASUREMENTS

HEALTH PHYSICS SOCIETY

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

7 Environmental Protection Agency Guidances and Regulations for Naturally Occurring Radionuclides

GUIDANCE ON RADIATION PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC

GUIDANCE AND REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC SOURCES OR PRACTICES

Standards for Operations of Uranium Fuel Cycle

Standards for Radioactivity in Drinking Water

Standards for Radioactivity in Liquid Discharges.

Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings

Standards for Management and Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Standards for Cleanup of Radioactively Contaminated Sites

Standards for Airborne Emissions of Radionuclides

Guidance on Radon in Homes

Applicability of EPA Guidances and Regulations to TENORM

Other EPA Initiatives for TENORM

Other Alternatives for EPA Regulation of TENORM

Risks Corresponding to EPA Guidances and Regulations

CONSISTENCY OF DIFFERENT GUIDANCES AND REGULATIONS

Differences in Statutory and Judicial Mandates

Differences in Primary Bases of Standards

Differences in Applicability of Standards

Differences in Population Groups of Primary Concern

Differences in Considerations of Natural Background

Other Considerations in Comparing Standards

Summary of Issues of Consistency of Standards

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STANDARDS AND DOSES EXPERIENCED

8 Indoor-Radon Guidelines and Recommendations

RADON MEASUREMENT UNITS

PATHWAYS OF HUMAN EXPOSURE

HEALTH EFFECTS AND RISK EVALUATION OF RADON EXPOSURE

OVERVIEW OF RADON GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DWELLINGS

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)

US Environmental Protection Agency

International Commission on Radiological Protection

International Atomic Energy Agency

Commission of the European Communities

Other

RADON ACTION LEVELS FOR WORKPLACES

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

9 Other Guidances for TENORM

HPS Recommendations on Radiation Dose Limits for the General Public

HPS Recommendations on Radiation Standards for Site Cleanup and Restoration

Regulations for Decommissioning of Licensed Facilities.

Guidance on Disposal of Residual Thorium or Uranium

Management and Disposal of Small Volumes of TENORM

Management and Disposal of Larger Volumes of TENORM

STATE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND OTHER NATIONS

TRANSFERABILITY OF STANDARDS

10 Comparison of Current Guidances for TENORM in the Environment

INDOOR RADON

TENORM OTHER THAN INDOOR RADON

Guidances on Radiation Protection of the Public Applicable to TENORM

Guidances for Specific Sources or Practices Involving TENORM

Bases For Differences in Guidances

11 Issues in Developing Guidances for TENORM

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL BASES FOR GUIDANCES

DIFFERENCES IN TECHNICAL APPROACHES TO RISK ASSESSMENT

Differences Between Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approaches to...

Comments On Differences Between Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission...

Importance of Approaches to Risk Assessment for Guidances for TENORM

Other Issues in Risk Assessment and Guidance Development

POLICY-BASED DIFFERENCES IN GUIDANCES FOR TENORM

Limit on Acceptable Dose

Application of the Environmental Protection Agency's Groundwater-Protection Strategy to TENORM

Differences Between Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Environmental Protection Agency Approaches to...

Differences in Guidances for Indoor Radon

Difference Between Environmental Protection Agency and National Council on Radiation Protection and...

Treatment of Natural Background in Establishing Guidances

IMPLICATIONS OF GUIDANCES FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

12 Conclusions and Recommendations

CENTRAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

CONTEXT FOR REGULATION OF TENORM.

RISK ASSESSMENT ISSUES UNDERLYING TENORM REGULATION

RISK-MANAGEMENT ISSUES UNDERLYING TENORM GUIDELINES

COMPARABILITY OF GUIDANCES AND REGULATIONS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO TENORM

ISSUES RELATED TO BACKGROUND RADIATION

REFERENCES

Appendix

RADIATION QUANTITIES AND UNITS DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS

DEFINITIONS

LIST OF ACRONYMS

Information on Committee Members.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610186525

9780309183994

0309183995

9781280186523

1280186526

9780309580700

0309580706

9780585150024

0585150028

OCLC:

43477181