Acceptable risk as a basis for regulation

Abstract

In recent years, guidelines for radiation protection have increasingly been based on estimates of the risks associated with radiation exposures and judgments regarding acceptable levels of risk. This leads to a more objective basis for regulations if the risk estimates are accurate. However, as enthusiasm for this approach expands, the large uncertainties in the risk estimates are often overlooked, and unreasonable, restrictive applications are possible. Several recent examples of radiation protection guidelines illustrate the risk-based emphasis underlying today's radiation safety philosophy.