Guidelines for radiation protection

Abstract

Guidelines for radiation protection originate from numerous federal, state, and local agencies. Webster defines a guideline as a line by which one is guided, especially as an outline (as by a government) of policy or conduct. Guidelines in radiation protection can be either mandatory or advisory. Regulations by federal, state, and local governments for the use of radioactive materials define operating practices. Adherence to these regulations is required by law and there are penalties for noncompliance. Regulations generally constitute the minimum requirements for good practice and are usually supplemented by less formal recommendations from regulatory agencies and advisory groups. The regulatory guides published by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and by radiation control groups of agreement states are intended to assist the user of radioactive material in maintaining compliance with regulations. These guides recommend good practice but are not mandatory in that the user can propose alternatives to the regulatory agencies to meet the regulations. Many groups serve in an advisory capacity in formulating reports and recommendations for the safe use of radioactive material. The most prominent and influential among these are the National Council in Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Often the recommendations of these advisory groups evolve into either regulatory guidelines or regulations for the use of radioactive materials. At the present time, the backbone of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulations relating to the medical use of radionuclides, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation" (10CFR20) and "Human Use of Byproduct Material (10CFR35), are undergoing extensive review with major revisions anticipated within the very near future. These proposed changes could have a significant impact on the practice of nuclear medicine. The changes will have some influence on radiation safety practice as it relates to the radiation worker, the patient, and the environment.