Bob,
The missing issue with these pie charts is the age at which most people receive the majority of their medical exposures.
And for that matter the age at which radon exposure is received.
Typically in the years from being an infant thru starting school the individual is at home receiving their radon exposure. Then it becomes 12 to 15 hours per day for life.
The majority of your medical exposure typically comes in the latter years of ones life.
This makes a significant difference when one is considering the consequences of the two types of exposure.
James L. McNees, CHPAssistant DirectorOffice of Radiation ControlAlabama Department of Public HealthOffice-334-206-5368 Fax-334-206-5387Cell- 334-850-5293"Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." (Psalm 90:12 LB)--- On Mon, 5/4/09, Lewis, Robert K. wrote:
From: Lewis, Robert K. Subject: [RNPROF] NCRP Pie ChartsTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUDate: Monday, May 4, 2009, 3:13 PM
As many may already know the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) is in the process of releasing its latest report, No. 160, Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States. One of the hall marks of that report is the pie chart showing the distribution of ionizing radiation exposure, both man made and natural to the general public. This report comes 19 years after NCRP Report No. 93 on the same subject. I enclose the pie charts from both reports for comparison and several points of discussion.
1. There is a 19 year span between the two charts
2. Although the radon percentage has decreased from 55% to 37% it is still the single largest contributor to general public dose.
3. The reason for radon's decrease is due to the significant increase in the medical diagnostic and nuclear medicine exposure, primarily the
increase in CT scans.
4. Finally, thoron has now received recognition along with radon exposure.
And finally on a note of commentary, maybe in another 19 years the current contribution from Occupational dose of <0.1% may be larger due to more significant radon/thoron measurements in various workplaces.
Robert K. Lewis | Rad. Prot. SupervisorDepartment of Environmental ProtectionRachel Carson State Office Building400 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17101Phone: 717.783.4870 | Fax: 717.783.8965www.depweb.state.pa.us
Robert K. Lewis | Rad. Prot. SupervisorDepartment of Environmental ProtectionRachel Carson State Office Building400 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17101Phone: 717.783.4870 | Fax: 717.783.8965www.depweb.state.pa.us
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From Name
James McNees
From Address
mcneesj@YAHOO.COM