This report is about radiation protection, the aims of which are (a) to prevent the occurrence of acute health effects (e.g., cataracts in the eyes and radiation sickness) and (b) to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce the induction of potential long-term effects (e.g., cancer) to a level that is acceptable to society (ICRP, 1991a). To achieve these aims, radiation doses to individuals and populations must be measured and controlled. These doses (related to the amount of radiation energy deposited in tissue per unit of mass) typically are expressed in the international units millisievert (mSv) or milligray (mGy), or in the traditional units, the rem and rad, respectively.

Contents

• COMMITTEE ON BATTLEFIELD RADIATION EXPOSURE CRITERIA
• BOARD OF THE MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AGENCY
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Principles of Radiation Protection
  • Radiation Physics
  • Radiation Units and Measurements
  • Sources of Radiation Exposure
  • Radiation Biology
  • Radiation Dose Reduction
• 3. Standard Practices in Civilian Radiation Protection
  • Control Philosophy
  • Notification, Training, and Informed Understanding
  • Recordkeeping
• 4. Current Paradigms for Radiation Protection in the Army
  • Occupational Exposure
  • High-Level Exposures in Nuclear War
  • Summary of Existing Army Programs
• 5. Evaluation of the ACE Directive in Light of Civilian Standard Practices
  • Underlying Philosophy of Radiation Protection
  • Terminology
  • Prospective Risk Assessment
  • Definition of a Radiological Area
  • Dosimetry Requirements
  • Dose Units
  • Internal Dose
  • Dose Cumulation Times
  • Reference Levels for Operational Exposure Guidance
  • Recordkeeping Requirements
• 6. Recommendations for Revisions of the ACE Directive
  • Underlying Philosophy
  • Terminology in the ACE Directive
  • Prospective Risk Assessments
  • Dosimetry Requirements
  • Operational Exposure Guidance Below 700 mGy
• 7. Conclusion
• References
• Appendix The ACE Directive

This work is supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Contract No. DAMD17-96-C-6095. The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official Department of Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other documentation.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

The Institute of Medicine was chartered in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to enlist distinguished members of the appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. In this, the Institute acts under both the Academy's 1863 congressional charter responsibility to be an adviser to the federal government and its own initiative in identifying issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.