Health Physics Society Comments to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Reform Task Force. Issue 5 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ring, Joseph; Tupin, Edward; Elder, Deirdre; Hiatt, Jerry; Sheetz, Michael; Kirner, Nancy; Little, Craig
• Is Part Of: Health physics. Volume 114:Issue 5(2018:May)
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: cost-benefit analysis -- Health Physics Society -- public information -- regulations; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Health Physics -- periodicals; Radiation Protection -- periodicals; Radiotherapy -- periodicals; Medische fysica; Electronic journals; 612.01448
• DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000000809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9078

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: The Health Physics Society (HPS) provided comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on options to consider when developing an action plan for President Trump's Executive Order to evaluate regulations for repeal, replacement, or modification. The HPS recommended that the EPA reconsider their adherence to the linear no-threshold (LNT) model for radiation risk calculations and improve several documents by better addressing uncertainties in low-dose, low dose-rate (LDDR) radiation exposure environments. The authors point out that use of the LNT model near background levels cannot provide reliable risk projections, use of the LNT model and collective-dose calculations in some EPA documents is inconsistent with the recommendations of international organizations, and some EPA documents have not been exposed to the public comment rule-making process. To assist in establishing a better scientific basis for the risks of low dose rate and low dose radiation exposure, the EPA should continue to support the "Million Worker Study, " led by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement.