Radiation Exposure Limits

The scientific consensus on exposure to ionizing radiation has long held that no ‘risk-free threshold’ exists, and that even low doses can increase an individual’s risk of developing cancer.

This understanding – that no radiation exposure is without risk – is central when defining acceptable occupational radiation exposure limits. Government agencies use it as a baseline when in identifying locations so contaminated or hazardous as to qualify as a “Superfund” site (and thus be granted special funding and attention for cleanup and remedial actions).

However, in contradiction to those best-known practices, the Trump administration issued a baffling new interpretation on what it considers acceptable radiation exposure. The new interpretation allows the administration to reclassify “high-level radioactive” as less of a threat, allowing the Department of Energy to abandon their responsibility to clean sites in the U.S. that are contaminated with what is known to be (despite the new interpretations claims) highly-radioactive waste.

Status

June 5^th, 2019 REGULATION WEAKENED

Regulation weakened as the EPA issues a new interpretation of “high-level radioactive waste”. A proposal to raise occupational radiation exposure limits has also been put-forth, but not yet adopted.

Notables

The new rule allows the DoE to abandon its prior obligations to properly dispose of over 100 million gallons of high-level waste from sites in Idaho, South Carolina, and Washington state, among others.

Energy Department solution for radioactive waste: downgrade its danger | NRDC (6.5.19)

EPA appoints scientist Brant Ulsh, who argues for easing radiation exposure limits to be the Chairman of the EPA’s Radiation Advisory.

Skeptic of radiation limits will head EPA radiation panel | Associated Press (2.1.19)

Relaxation of radiation limits tucked into ‘Science Transparency Bill’; FDA itself suggests that a dose of 10 millisieverts may increase risks of fatal cancer by about 1-in-2,000 chance.

Trump’s EPA moving to weaken regulation on radiation exposure | PBS (10.2.18)

The EPA edited its online exposure guidance, dubiously stating the low individual odds of cancer: “According to radiation safety experts, radiation exposures of… 100 millisieverts usually result in no harmful health effects, because radiation below these levels is a minor contributor to our overall cancer risk”.