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Dose limit
Date
recommended
Comments
1925
1934
Recommended by ICRP
150mSv/year, or approximately
3mSv/week
1950
Recommended by ICRP
50mSv/year, or approximately
1mSv/week
1956
Recommended by ICRP
1977
Recommended by ICRP
1991, 2007
from working to a dose limit to ensuring that all exposures are kept as low as reasonably
achievable within a dose limit.
In 1991, the ICRP issued Publication 60, which contained new basic recommendations
within an overall System of radiological protection. Then, in 2007, the basic
recommendations were revised in Publication 103, which introduced various, relatively
minor, changes. The new publication also takes account of the most recent epidemiological
evidence on the effects of human exposure to radiation.
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where wT is the weighting factor for tissue T, and HT is the equivalent dose in tissue T. The
annual limit on effective dose is 20mSv, and so in any one year
wTHT 20 mSv
T
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Tissue or organ
Gonads
0.08
0.12
Colon
0.12
Lung
0.12
Stomach
0.12
Breast
0.12
Bladder
0.04
Liver
0.04
Oesophagus
0.04
Thyroid
0.04
Skin
0.01
Bone surface
0.01
Brain
0.01
Salivary glands
0.01
Remainder
0.12
The values are averages across a population of all ages and both sexes. They may be applied to workers and to
members of the public.
Based on current ICRP risk factors, a 20 mSv effective (or whole body) dose leads to
a fatal cancer risk of approximately 1 in 1000, which is, in an occupational situation, just
tolerable.
Example 6.1
Calculate the allowable equivalent dose to the thyroid of a worker for a year in which
he is exposed to non-uniform irradiation involving the whole body and the lung, as well
as the thyroid. During the year he receives equivalent doses of 10mSv to the whole
body and 50mSv to the lungs.
Using the weighting factor formula:
wTHT 20 mSv
T
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Example 6.2
Using the weighting factors in Table 6.2, calculate the implied limits for the gonads and
the thyroid, assuming that each organ is irradiated completely in isolation.
For gonads, wT=0.08, and so
implied annual limit = 20 = 250 mSv
0.08
For thyroid, wT=0.04, and so
implied annual limit = 20 = 500 mSv
0.04
An Introduction to Radiation Protection 2012 Martin, Harbison, Beach, Cole / Hodder Education
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Dose limit
Occupational
Public
Effective dose
1mSv in a year
20mSv
500mSv
500mSv
15mSv
50mSv
*
The limits apply to the sum of the relevant doses from external exposure in the specified period and the 50-year
committed dose (to age 70 years for children) from intakes in the same period. The effective dose should not exceed
50mSv in any single year. In special circumstances, a higher value of effective dose could be allowed in a single year,
provided that the average over 5 years does not exceed 1mSv/year. For other organs, stochastic effects are limiting
and hence the dose to these other organs is controlled by the limit on effective dose. **Based on the April 2011
Statement of the ICRP on dose limits for the lens of the eye.
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the total exposure of any individual remained within the overall dose limit. In setting
constraints, account should be taken of experience in similar situations elsewhere since
this could provide a benchmark of what can be achieved with good practice.
In applying the principle of dose limitation in planned exposure situations, it should
always be understood that the dose limits are absolute upper limits on exposure. Experience
has shown that application of the ALARA principle (i.e. optimization) usually results in
doses well below the limits. In terms of dose to workers, even in relatively high dose rate
situations, the average level of exposure to workers is generally 10 per cent or less of the
dose limits, although there will sometimes be a few workers, such as maintenance staff,
who receive doses closer to the dose limit. Similarly, it has been found that application of
the ALARA principle and of dose constraints results in doses to members of the public that
are well below the ICRP limits.
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subsequent uptake of radio-iodine in the thyroid gland). All of these carry some degree of
detriment to the people concerned, and the decision to introduce countermeasures should
take account of these detriments and balance them against the exposure that would be
averted. This is discussed further in section 16.6.
wTHT 20 mSv
T
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Supervised area: the area in which special procedures are not normally needed but where
the situation is kept under review.
Dose limits for individual members of the public: lifetime annual average effective dose
limit is 1mSv. Exceptionally, a higher dose could be allowed in a single year, provided that
the average over 5 years does not exceed 1mSv/y.
Planned exposure situations: the principles of justification, optimization and dose
limitation apply.
Emergency exposure situations: adherence to dose limits may not be possible and
protective actions are based on considerations of justification and optimization of
protection through a system of intervention or reference levels.
Existing exposure situations: where high levels of exposure already exist owing to natural
radioactivity or the effects of previous nuclear accidents; decisions on protective measures
based on justification and optimization, assisted by reference levels.
Reference level: a level of dose or risk above which it may be inappropriate to allow
exposures to occur and below which optimization of protection should be implemented.
Revision questions
1. Explain the main features of the system of radiological protection recommended by the
ICRP in its Publication 103.
2. Explain what is meant by the terms stochastic effects and harmful tissue reactions and
give two examples of each type of effect.
3. Give the annual dose limit (for workers) for each of the following: the lens of the eye;
the hands; the feet.
4. Explain how the doses to various organs of the body from non-uniform irradiation are
related to the whole-body limit for uniform irradiation.
5. A worker is required to work in an area where he is subjected to non-uniform irradiation,
involving exposure of the whole body, the red bone marrow and the lung. During 1 year,
the following equivalent doses are received:
whole body
10mSv
lung
100mSv
red bone marrow
150mSv
Calculate the committed effective dose.
6. Assuming, in turn, that each of the following organs of a worker is irradiated for the
entire year in isolation, calculate the annual dose limit implied for each organ by the
weighting factor formula: the thyroid, the lung and the bone surfaces.
7. State the main differences between controlled and supervised areas.
8. Explain the main considerations that should be applied to the exposure of workers and
members of the public in an accident or an emergency. Why might it sometimes be
permissible, following an accident, for workers to be exposed in excess of the normal
operational control limits?
An Introduction to Radiation Protection 2012 Martin, Harbison, Beach, Cole / Hodder Education
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