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Sci Tech
Radiation exposure
MY ARTICLES (Feb 20 and Feb 27) which were titled `Radiation exposures — concerns, fears' may have created some `concerns' and `fears' among the readers. This is partly because the titles I used were changed by The Hindu.
Some clarification is in order. Based on the exhaustive reports of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) prescribed dose limits to regulate radiation exposures to workers and public. Regulatory agencies use the ICRP recommendations to arrive at their own prescription.
Some specialists believe that ICRP prescription is too stringent. Others argue that radiation is more damaging than ICRP wants us to believe. A third group of specialists declare that low doses of radiation are beneficial. Actually, there is no conclusive evidence to uphold any of these views.
The regulator will insist that every one should avoid all unnecessary radiation exposures and unavoidable exposures should be as low as reasonably achievable and within the dose limits. If we follow these principles, risk from radiation may be non-existent or acceptably low. Then it is practically as good as no risks. We need not have "concerns" or "fears" about radiation exposures if we comply with radiation protection rules.
K.S.Parthasarathy
Secretary
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
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