Key Issues
Radiation Standards and Organizations Provide Safety for Public and Workers
<< Previous
Sources of Data Used to Set Radiation Standards
Two series of reports provide much of the data used in setting radiation standards. The reports are produced by National Academy of Sciences (NAS)/BEIR and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).
The BEIR Reports
NAS chartered the first BEIR report in 1956 and has chartered six additional reports. These documents provide a quantitative basis for limiting the radiation exposure of the entire population. They focus on risk factors—the probability of health effects associated with a given dose of radiation.
The UNSCEAR Reports
UNSCEAR produces reports on the sources of radiation exposure around the world and estimates of radiation risk. In 1988, an UNSCEAR report stated that, because of new dosimetry, risk estimates from high exposure to radiation had increased. The report also changed the dose projection model used to calculate lifetime risk. These are similar to the conclusions in the 1990 BEIR V report. In 2000, UNSCEAR issued its next report, which made no substantial change to the risk estimates.
Both UNSCEAR and NAS consider new data as they become available from studies of workers and members of the public, as well as from biological research. When the data indicate a need to revise risk estimates, the committees prepare new reports to reflect this.
In 2008, UNSCEAR released a report, "Effects of Ionizing Radiation—UNSCEAR 2006," summarizing five scientific studies dealing with radiation health effects. "The overall view of the Commission is that the data reviewed for its 2006 report do not necessitate changes in its current risk estimates for the cancer and hereditary effects of radiation," stated the report. 8
National Academies Study Radiation Risk
In June 2005, NAS released its report from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation Committee VII. The BEIR VII report—“Health Risks From Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation”—is the updated scientific basis for radiation safety standards in the United States.
The BEIR V report defined low-level radiation as anything below 10,000 mrem. The report based its findings on revised dose estimates for the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. The survivors were exposed to both acute doses (i.e., doses delivered in seconds or minutes) and doses spread over months and years.
NAS formed the BEIR VII committee in 2000 to review the large body of scientific research on radiation healtheffects that has accumulated over the past 15 years.4 The committee concluded that the additional data have bolstered confidence in previous estimates of health risks, including the risk of developing cancer, as a result of exposure to radiation.
“In general, BEIR VII supports previously reported risk estimates for cancer and leukemia, but the availability of new and more extensive data have strengthened our confidence in these estimates,” said Dr. Richard Monson, chairman of the BEIR VII committee and associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health.
8 "The Effects of Ionizin Radiation—UNSCEAR 2006," Vol. 1, page 3. United Nations, 2008.
9 The academy’s BEIR VI report addressed radiation exposure from radon.
Sources of Data Used to Set Radiation Standards
Two series of reports provide much of the data used in setting radiation standards. The reports are produced by National Academy of Sciences (NAS)/BEIR and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).
The BEIR Reports
NAS chartered the first BEIR report in 1956 and has chartered six additional reports. These documents provide a quantitative basis for limiting the radiation exposure of the entire population. They focus on risk factors—the probability of health effects associated with a given dose of radiation.
The UNSCEAR Reports
UNSCEAR produces reports on the sources of radiation exposure around the world and estimates of radiation risk. In 1988, an UNSCEAR report stated that, because of new dosimetry, risk estimates from high exposure to radiation had increased. The report also changed the dose projection model used to calculate lifetime risk. These are similar to the conclusions in the 1990 BEIR V report. In 2000, UNSCEAR issued its next report, which made no substantial change to the risk estimates.
Both UNSCEAR and NAS consider new data as they become available from studies of workers and members of the public, as well as from biological research. When the data indicate a need to revise risk estimates, the committees prepare new reports to reflect this.
In 2008, UNSCEAR released a report, "Effects of Ionizing Radiation—UNSCEAR 2006," summarizing five scientific studies dealing with radiation health effects. "The overall view of the Commission is that the data reviewed for its 2006 report do not necessitate changes in its current risk estimates for the cancer and hereditary effects of radiation," stated the report. 8
National Academies Study Radiation Risk
In June 2005, NAS released its report from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation Committee VII. The BEIR VII report—“Health Risks From Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation”—is the updated scientific basis for radiation safety standards in the United States.
The BEIR V report defined low-level radiation as anything below 10,000 mrem. The report based its findings on revised dose estimates for the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. The survivors were exposed to both acute doses (i.e., doses delivered in seconds or minutes) and doses spread over months and years.
NAS formed the BEIR VII committee in 2000 to review the large body of scientific research on radiation healtheffects that has accumulated over the past 15 years.4 The committee concluded that the additional data have bolstered confidence in previous estimates of health risks, including the risk of developing cancer, as a result of exposure to radiation.
“In general, BEIR VII supports previously reported risk estimates for cancer and leukemia, but the availability of new and more extensive data have strengthened our confidence in these estimates,” said Dr. Richard Monson, chairman of the BEIR VII committee and associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health.
8 "The Effects of Ionizin Radiation—UNSCEAR 2006," Vol. 1, page 3. United Nations, 2008.
9 The academy’s BEIR VI report addressed radiation exposure from radon.
Next Page: "BEIR VII: Major Findings" >>
