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[email protected]. EPA 520/4-76-019 FEDERAL GUIDANCE REPORT NO. 9 RADIATION PROTECTION GUIDANCE FOR DIAGNOSTIC X RAYS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON MEDICAL RADIATION FEDERAL GUIDANCE REPORT NO. 9 RADIATION PROTECTION GUIDANCE FOR DIAGNOSTIC X RAYS Interagency Working Group on Medical Radiation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 October 1976 PREFACE The authority of the Federal Radiation Council to provide radiation protection guidance was transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency on December 2, 1970, by Reorganization Plan No. 3. Prior to this transfer, the Federal Radiation Council developed reports which provided the basis for guidance recommended to the President for use by Federal agencies in developing standards for a wide range of radiation exposure circumstances. This report, which was prepared in cooperation with an Interagency Working Group on Medical Radiation formed on July 5, 1974, constitutes a similar objective to provide the basis for recommendations to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure due to medical uses of diagnostic x rays. The Interagency Working Group developed its recommendations with the help of two subcommittees. The Subcommittee on Prescription of Exposure to X rays examined factors to eliminate clinically unproductive examinations and the Subcommittee on Technic of Exposure Prevention examined factors to assure the use of optimal technic in performing x-ray examinations. Both subcommittees also considered the importance of appropriate and properly functioning equipment in producing radiographs of the required diagnostic quality with minimal exposure. Reports by these subcommittees were made available for public comment.