DOCSLIB.ORG

Assessment of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Assessment of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE TO INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS In.-,.r,... 7- WHO Regional Publications European Series, No. 78 The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations with primary responsibility for international health matters and public health. Through this Organization, which was created in 1948, the health professions of over 190 countries exchange their knowledge and experience with the aim of making possible the attain- ment by all citizens of the world of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of six regional offices throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to the particular health problems of the countries it serves. The European Region embraces some 860 million people living in an area stretching from Greenland in the north and the Mediterranean in the south to the Pacific shores of the Russian Federation. The European programme of WHO therefore concentrates both on the problems associated with industrial and post -industrial society and on those faced by the emerg- ing democracies of central and eastern Europe and the former USSR. In its strategy for attaining the goal of health for all the Regional Office is arranging its activities in three main areas: lifestyles conducive to health, a healthy environment, and appropriate services for preven- tion, treatment and care. The European Region is characterized by the large number of languages spoken by its peoples, and the resulting difficulties in disseminating information to all who may need it. Applications for rights of translation of Regional Office books are therefore most welcome. Assessment of exposure to indoor air pollutants WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Assessment of exposure to indoor air pollutants /edited by M. Jantunen, J.J.K. Jaakkola and M. Krzyzanowski (WHO regional publications. European series ; No. 78) I.Air pollution, Indoor 2.Air pollutants - adverse effects 3. Environmental exposure 4.Risk assessment 5.Methods I.Jantunen, M. II.Jaakkola, J.J.K. IILKrzyzanowski, M. IV. Series ISBN 92 890 1342 7 (NLM Classification: WA 754) ISSN 0378 -2255 Text editing:David Breuer World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe Copenhagen Assessment of exposure to indoor airpollutants Edited by M. Jantunen J.J.K. Jaakkola M. Krzyzanowski WHO Regional Publications, European Series, No. 78 ISBN 92 890 1342 7 ISSN 0378 -2255 The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization wel- comes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Office of Publications, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Scherfigsvej 8, DK -2100 Copenhagen 0, Denmark, which will be glad to provide the latest information on any changes made to the text, plans for new edi- tions, and reprints and translations already available. World Health Organization 1997 Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy copyright protec- tion in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization concern- ing the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authori- ties, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The names of countries or areas used in this publication are those that ob- tained at the time the original language edition of the book was pre- pared. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. The views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization. PRINTED IN DENMARK Contents Page Foreword vii Preface ix Contributors xi Introduction 1 PART 1. BACKGROUND 1 General aspects of exposure assessment 7 2Concepts of exposure assessment 10 3 Direct methods of exposure assessment 15 4Indirect methods of exposure assessment 18 5 Assessment of exposure to mixtures: the example of volatile organic compounds 24 6Temperature and humidity 27 7Design of exposure assessment surveys 32 8Quality assurance 38 References and bibliography 43 PART 2. EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR SELECTED FACTORS 9Introduction 47 Gaseous air pollutants 10 Nitrogen dioxide 49 11 Volatile organic compounds 54 12 Formaldehyde 66 13 Carbon monoxide 70 14 Sensory air pollutants 74 15 Radon 77 Particulate air pollutants 16 Particulate matter 81 17 Asbestos and other mineral fibres 87 18 Environmental tobacco smoke 91 19 Pesticides 96 Biological contaminants 20 Bacteria and fungi 99 21 House dust mites 104 22 Determinants of microbial growth 109 ANNEX Introduction 113 Indoor air quality in the United Kingdom: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood 115 An environmental survey in Germany in 1990 -1992 119 National Human Exposure Assessment Survey in the United States 124 Draft protocol for a proposed population -based study of indoor exposure to VOC in Helsinki, Finland 127 Foreword The World Health Organization (WHO) and its Regional Office for Europe have recognized the potential significance of the quality of the indoor envi- ronment for a long time. The current understanding of the magnitude of the health effects of poor indoor air quality is still far from complete. Neverthe- less, there is sufficient knowledge for this issue to be listed as one of the lead- ing environmental health problems in Europe in the Declaration on Action for Environment and Health in Europe, which was endorsed by the Second European Conference on Environment and Health, held in Helsinki in June 1994. The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, which is responsible for the Regional Office programme related to air quality, is con- tinuing the involvement of the Regional Office in projects on indoor air qual- ity and contributing to achieving the regional target for health for all related to air quality. This monograph is an extension of a series of reports published by the Regional Office devoted to indoor air quality and to methods of assessing exposure. It is addressed to the broad public health community. The text sum- marizes the present methods and discusses the advantages and limitations of various approaches. The implementation of the methods presented should optimize efforts aimed at creating indoor environments supporting the health of people indoors, and thus improve the health of the European population. The experts participating in the work on this publication represent vari- ous disciplines and various experiences. I am grateful to them for their contri- butions to the text, for their creative and constructive discussion at working group meetings and for their critical revision of drafts of this book. I grate- fully acknowledge the financial contribution of the Government of Germany, which made this project possible. J.E. Asvall WHO Regional Director for Europe vii Preface Most people spend most of their time indoors, where they are subject to conditions they can control to a limited extent. The poor quality of the indoor environment is a strong determinant of a variety of health problems. The effects include discomfort caused by extremes of temperature or unpleasant smells, sensitization and asthmatic reactions related to biological aero- sols in the indoor air, and the fatal consequences of exposure to pathogenic organisms or chemicals. Attempts to conserve energy and to regulate some aspects of indoor climate may adversely affect other aspects of indoor air quality. A variety of building materials and chemical agents contained in consumer products used indoors may be harmful to health. Economic growth and development induce changes in lifestyle, increase the use of these products and indirectly affect health. The principal method of preventing adverse health effects is to eliminate exposure to hazardous factors. Nevertheless, the cost of preventive measures may be excessive and not justified if the measures are implemented in environments where the exposure does not pose any risk to health. In some cases, the measures may even harm health, such as when intensive ventilation in- creases the penetration of outdoor air pollutants. People often increase the use of household equipment without considering its potential contribution to indoor air pollution. In other situations they may attribute symptoms of ill health to unsatisfactory in- door air quality even if other factors are the cause. In such situa- tions, standardized methods of assessing population exposure to indoor air pollution are necessary to assess the risk to health and to select optimal risk management actions. A working group convened by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health has prepared this publication with the ix X ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE TO INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS aim of facilitating the implementation of exposure assessment methods in public health practice. The expertise necessary for applying exposure assessment methods is distributed among a number of disciplines, including chemistry, toxicology, physiol-
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Committee Reports 2005 Midyear Meeting
    2004-2005 MIDYEAR REPORT Academic Education Committee Health Physics Society Mark Rudin - Chair Report Prepared by Mark J. Rudin, Ph.D. January 11, 2005 Abstract The Academic Education Committee (AEC) has been and continues to be very active in a number of areas. Accomplishments/activities during the first half of the 2004-2005 time period included: 1. Administration of Health Physics Society (HPS) Fellowship and Travel Grant Awards 2. Maintenance of Student Branch Programs 3. A fifth health physics program participated in the Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of the American Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) accreditation process. Page 220 Report Outline: I. Recommendations for Action II. Subcommittee Assignments for 2004-2005 III. Progress Reports 2003-2004 HPS Fellow Selections 2003-2004 Student Travel Grants Student Branch Program Health Physics Education Reference Book Health Physics Program Directors Organization Accreditation Sub-Committee Revision of the Careers in Health Physics brochure I. Recommendations for Action 1. The Committee anxiously awaits the approval of its Rules/Operating Procedures. Once the rules are approved, the AEC will be able to appoint individuals from the AEC Subcommittee on Accreditation to the ANS and the American Academy of Health Physics. John Poston and Rich Brey have agreed to serve as the liasions for the ANS and Academy, respectively. 2. Chuck Roessler has graciously served as the HPS Commissioner on the Applied Sciences Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of ABET for two terms (2003-04 and 2004-05). Note that ASAC is the ABET commission under which accreditation of Health Physics Academic Programs is conducted. Commissioner terms are for one year with members eligible for reappointment for up to five terms.
    [Show full text]
  • Radiation Risk in Perspective
    PS010-1 RADIATION RISK IN PERSPECTIVE POSITION STATEMENT OF THE HEALTH HEALTH PHYSICS SOCIETY* PHYSICS SOCIETY Adopted: January 1996 Revised: August 2004 Contact: Richard J. Burk, Jr. Executive Secretary Health Physics Society Telephone: 703-790-1745 Fax: 703-790-2672 Email: [email protected] http://www.hps.org In accordance with current knowledge of radiation health risks, the Health Physics Society recommends against quantitative estimation of health risks below an individual dose of 5 rem1 in one year or a lifetime dose of 10 rem above that received from natural sources. Doses from natural background radiation in the United States average about 0.3 rem per year. A dose of 5 rem will be accumulated in the first 17 years of life and about 25 rem in a lifetime of 80 years. Estimation of health risk associated with radiation doses that are of similar magnitude as those received from natural sources should be strictly qualitative and encompass a range of hypothetical health outcomes, including the possibility of no adverse health effects at such low levels. There is substantial and convincing scientific evidence for health risks following high-dose exposures. However, below 5–10 rem (which includes occupational and environmental exposures), risks of health effects are either too small to be observed or are nonexistent. In part because of the insurmountable intrinsic and methodological difficulties in determining if the health effects that are demonstrated at high radiation doses are also present at low doses, current radiation protection standards and practices are based on the premise that any radiation dose, no matter how small, may result in detrimental health effects, such as cancer and hereditary genetic damage.
    [Show full text]
  • Healthy Climate® Indoor Air Quality Systems
    HEPA Bypass Air Filtration Systems Healthy Climate® Indoor Air Quality Systems HEPA-20 HEPA-40 HEPA-60 The best possible air filtration. High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filtration Systems ® 99.97% efficiency rating Pollutants like dust, pollen, bacteria and viruses find their way into your for removal of all small, home’s air every day. These pollutants can cause poor indoor air quality, breathable particles, airborne mold spores, bacteria and which impacts both your home environment and health. At the very least, Place. viruses, down to 0.3 micron poor air quality can make your home uncomfortable. And, if you’re one of Bypass configuration quietly circulates and cleans the air more than 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies, poor air quality throughout the home can make your home very unhealthy. Designed for easy integration BETTER with Lennox® heating and HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AIR FILTRATION FOR A CLEANER, cooling systems for total HEALTHIER HOME ENVIRONMENT. home comfort …A A Healthy Climate® high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) bypass filtration Best possible air-filtration performance system can go a long way toward improving the air you breathe. Using the same filtration technology found in hospital operating rooms and HOME science labs, a HEPA system removes nearly all allergy-inducing contaminants, including even the smallest particles and bacteria. It filters and freshens the air, so you can breathe easier. Highly effective filtration. THREE CLASSES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS Lennox makes your With a particle-efficiency rating of 99.97%, this system captures and Particles—Pollen, dust mites, dirt, pet dander. filters particles and bioaerosols as Particles are any small as 0.3 micron—contaminants substances measuring less than 100 microns that standard filtration systems in diameter.
    [Show full text]
  • ASHRAE Position Document on Filtration and Air Cleaning
    ASHRAE Position Document on Filtration and Air Cleaning Approved by ASHRAE Board of Directors January 29, 2015 Reaffirmed by Technology Council January 13, 2018 Expires January 23, 2021 ASHRAE 1791 Tullie Circle, NE • Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2305 404-636-8400 • fax: 404-321-5478 • www.ashrae.org © 2015 ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only. Additional reproduction, distribution, or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission. COMMITTEE ROSTER The ASHRAE Position Document on Filtration and Air Cleaning was developed by the Society's Filtration and Air Cleaning Position Document Committee formed on January 6, 2012, with Pawel Wargocki as its chair. Pawel Wargocki, Chair Dean A. Saputa Technical University of Denmark UV Resources Kongens Lyngby, Denmark Santa Clarita, CA Thomas H. Kuehn William J. Fisk University of Minnesota Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Minneapolis, MN Berkeley, CA H.E. Barney Burroughs Jeffrey A. Siegel Building Wellness Consultancy, Inc. The University of Toronto Johns Creek, GA Toronto, ON, Canada Christopher O. Muller Mark C. Jackson Purafil Inc. The University of Texas at Austin Doraville, GA Austin, TX Ernest A. Conrad Alan Veeck BOMA International National Air Filtration Association Washington DC Virginia Beach, VA Other contributors: Dean Tompkins Madison, WI for his contribution on photocatalytic oxidizers Paul Francisco, Ex-Officio Cognizant Committee Chair Environmental Health Committee University of Illinois Champaign, IL ASHRAE is a registered trademark in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, owned by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. © 2015 ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only.
    [Show full text]
  • Improving Air Quality for Operators of Mobile Machines in Underground Mines
    atmosphere Article Improving Air Quality for Operators of Mobile Machines in Underground Mines Andrzej Szczurek 1, Monika Maciejewska 1,*, Marcin Przybyła 2 and Wacław Szetelnicki 2 1 Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrze˙zeWyspia´nskiego27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland; [email protected] 2 Centrum Bada´nJako´scisp. zo. o., ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 62, 59-301 Lubin, Poland; [email protected] (M.P.); [email protected] (W.S.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-7132-028-68 Received: 12 November 2020; Accepted: 9 December 2020; Published: 18 December 2020 Abstract: In underground mines, mobile mining equipment is critical for the production system. The microenvironment inside the mobile machine may cause exposure to strongly polluted mine air, which adversely affects the health and working performance of the operator. Harmful pollutants may access the cabin together with the ventilation air delivered from the machine’s surroundings. This work proposes a solution that is able to ensure that the air for the machine operator is of proper quality. The proposal emerged from an analysis of the compliance of cabins of mobile machines working underground in mines with occupational health and safety (H&S) standards. An analytical model of air quality in a well-mixed zone was utilized for this purpose. The cabin atmosphere was investigated with regard to the concentration of gaseous species in the surrounding air, the cabin ventilation rate, and human breathing parameters. The analysis showed that if currently available ventilation approaches are used, compliance with multiple H&S standards cannot be attained inside the cabin if standards are exceeded in the surroundings of the machine.
    [Show full text]
  • Indoor Air Quality
    Indoor Air Quality Poor indoor air quality can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, headache, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or other breathing problems or who have allergies may have severe reactions. Common Indoor Air Pollutants Poor indoor air quality comes from many sources, including: » Tobacco smoke » Mold » Pollen » Allergens such as those from cats, dogs, mice, dust mites, and cockroaches » Smoke from fireplaces and woodstoves » Formaldehyde in building materials, textiles, and furniture » Carbon monoxide from gas furnaces, ovens, and other appliances » Use of household products such as cleaners and bug sprays » Outdoor air pollution from factories, vehicles, wildfires, and other sources How to Improve Indoor Air Quality » Open windows to let in fresh air. • However, if you have asthma triggered by outdoor air pollution or pollen, opening windows might not be a good idea. In this case, use exhaust fans and non-ozone-producing air cleaners to reduce exposure to these triggers. » Clean often to get rid of dust, pet fur, and other allergens. • Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. • Wet or damp mopping is better than sweeping. » Take steps to control mold and pests. » Do not smoke, and especially do not smoke indoors. If you think poor indoor air is making you sick, please see or call a doctor or other health care provider. About CDC CDC is a federal public health agency based in Atlanta, GA. Our mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability. For More Information We want to help you to stay healthy.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommendations for the Follow-Up Assessment of Contaminated Travelers by Radiation Control Health Physics Staff
    Recommendations for the Follow-Up Assessment of Contaminated Travelers by Radiation Control Health Physics Staff State radiation control program health physicists will perform the follow-up assessment of contaminated travelers in coordination with the local or state health department. This assessment may be done at the state radiation control program office, the traveler’s place of residence, or other locations as convenient. This screening process may be stressful for travelers. The health physics staff should consider requesting assistance from behavioral health professionals or risk communicators to help reduce anxiety for travelers throughout the process. The follow-up assessment should consist of four main activities: 1) Ensure the effectiveness of external decontamination 2) Assist in completion and review the Epidemiologic Assessment form with the traveler and assess potential for internal contamination 3) Perform a thyroid count 4) Evaluate the need for bioassay, and collect a urine sample if necessary Based on current environmental monitoring results reported from Japan, it is highly unlikely for any external or internal contamination to present a public health concern for people outside of the 50-mile (80-kilometer) radius around the Fukushima nuclear power plant. 1) Ensure the effectiveness of external decontamination Travelers identified as being contaminated with radioactive materials by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are offered an opportunity – at the airport – to change into clean clothes and wash exposed skin surfaces, such as their hands and face. Additional washing (such as a full shower) may be necessary to remove all traces of external contamination. The effectiveness of external decontamination performed by the traveler at the airport or at home can be verified using a beta/gamma radiation detection instrument such as a Geiger Muller (GM) pancake probe or equivalent.
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnosing IAQ Problems
    Diagnosing IAQ Problems he goal of the diagnostic building T Start (reason for concern) investigation is to identify and solve the indoor air quality complaint in a way that t 6 prevents it from recurring and that does not Initial walkthrough n preparation create other problems. This section n visual inspection describes a method for discovering the n talk with occupants and staff cause of the complaint and presents a t “toolbox” of diagnostic activities to assist Do you have Yes you in collecting information. an explanation Just as a carpenter uses only the tools for the complaint ? that are needed for any given job, an IAQ No investigator should use only the investiga- t Collect additional tive techniques that are needed. Many information about indoor air quality complaints can be n building occupants resolved without using all of the diagnostic n the HVAC system n pollutant pathways tools described in this chapter. For n pollutant sources example, it may be easy to identify the (sample contaminants if needed) source of cooking odors that are annoying t nearby office workers and solve the Develop one or more hypotheses problem by controlling pressure relation- to explain the problem. Test by ships (e.g., installing exhaust fans) in the manipulating building conditions or exposure, or by performing food preparation area. Similarly, most appropriate tests. mechanical or carpentry problems prob- ably require only a few of the many tools t t you have available and are easily accom- Do results Attempt plished with in-house expertise. No Yes Follow-up support your a control validation The use of in-house personnel builds hypothesis ? strategy skills that will be helpful in minimizing and resolving future problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation, Ltr Dtd 01/25/1993 Re: Application for Amendment of USNRC Source Material License
    i S H I E L DA L LOY M ETA L LU R G I CA L C 0 R P0 RAT I 0 N WEST BOULEVARD P 0 BOX 768 NEWFIELD, NJ 08344 TELEPHONE (609) 692-4200 TWX (510) 687-8918 FAX (609) 692-4017 ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT FAX Certified Mail: P 284 355 015 (609) 697-9025 Return Receipt Requested January 25, 1993 Mr. Yawar H. Faraz Mail Stop 6H-3 Advanced Fuel & Special Facilities Section Fuel Cycle Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 RE: Application for Amendment of USNRC Source Material License Number SMB-743, Docket No. 40-7102 Dear Mr. Faraz: As recommended in your letter of December 15, 1992, Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation (SMC) is requesting amendment of Condition 12 of Source Material License Number SMB-743 to reflect the following administrative changes in its radiation protection program: 1. Overall control and authority for radiological protection at SMC shall rest with the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Mr. Richard D. Way. 2. The Radiation Safety Officer for SMC is Mr. Craig R. Rieman. A copy of Mr. Rieman s resume is attached. 3. The Assistant Radiation Safety Officer (ARSO) is Mr. James P. Valenti. A copy of Mr. Valenti I s resume is attached. 9305030276 530125 PDR ADOCK 04007102 C PDR Mr. Yawar H. Faraz U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission January 25, 1993 Page 2 4. In addition, Authorized Users for SMC are: David R. Smith Bill Grabus Knud Clausen Brian Martin AI Lashley Richard Bodine Robert A.
    [Show full text]
  • Electrical Safety Policy and Manual
    ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY AND MANUAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY IX. HIGH-VOLTAGE PLATFORMS ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMMITTEE CHARTER X. CAPACITORS ELECTRICAL SAFETY MANUAL XI. HAZARDOUS GASES AND LIQUIDS I. NATIONAL AND LOCAL STANDARDS XII. MAGNETS AND INDUCTORS • Permanent Installations 1. Fringe Fields • Temporary Experimental 2. Warning Signs Installations 3. Discharge 4. Connections II. SUPPLEMENTARY STANDARDS 5. Eddy Currents 6. Cooling III. POWER AND DISTRIBUTION 7. Construction CIRCUIT • Outlets and Power Supply XIII. ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION Output 8. Warning • Conductors 9. Monitoring • Circuits 10. Protection IV. SYSTEM NEUTRAL XIV. LASERS V. EQUIPMENT GROUNDING XV. WORKING ON ENERGIZED CIRCUITS VI. EXPOSED LIVE PARTS XVI. LOCKOUT/TAGOUT VII. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT XVII. TABLES PROTECTIVE MEASURES • Up to 600 V and Over 20 A • Over 600 V and 0.025 A or Stored Energy of 10 J VIII. OPERATIONS • General • Portable Electrical Equipment Electrical Safety Policy In keeping with the Physics Division Policy to give the highest priority to Environmental, Health, and Safety concerns in its operations, it is the intent of Physics Division management to prevent electrical hazards to staff and visitors and to assure adherence to applicable electrical safety codes. This will be accomplished through the development of operational procedures, the proper training of personnel, the design of equipment, and the establishment of an Electrical Safety Committee. ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMMITTEE CHARTER Responsibilities and Functions • Develop and revise as needed the Physics Division Electrical Safety Policy and Manual. • Annually review Lock-out/Tag-out log books. • Identify unsafe conditions and/or practices and assist in the development of remedial action plans. • Review electrical incidents, near-misses, and formulate preventive measures.
    [Show full text]
  • Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives SP001-1
    Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives SP001-1 Published by Health Physics Society 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd. Suite 402 McLean, VA 22101 Disclaimer Statements and opinions expressed in publications of the Health Physics Society or in presentations given during its regular meetings are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Health Physics Society, the editors, or the organizations with which the authors are affiliated. The editor(s), publisher, and Society disclaim any responsibility or liability for such material and do not guarantee, warrant, or endorse any product or service mentioned. Official positions of the Society are established only by its Board of Directors. Copyright © 2017 by the Health Physics Society All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America SP001-1, revised 2017 Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives Table of Contents Foreword……………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 2 A Primer on Ionizing Radiation……………………………………………………………………………... 6 Growing Importance of Nuclear Technology in Medicine……………………………………….. 16 Distinguishing Risk: Use and Overuse of Radiation in Medicine………………………………. 22 Nuclear Energy: The Environmental Context…………………………………………………………. 27 Nuclear Power in the United States: Safety, Emergency Response Planning, and Continuous Learning…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33 Radiation Risk: Used Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste Disposal………………………... 42 Radiation Risk: Communicating to the Public………………………………………………………… 45 After Fukushima: Implications for Public Policy and Communications……………………. 51 Appendix 1: Radiation Units and Measurements……………………………………………………. 57 Appendix 2: Half-Life of Some Radionuclides…………………………………………………………. 58 Bernard L.
    [Show full text]
  • ANL Physics Division ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY and MANUAL
    ANL Physics Division ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY AND MANUAL 2007 ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY VII. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT PROTECTIVE MEASURES ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMMITTEE A. Up to 600 V and Over 20 A CHARTER B. Over 600 V and 0.025 A or Stored Energy of 10 J ELECTRICAL SAFETY MANUAL VIII. OPERATIONS I. NATIONAL AND LOCAL STANDARDS A. General A. Permanent Installations B. Portable Electrical Equipment B. Temporary Experimental Installations II. SUPPLEMENTARY STANDARDS IX. HIGH-VOLTAGE PLATFORMS III. POWER AND DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT X. CAPACITORS A. Outlets and Power Supply Output XI. HAZARDOUS GASES AND LIQUIDS B. Conductors C. Circuits XII. MAGNETS AND INDUCTORS A. Fringe Fields IV. SYSTEM NEUTRAL B. Warning Signs C. Discharge V. EQUIPMENT GROUNDING D. Connections E. Eddy Currents F. Cooling VI. EXPOSED LIVE PARTS G. Construction XIII. ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION A. Warning XVI. TABLES B. Monitoring C. Protection XIV. WORKING ON ENERGIZED CIRCUITS XV. LOCKOUT/TAGOUT The official version of this Physics Division manual is found at www.phy.anl.gov/div/esh. This paper copy may be obsolete soon after it is printed. Call Tom Mullen with any content questions. Electrical Safety Policy In keeping with the Physics Division Policy to give the highest priority to Environmental, Health, and Safety concerns in its operations, it is the intent of Physics Division management to prevent electrical hazards to staff and visitors and to assure adherence to applicable electrical safety codes. This will be accomplished through the development of operational procedures, the proper training of personnel, the design of equipment, and the establishment of an Electrical Safety Committee. ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMMITTEE CHARTER Authorization The Physics Division Electrical Safety Committee is authorized by and reports to the Director of the Physics Division.
    [Show full text]