Low-Level Health Effects of Radiation: Nuclear Engineering Obligations

It has been more than 30 years since the publication of data on health effects of low level began to appear in the scientific literature. Now, this extensive data bank clearly shows that the long-taught and utilized “Linear No-Threshold” (LNT) hypothesis is invalid and misleading at levels below 0.2 Sv (20 REM) per year. Below these levels, health and longevity are actually improved. Yet the imbedded and pervasive fear of low levels of radiation has resulted in planned and implemented nuclear plant shutdowns and eventual decommissioning, and has even affected the medical community regarding inappropriate concerns about dangers to patients receiving CT diagnostic imaging. These trends are now so serious and consequential to the future of nuclear energy and nuclear applications, that it is time for the nuclear engineering community to take an active role to dismiss the LNT hypothesis as incorrect and completely misleading with regard to low levels of radiation exposures to the public and to nuclear personnel. The ALARA concept and regulatory burden needs to be abandoned, and the realistic nuclear personnel exposure limits of the 1950 era should be re-adopted, and even increased.