Codes and Regulations: Radiation

Abstract

Several govermental agencies regulate radiation and radioactive meterials, each having a difference perspective of the problems to be addressed. An interested party is well advised to cinsult the most current verions of the regulations, which nowadays can be found on‐line. While particular regulations change very slowly in response to changing situations, the regulations as a whole change frequently. Regulations arise from recommendations from nationlal and international scientific and professional organizations, but are shaped by the governmental organization writing the regulation. A major division falls between regulations for ionizing and nonionizing radiations. For ionizing radiation, until currently, there was another division between radiation and radioactive materials generated by reactors and those from other accelerators, but the ssshape of the changes is yet to be seen. Many states have taken over much of the role of the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in their domain through agreements with that angency.