Evaluation of Radiological Versus Chemical Toxicity Limits for Varying Enrichments of Uranium for Department of Energy Facilities

Abstract

On 8 June 2007, the Department of Energy amended its occupational radiation protection rule Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection. The Department of Energy revised the radiation weighting factors, tissue weighting factors, and most of the dosimetric terms used in Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 835 to reflect the recommendations for assessing dose and associated terminology from ICRP Publication 60, 1990 Recommendations of the ICRP on Radiological Protection. In support of the amendment, the Department of Energy is revising its guidance documents on evaluation of radiological vs. chemical toxicity limits for varying enrichments of uranium. The revised guidance is based on the updated dosimetric models and provides a useful tool for evaluating when either radiological or chemical toxicity concerns are more limiting.