Health Effects Program: Health Effects Program: Technical Support for NRC ProgramsTechnical Support for NRC Programs

Elijah Dickson Eli Goldfeiz, CHP, Ph.D.Tony Huffert, CHP Doris LewisRobert Meck, Ph. D Mohammad Saba Casper Sun, CHP, Ph. D Katie Wagner

Senior Level Advisor: Vince Holahan, Ph. D.Branch Chief: Stephanie Bush-Goddard, Ph. D

Regulatory Information Conference March 10, 2009

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Health Effects Branch Mission

• Assess health effects, develop products, and provide technical expertise in support of agency decision making– Technical bases for regulations – Computer codes, databases and guidance

for regulatory implementation

• Monitoring national and international radiation protection activities

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Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS)

• Purpose: collect and analyze annual occupational Purpose: collect and analyze annual occupational dose information required by 10 CFR 20.2206dose information required by 10 CFR 20.2206

• Primary objectivesPrimary objectives– Provides former and current employees complete Provides former and current employees complete

records of occupational exposures received at NRC-records of occupational exposures received at NRC-licensed facilitieslicensed facilities

– Evaluates effectiveness of licensees’ ALARA programsEvaluates effectiveness of licensees’ ALARA programs– determines effects of transient workers determines effects of transient workers

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VARSKIN 4

• Purpose: computer code for estimating skin dose

• Primary objectivesPrimary objectives– Calculates beta dose with certain geometriesCalculates beta dose with certain geometries– Replace photon modelReplace photon model– Quality controlQuality control

• StatusStatus– Photon dosimetry model is being refinedPhoton dosimetry model is being refined– Software infrastructure is changing to update GUI Software infrastructure is changing to update GUI

interfaceinterface

• Website: Website: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/research/comp-http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/research/comp-codes.html#healthcodes.html#health

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Radiation Protection Dosimetry Research

• Purpose: provide technical support to NRC programs Purpose: provide technical support to NRC programs involving radiation protection dosimetryinvolving radiation protection dosimetry

• Primary objectivesPrimary objectives– Develop Develop methods for implementing new and

existing regulatory requirements – Provide in-depth technical expertise on a wideProvide in-depth technical expertise on a wide range of internal and external dosimetry topicsrange of internal and external dosimetry topics– Respond to technical needs of the agency Respond to technical needs of the agency for radiation dosimetry in a timely manner for radiation dosimetry in a timely manner

• Status Status – Ongoing technical support on internalOngoing technical support on internal

dosimetry software, iodine biokinetics, effluents,dosimetry software, iodine biokinetics, effluents, emergency preparedness, etcemergency preparedness, etc

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PIMAL PIMAL PPhantom whantom wIIth th MMoving oving AArms and rms and LLegsegs

Traditional mathematical phantom

Arms and legs separated and divided into parts to add moving abilities

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Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Assessment of Materials and

Equipment (MARSAME)

• Purpose: provide Federal guidance on Purpose: provide Federal guidance on acceptable methods for surveying materials acceptable methods for surveying materials and equipment for dispositionand equipment for disposition

• Primary objectives: Primary objectives: – Establish consensus among DoD, DOE, Establish consensus among DoD, DOE,

EPA and NRC on acceptable methods for EPA and NRC on acceptable methods for surveying materials and equipment for surveying materials and equipment for dispositiondisposition

- Publish standardized guidance for Publish standardized guidance for investigation of radioactively investigation of radioactively contaminated sites, material and contaminated sites, material and

equipmentequipment

• Status Status – Published in January 2009Published in January 2009– Developing training for usersDeveloping training for users

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National Support

• National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements

• Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards

• National Academies

• Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards

International Support

• United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

• International Commission on Radiological Protection

• International Atomic Energy Agency

• Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - Nuclear Energy Agency

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Plans for Future Work

• Continue to serve as technical resource for health Continue to serve as technical resource for health effects and radiation protection activitieseffects and radiation protection activities

• Develop additional tools for NRC staff and licensee Develop additional tools for NRC staff and licensee useuse

• Expand knowledge management initiativesExpand knowledge management initiatives

• Your thoughts?Your thoughts?