The Dosimetric Demise of 97MNB.

Radionuclide differences between ICRP Publication 38 and its succeeding work, ICPR Publication 107, are reviewed. The specific example of the isomer Nb is discussed, examining how dose reporting for this nuclide can be an issue.

Location Modification Factors for Potential Dose Estimation.

A U.S. Department of Energy facility must comply with the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for radioactive air emissions. The standard is an effective dose of less than 0.1 mSv y to the maximum public receptor. Additionally, a lower dose level may be assigned to a specific emission point in a State issued permit. A method to efficiently estimate the expected dose for future emissions is described. This method is most appropriately applied to a research facility with several emission points with generally low emission levels of numerous isotopes.

Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station.

It is generally considered necessary to measure concentrations of contaminants-of-concern at a background location when conducting atmospheric environmental surveillance. This is because it is recognized that measurements of background concentrations can enhance interpretation of environmental monitoring data. Despite the recognized need for background measurements, there is little published guidance available that describes how to identify an appropriate atmospheric background monitoring location. This paper develops generic criteria that can guide the decision making process for identifying suitable locations for background atmospheric monitoring station. Detailed methods for evaluating some of these criteria are also provided and a case study for establishment of an atmospheric background surveillance station as part of an environmental surveillance program is described. While the case study focuses on monitoring for radionuclides, the approach is equally valid for any airborne constituent being monitored. The case study shows that implementation of the developed criteria can result in a good, defensible choice for a background atmospheric monitoring location.

The Livermore phantom history and supplementation.

In vivo monitoring facilities determine the absence or presence of internally entrained radionuclides. To be of greatest utility, the detection systems must detect and quantify the nuclides of interest at levels of interest. Phantoms have been developed to improve measurements at in vivo monitoring facilities. Since the 1970's, the torso phantom originally developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL, or simply "Livermore") continues to be a well-used tool at lung monitoring facilities, especially for the detection of low-energy photons from transuranics. The history of its development from need through design development and current availability is summarized. The authors have taken the LLNL phantom one step further by scanning the phantom surface and announce the availability of the scan files on the Internet.