Dose Coefficients

(Question Posted to ERAD in May 2012)

Will DOE develop its own dose coefficients separate from, but based on ICRP 72 and other listed references?

This question was answered during the ERAD call by Carlos Corredor. Yes, DOE has developed its own dose coefficients and was published in 2011 as DOE-STD-1196-2011, Derived Concentration Technical Standard.

Prior to this Technical Standard, derived concentration standards (DCS) were last published by DOE in 1993 in Chapter III of DOE Order 5400.5, Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment. Since that publication, the radiation protection framework on which DCSs are based has evolved with more sophisticated biokinetic and dosimetric information provided by the ICRP, thus enabling consideration of age and gender. The purpose of DOE-STD-1196-2011 is to establish DCS values and dose coefficients consistent with Federal Guidance, tailored to the U.S. population, and reflecting the current state of knowledge and practice in radiation protection. Within this standard, dose coefficients for the "Reference Person" (ICRP 103) for specific radioisotopes were developed which are gender- and age-weighted values. The dose coefficients were developed using the latest data from ICRP 89 which includes revised gender-specific physiological parameters for the different age and gender groups, and ICRP 107, that provides the latest information on the energies and intensities of radiations emitted by radionuclides. The DCSs were created using the "Reference Person" dose coefficients presented in Appendix A of the Standard. In addition to the dose coefficients provided for "Reference Person," dose coefficients for different age groups are provided for informational purposes. It is recommended that for dose determination to the general public, that the "Reference Person" dose coefficients be used and not the dose coefficients for any of the different age groups.

Note that the dose coefficients for used in developing the DCSs are based on a 1 micrometer activity mean aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) and should not be used for occupational radiation protection. Unless there is documented information to suggest otherwise, dose coefficients for occupational protection should be based on a 5 micrometer AMAD and exposure to an adult.