Page 261 - Handbook of Energy Engineering Calculations

be “factored into” every engineering cost estimate today. If the environmental
aspects are overlooked, the cost estimate will be completely unrealistic, and
the time schedule may be off by years.

NUCLEAR RADIATION EFFECTS ON HUMAN BEINGS

What is the total radiation dose in rems for a worker exposed to 0.3 rad of 1.0
MeV beta particles and 0.05 rad of 1.0 MeV neutrons every day? Is the total
dose dangerous to this worker? Use National Bureau of Standards data

(Tables 2 to 4) in the analysis.

Calculation Procedure:

1. Compute the total radiation dose
Use the relation, total dose, rem = Σ (dose, rad)(RBE), where rem = roentgen
equivalent per man; rad = radiation absorbed dose; RBE = relative biological

effectiveness. Table 2 lists the RBE values for various types of radiation. By
substituting the appropriate values from Table 2, total dose = (0.3)(1.0) +
0.05(10.5) = 0.825 rem.

TABLE 2 Conversion: Rad to Rem*†