Radiation Dose Reconstruction for Epidemiologic Uses (1995) / Chapter Skim
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2 Introduction
2 Introduction
Pages 7-15
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From page 7... ...
The methods used to estimate risk from a hypothetical release and to estimate the resulting rate and pathway of off-site transport of contaminants can be quite different from those used for retrospective assessments. Although terms such as "low" and "high" are used often to describe exposures or doses, they are subjective, and when they are applied to doses or dose rates they offer little quantitative guidance.
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From page 8... ...
Representative doses are doses to people who have received an average dose in a particular region and not doses to specific individuals who lived near a site. Generally, they can be derived from historic records or from data from the scientific literature that describe diet, lifestyle, and history for people in typical age categories in the area.
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From page 9... ...
· Assessment of radiation doses and risks brings together all of the data on releases, transport, lifestyle and dietary habits, analysis of agricultural and food-distribution practices, and biologic factors, including the use of biologic dosimetry, to determine doses or to corroborate evidence of doses and to estimate the likelihood of disease in the exposed persons. · Examination of epidemiologic considerations takes into account the size and demographic structure of the potentially affected population, the availability and quality of information needed to estimate the dose, the medical information needed, and the feasibility of conducting an investigation that is sufficiently informative and free of bias.
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From page 10... ...
Scoping estimates are difficult to make, however, unless there is an established set of starting and stopping rules. The stopping rules could be based on exposure levels associated with epidemiologic feasibility, exposure levels that are commensurate with health risk, or exposure levels that are clearly a negligibly small fraction of the estimated total exposure.
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From page 11... ...
The call for a study often begins with public input or an expression of strong public concern about observed or suspected health effects experienced by the population near a site. Any data and evidence that supports public concerns are evaluated, and the accessible data are identified.
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From page 12... ...
Preliminary Estimate| 1 , . _ I Severity Rating 1 | Severty Rating | _ , Indication of Non-Radioactive Pollution Problems Input Ranking for Other Sites Feasiblity Assessments , ~ Site Rating Comparative Ranking FIGURE 2-1 Proposed structure of a dose reconstruction scoping study.
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From page 13... ...
Researchers must make regular progress reports and seek advice on public concerns, making certain that the ideas of the public are considered seriously. Although the public must be involved in oversight and decision-making, the scientific aspects of the study should remain the responsibility of the scientists.
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From page 14... ...
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Dose reconstruction studies must rely on solid science, state-of-theart methods, and careful peer review if they are to be viewed as credible. Ultimately, a dose reconstruction study will be judged by the scientific community primarily on the basis of the technical quality of the study and its contribution to science.
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From page 15... ...
3. Dose reconstruction studies should begin with a scoping studya preliminary analysis to determine whether a comprehensive dose reconstruction study is needed or even possible, either for its own purposes or as the basis for a comprehensive epidemiologic study.
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