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This page offers free United States federal guidance documents and publications about radioactive materials.
What is Federal guidance?
Federal guidance is a set of guidelines developed by EPA, for use by Federal and State agencies responsible for protecting the public from the harmful effects of radiation. Federal guidance helps protect both the general public and the people who work with and around radiation every day. There are two kinds of Federal guidance publications:
 | Guidance Documents that provide principles and policies for radiation protection. |
| Technical Reports that provide current scientific and technical information for radiation dose and risk assessment. |
Who develops Federal guidance?
| The authority to develop Federal guidance was given to the Federal Radiation Council (FRC) by Executive Order in 1959. |
| Over the next decade the FRC developed Federal guidance ranging from guidance for exposure of the general public to estimates of fallout from nuclear weapons testing. |
| Federal guidance developed by the FRC provided the basis for most regulation of radiation exposure by Federal and State agencies, prior to the establishment of the EPA. |
| In 1970, the responsibility for developing Federal guidance for radiation protection was transferred from the FRC to the newly formed EPA under Executive Order 10831 and Reorganization Plan No. 3. [back to top] |
Who uses Federal guidance?
Federal guidance is developed for use by Federal and State agencies in the development of radiation rules and regulations that affect public health.
How does EPA develop Federal guidance?
To develop these documents and reports EPA:
| Consults and/or coordinates with other Federal and State agencies and national and international experts. |
| Evaluates information provided by radiation protection organizations such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. |
| Conducts independent studies of issues, often in consultation with a nationally recognized scientific organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences. [back to top] |
What is the difference between the guidance documents and the technical reports?
| Federal Guidance Documents are signed by the President and issued by EPA. By signing these, the President provides a framework for Federal and State agencies to develop regulations that ensure the public is protected from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Federal Guidance is also an opportunity for the President to promote national consistency in radiation protection regulations. |
| Federal Guidance Technical Reports are issued by EPA. The technical reports ensure that agencies and the public are up-to-date on scientific and technical advances in radiation protection. [back to top] |
Must Federal and State agencies follow the Federal guidance?
Since these are guidance documents not regulations, they are not legally enforceable. Federal and State agencies have the authority to determine the details of their own regulations. You should treat the Federal guidance recommendations and technical reports as basic guidelines.
Federal
Guidance Report 13: Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to
Radionuclides (PDF) (335pp, 3.06Mb
[about
pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-99-001 September
1999]
Includes radionuclide-specific lifetime radiogenic cancer risk
coefficients for the U.S. population, based on age-dependent intake, dosimetry,
and risk models.
Update
to the Federal Guidance Report No. 13
CD Supplement (April 2002)
Uncertainties in Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to
Radionuclides (PDF)(148pp, 1.35Mb
[about
pdf format]) [ORNL/TM-2006/583 January 2007]
This report is from a joint study by EPA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory
on uncertainties of the federal guidance report risk coefficients for both
ingestion and inhalation of radionuclides.
Estimating Radiogenic Cancer Risks (PDF) (68pp,
271.29Kb [about
pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-93-076 June 1994]
This document presents a revised methodology for EPA's estimation of cancer
risks due to low-LET radiation exposures developed in light of information that
has become available since the publication of BEIR III, especially new
information on the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. NOTE: We have included minor
updates to this methodology in Federal Guidance Report 13.
Addendum:
Uncertainty Analysis (PDF) (47pp, 226.77Kb
[about
pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-99-003]
The
analysis describes a method for estimating the uncertainties in EPA's risk
projections for cancer risk from low-LET radiation exposures.
Federal
Guidance Report 12: External Exposure to Radionuclides In Air, Water, and Soil
(PDF) (238pp, 1.61Mb
[about
pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-93-081 September
1993]
Includes exposure-to-dose coefficients for general application, based
on the 1987 Federal Radiation Protection Guidance.
Federal
Guidance Report 11: Limiting Values of Radionuclide Intake and Air Concentration
and Dose Conversion Factors for Inhalation, Submersion, and Ingestion (PDF)
(224pp, 15.20Mb
[about
pdf format]) [EPA 520/1-88-020 September
1988]
Includes derived guides for control of occupational exposure and
exposure-to-dose conversion factors for general application, based on the 1987
Federal Radiation Protection Guidance.
Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables (HEAST) Radionuclides Table
These tables contain radionuclide slope factors for estimating cancer risks at
sites managed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act. EPA has developed these cancer slope factors for ingestion,
inhalation and external exposure to radionuclides in units of picocuries (pCi).
| Ingestion and inhalation slope factors are central estimates in a linear model of the age-averaged, lifetime attributable radiation cancer incidence (fatal and nonfatal cancer) per unit of activity inhaled or ingested, expressed as risk/pCi. |
| External exposure slope factors are central estimates of lifetime attributable radiation cancer incidence for each year of exposure to external radiation from photon-emitting radionuclides distributed uniformly in a thick layer of soil, and are expressed as risk/year per pCi/gram soil. When combined with site-specific media concentration data and appropriate exposure assumptions, slope factors can be used to estimate lifetime cancer risks to members of the general population due to radionuclide exposures. |
EPA updates its assessment of health risks from indoor radon, which the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has determined to be the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.
EPA
Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (PDF)
(99pp, 1.28Mb [about
pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-03-003]
This risk
assessment is based primarily on results from a recent study of radon health
effects (BEIR VI) by the NAS, with some technical adjustments and extensions.
In support of EPA’s Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, the Agency sponsored a study designed to aid in the extrapolation of risk estimates based on data from underground miner cohorts to the case of residential exposures.
Comparative Dosimetry of BEIR VI Revisited
,
Radiation Protection Dosimetry 108:3-26; 2004) [A.C. James, A. Birchall and G.
Akabani]
estimates the radiation doses delivered to target cells in the lung
from radon progeny under indoor and mine exposure conditions.
Draft Blue Book - EPA Radiogenic Cancer Risk Models and Projections for the U.S. Population(116pp, 513Kb [about pdf format])The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences released a report on the health risks from exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation in 2006. Cosponsored by the EPA and several other federal agencies, Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation BEIR VII Phase 2 (BEIR VII) primarily addresses cancer and genetic risks from low doses of low-LET radiation (high energy photons and electrons).
The draft Blue Book is a proposed revision to EPA's methodology for estimating radiogenic cancers, based on the contents of the National Research Council's BEIR VII report and some ancillary information. It takes into account the Science Advisory Board's advisory review comments on the white paper below.
Draft
White Paper: Modifying EPA Radiation Risk Models Based on BEIR VII
(PDF) (36pp, 381Kb
[about
pdf format])
In this paper, we outline
proposed changes in EPA’s methodology for estimating radiogenic cancers, based
on the contents of BEIR VII and some ancillary information.
Documenting Ground-Water Modeling at Sites Contaminated with Radioactive
Substances (PDF)(168pp, 1.48Mb
[about
pdf format]) [EPA/540-R-96-003]
This
report demonstrates a thorough approach to documenting model applications in
a consistent manner and is intended to assist technical staff responsible
for identifying and implementing flow and transport models in support of
cleanup decisions at radioactive and hazardous waste sites.
A Technical Guide to Ground-Water Model Selection at Sites Contaminated
with Radioactive Substances (PDF) (146pp,
1.46 Mb [about
pdf format])[ EPA/402-R-94-012]
This
report specifically addresses the selection of ground-water flow and
contaminant transport models and is intended to be used by hydrogeologists
and geoscientists responsible for identifying and selecting ground-water
flow and contaminant transport models for use at sites containing
radioactive materials.
| By fax: | 1-513-489-8695 |
| By phone: | 1-800-490-9198 |
| Radiation Protection Guidance to Federal Agencies for Occupational Exposure, Environmental Protection Agency 52 FR 2822 January 27, 1987. This guidance provides general principles, and specifies the numerical primary guides for limiting worker exposure. It applies to all workers who are exposed to radiation in the course of their work, either as employees of institutions and companies subject to Federal regulation or as Federal employees. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Radiation Protection Guidance to Federal Agencies for Diagnostic X-rays, Environmental Protection Agency 43 FR 4377 February 1, 1978. This guidance provides recommendations to reduce radiation exposure from the use of diagnostic x-rays. These recommendations, transmitted to the President jointly by EPA and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), were based on two guiding principles: avoidance of unnecessary prescription of x-rays, and use of good technique to minimize radiation exposure. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Underground Mining of Uranium Ore, Federal Radiation Council 34 FR 576 January 15, 1969 35 FR 245 December 18, 1970 This guidance sets forth recommendations for radiation protection activities as they apply to the underground mining of uranium ore. EPA subsequently reviewed these recommendations and concluded that no modification was necessary. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Radiation Protection Guidance for Federal Agencies, Federal Radiation Council 25 FR 9057 September 26, 1961 This guidance presents recommendations for population groups exposed to environmental sources of radiation. It provides Radiation Protection Guides; guidance on general principles of control applicable to all environmental radionuclides; and specific guidance in connection with exposure of population groups to radium-226, iodine-131, strontium-90, and strontium-89. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Radiation Protection Guidance for Federal Agencies, Federal Radiation Council 25 FR 4402 May 18, 1960 This guidance provides a general framework for radiation protection and general principles of radiation control based on the annual intake of radioactive materials. These recommendations provide the basis for the control and regulation of radiation exposure during normal peacetime operations. Numerical values for the Radiation Protection Guides, designed to limit the exposure of the whole body and certain organs, are provided.
Federal Guidance Technical Reports(Note: The most current report is listed first)
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This page was updated on 23-Jan-2011
