Problems of Pollution: Benefits, Risks and Regulations

The growing concern of the scientific community and informed segments of the public about the proliferation of untested nuclear power plants demands further evaluation of their environmental impact before irrevocable decisions are mode. This paper considers the problem of low-level radioactive wastes controllable at the source. A brief background is given of the governmental agencies concerned with radiation monitoring and protection. The underlying philosophy behind radiation protection and the guidelines for putting this philosophy into practice are considered. The risk implicit in these guidelines is assessed in terms of the expected increased incidence of specific injuries to human populations