Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 57

Question 57: The definition of a very high radiation area (10 CFR 20.1003) and the requirement for control of access to very high radiation areas specify an absorbed dose of 500 rads in an hour. Is this a deep dose, a shallow dose, or an eye dose?

Answer: The 500-rad dose is intended to be a deep dose, evaluated at a tissue depth of 1 cm (1000 mg/square cm).

(References: 10 CFR 20.1003, 10 CFR 20.1602)

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, December 12, 2017