Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 438

Question 438: In general, the nuclear power industry has concluded that workers are not likely to exceed 10% of the annual limit on intake, and therefore internal dose monitoring would not be required. However, some nuclear power plant licensees plan to continue internal dose monitoring and record and report monitoring results on a voluntary basis.

(a) If the results of both voluntary monitoring of the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) and required monitoring of the deep dose equivalent (DDE) are reported on an individual's NRC Form 5, with appropriate comments indicating that the CEDE monitoring results are not required (i.e., are voluntary), are the CEDE and the DDE required to be summed as the total effective dose equivalent on the NRC Form 5?

(b) If so, is the remaining available TEDE for the current year in which the results were obtained determined as 5 rems minus the year-to-date DDE plus CEDE, or as 5 rems minus the year-to-date DDE only? (Note: the question assumes that the doses described are the only doses received by the individual in the current year.)

Answer:

(a) No. If monitoring for DDE is required and monitoring for CEDE is not required, there is no requirement to sum the DDE and CEDE.

(b) No answer to this question is needed because the answer to (a) is "no". (Note: This question and answer apply to all licensees, not just nuclear power plants.)

(Reference: 10 CFR 20.1202)