IEER notes "Reference Man" used for radiation exposure standards is "scientifically inappropriate" and urges substantial revision
In the 1950''s, radiation exposure standards were built around a "Reference Man" who was 20- to 30-years old, Caucasian, male, 5''7" in height, and weighing 154 lbs. The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) has noted that this Reference Man is scientifically inappropriate, and results in radiation standards that fail to protect segments of the population other than young, white males. Risks not only vary considerably among different segments of the population (e.g., infants, children, pregnant women, lactating mothers), but also these different segments often have a higher risk of cancer per unit dose than young, white males.
For example, IEER notes that, compared to men, women are 52% more likely to get cancer from a given radiation dose. A female infant has about a seven times greater chance of getting cancer than a 30-yr. old white male for a given radiation dose. As a result, IEER recommends reducing the maximum allowable fetal exposure in "radiation-related workplaces" from 500 millirems to 100 millirems, which is the maximum annual dose for the general population. It also noted that the German workplace provides better protection for pregnant and breastfeeding women, safety specifications that do not exist in the U.S.
Asked for comment, according to the media, EPA stated that they have not used the Reference Man since 1990, and that their model reflects organ, gender, and age-specific differences. EPA noted that they are in discussions with the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding an update of the guidance on radiation exposure. These comments about the Reference Man are part of a book by IEER President Makhijani and others entitled Science for the Vulnerable: Setting Radiation and Multiple Exposure Environmental Health Standards to Protect Those Most at Risk. For more information, see http://www.ieer.org/campaign/pressrel090107.pdf and http://www.ieer.org/reports/referenceman.pdf.