No. 5 - December 2, 1996

RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAM POLICY
APPLYING to PREGNANT RADIATION WORKERS

The purpose of this Note is to draw special attention to the University's policy on occupational radiation dose limitations for female radiation workers who become pregnant while working at the University of Utah. All RU's and radiation workers should be aware of this information.

Current occupational radiation control rules impose a special dose limit specifically for the unborn child (embryo/fetus) of any radiation worker who formally declares her pregnancy. This dose limit is 500 millirem during the entire pregnancy. It is also recommended, as a further precaution, that the dose to an embryo/fetus be further limited to no more than 50 millirem per month. Normally the dose limit for a non-pregnant radiation worker is 5000 mrem per year.

The reason for having a lower dose limit for the embryo/fetus (essentially 10 times lower) is the recognition that a developing embryo/fetus is more sensitive to radiation effects than is an adult. The dose to the embryo/fetus is calculated as the sum of the deep dose equivalent from external penetrating radiation (gamma or X-radiation) plus any internal dose to the embryo/fetus from radionuclides that may have been taken in by the declared pregnant woman.

For the legal protection of the individual and the University, the lower dose limit can be applied only if the pregnant worker formally declares her pregnancy by notifying her supervisor and the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in writing. The lower dose limit for the embryo/fetus will not apply to doses received during any time period of pregnancy prior to formal notification, and it will not apply at all to a worker who does not formally declare her pregnancy.

A pregnant radiation worker is not required to declare her pregnancy. It is up to her to decide that matter. However, if she chooses not to declare her pregnancy, additional protective measures might be overlooked which might otherwise be applied for minimizing occupational dose to the embryo/fetus. The University of Utah Radiation Protection Program Manual contains a detailed discussion of this issue, including advice on limiting occupational radiation doses.

A pregnant radiation worker can declare her pregnancy by contacting her supervisor and the Radiological Health Department (located at 100 OSH). A worker who is pregnant, or is planning a pregnancy, should contact the RSO to discuss this policy and the issue of declaring pregnancy. The RSO will also review with the worker any additional radiation control measures or special dosimetry which might be employed should she elect to declare her pregnancy.

J. J. Thompson

12/2/96