The Atomic Bomb Lighting the Way for Radiation Protection Even though radiation has been around since the beginning of time there was little known about it. When x-rays were discovered in 1895, radiation research followed suit right after. With Germany under Hitler’s reign, the Nazis began separating uranium to form the first atomic bomb to control the world. The push for the United States to be the first with the atomic bomb began with this knowledge. With the help of several scientists the United States succeeded of building the atomic bomb first. Two atomic bombs were used a uranium bomb on Hiroshima and a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Along with the many deaths were six stages of A-bomb illness which includes acute stages, atomic bomb
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Japanese physicists were in the cities within a few days after the bombing collecting samples and making measurements (Cullings & Smith, 2010). Advances in exposure science obtained precise dose estimates which helped to understand the health effects of radiation and the probability of harmful effects at a given dose (Cullings & Smith, 2010). This knowledge led to regulations and guidance to protect workers, medical patients, and the general public (Cullings & Smith, 2010). In 1959, the Federal Radiation Council was established and was responsible for advising the President of the United States on radiological issues that affect public health, provides guidance to all federal agencies in setting radiation protection standards, and lastly working with the states on radiation issues (History of Radiation Protection, 2012). Then in 1970 Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be responsible for radiation protection, which protects the public’s health and the environment from radiation exposure (History of Radiation Protection, 2012). Examples of radiation protection is the radiation dosimeter badges workers wear to limit their exposure, new x-ray machines that lower patient dose, and homes are evaluated for radon gas (Cullings & Smith, 2010). IN 1949 the US, Canada, and Great Britain published the Tripartite report on radiation protection information (Inkret, Meinhold, & Taschner, 1995). Among the information that was gathered was absorbed dose (rad), dose-equivalent (rem), relative biological effectiveness (RBE) (Inket, Meinhold, & Taschner, 1995). The Triparatite report also included standards for internl and external radiation protection; including a plutonium body-burden limit of .03 microcuries, a bone marrow dose of 300 millirem per week, and 600 millirem per week
Japanese physicists were in the cities within a few days after the bombing collecting samples and making measurements (Cullings & Smith, 2010). Advances in exposure science obtained precise dose estimates which helped to understand the health effects of radiation and the probability of harmful effects at a given dose (Cullings & Smith, 2010). This knowledge led to regulations and guidance to protect workers, medical patients, and the general public (Cullings & Smith, 2010). In 1959, the Federal Radiation Council was established and was responsible for advising the President of the United States on radiological issues that affect public health, provides guidance to all federal agencies in setting radiation protection standards, and lastly working with the states on radiation issues (History of Radiation Protection, 2012). Then in 1970 Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be responsible for radiation protection, which protects the public’s health and the environment from radiation exposure (History of Radiation Protection, 2012). Examples of radiation protection is the radiation dosimeter badges workers wear to limit their exposure, new x-ray machines that lower patient dose, and homes are evaluated for radon gas (Cullings & Smith, 2010). IN 1949 the US, Canada, and Great Britain published the Tripartite report on radiation protection information (Inkret, Meinhold, & Taschner, 1995). Among the information that was gathered was absorbed dose (rad), dose-equivalent (rem), relative biological effectiveness (RBE) (Inket, Meinhold, & Taschner, 1995). The Triparatite report also included standards for internl and external radiation protection; including a plutonium body-burden limit of .03 microcuries, a bone marrow dose of 300 millirem per week, and 600 millirem per week