ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Clay E. Easterly
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 5 | Number 2 | March 1984 | Pages 233-239
Technical Paper | Safety/Environmental Aspects | doi.org/10.13182/FST84-A23096
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several different categories of hazards will be associated with normal operation of a future fusion power station. These hazards include radiation, chemicals, radio-frequency electric fields, magnetic fields, mechanical failures, electrical shock, and other more traditional sources of on-the-job accidents. When compared with potential radiological hazards, it is apparent that nonradiological hazards associated with fusion power stations are poorly characterized, For many hazards, specific exposure conditions are unknown as a consequence of the technology's infancy. On the other hand, general exposure/effect information is not available for some potentially hazardous agents that are projected to be used in future fusion power stations.