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September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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.
H. Y. Khater, L. J. Wittenberg
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1584-1588
Fusion Power Plants and Economics | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963177
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
LIBRA-SP is a 1000 MWe light ion beam power reactor design study. The reactor structure is made of a low activation ferritic steel and uses LiPb as a breeder. The total activities in the blanket and reflector at shutdown are 721 MCi and 924 MCi, respectively. Hands-on maintenance is impossible anywhere inside the reactor chamber. The biological dose rates near the diode are too high at all times following shutdown allowing only for remote maintenance. The blanket and reflector could qualify for disposal as Class C low level waste. The dose to the maximally exposed individual in the vicinity of the reactor site due to the routine release of tritium is about 2.39 mrem/yr. Ten hours after a loss of coolant accident, the reflector produces a whole body (WB) early dose at the site boundary of 253 mrem. The blanket would produce a WB early dose of 8.91 rem. The potential off-site dose produced by the mobilization of LiPb during an accident is 142 mrem. A 100% release of the vulnerable tritium inventory present in the containment at any moment results in a WB early dose of 459 mrem. Release of the vulnerable tritium inventories present in the target factory and fuel reprocessing facility during an accident would result in WB early doses of 1.3 and 0.95 rem, respectively.