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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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!
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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.
J. M. Neill, J. C. Young, C. A. Preskitt, G. D. Trimble, R. C. Lloyd, C. L. Brown
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 46 | Number 2 | November 1971 | Pages 244-254
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE71-A22358
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Neutron spectrum measurements covering the range thermal to 3 keV have been made by time-of-flight in three solutions of plutonium nitrate. The concentrations and 240 Pu composition of these solutions were 197.9 g/liter at 23 wt%, 193.4 g/liter at 5 wt%, and 355.0 g/liter at 5 wt%, respectively. Flux traverses and time-dependent measurements were also made in each solution. The measured spectra have been compared to theoretical calculations using the Haywood-II scattering kernel for H bound in H2O and the ENDF/B Version I cross sections for 239Pu. A good comparison is obtained for the two lowest concentrations. The disagreements for the highest concentration are ascribed to room return effects.
