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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 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.
M. Lee Hyder
Nuclear Technology | Volume 94 | Number 1 | April 1991 | Pages 80-86
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A16223
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The removal of gaseous iodine from air by water sprays is measured, using both ordinary water and a solution buffered to a pH near 9.5 with a carbonate mixture. The results are compared to the theoretical predictions of the 12WASH computer code. In all experiments, using both large and small spray droplets, the solution at the higher pH is approximately three times as effective at absorbing iodine from the air. This agrees with the predictions of the computer model for the smaller droplets studied. The computer code predicts no pH effect for large drops, probably because it assumes a well-mixed drop, and mixing during the fall time is too slow.