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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.
S. Agosteo, A. Fazzi, G. D'Angelo, M. V. Introini, A. Pola, C. Pirovano, V. Varoli
Nuclear Technology | Volume 168 | Number 1 | October 2009 | Pages 185-190
Dosimetry | Special Issue on the 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and the 15th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (Part 1) / Radiation Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9123
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An array of micrometric diodes coupled to a residual energy measurement stage was proposed for solid-state microdosimetry. Each diode has a sensitive volume of a cylindrical shape (9 m in nominal diameter) in order to reproduce that simulated by a cylindrical tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC). The silicon microdosimeter was irradiated coupled to a polyethylene converter with monoenergetic neutrons of several energies. The spectra of the energy imparted to the segmented telescope were corrected for tissue equivalence through an optimized procedure that exploits the information from the residual energy stage. A geometrical correction was also applied. The dose-mean lineal energy values were qualitatively compared with literature data. The silicon microdosimeter was also covered with a tissue-equivalent plastic (A150) and with a nylon converter. The results showed a contribution of heavy recoils (mainly carbon and nitrogen nuclei) generated in the tissue-equivalent plastic lower than that measured by the TEPC, owing to their stopping in the titanium-based dead layer of the silicon device.