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Publications
Risk Assessment
This page offers risk assessment publications, developed by the Radiation Protection Program. You can downloaded them to your computer or view them on-line.
On this page:
- Federal Guidance Reports
- Heast Radionuclides Table -- Radionuclides Slope Factors
- EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
- Comparative Dosimetry of BEIR VI Revisited
- Blue Book - EPA Risk Models Based on BEIR VIII
- Perspective on LNT
- Ground-Water Modeling
- Radiation Risk Assessment, Workshop Proceedings
- Bibliography
Federal Guidance Reports and Related Documents
- Federal Guidance Report 13: Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides (PDF) (335 pp, 3.1MB About PDF) [EPA 402-R-99-001
September 1999]
Includes radionuclide-specific lifetime radiogenic cancer risk coefficients for the U.S. population, based on age-dependent intake, dosimetry, and risk models. - Uncertainties in Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides (PDF)(148 pp, 1.4MB About PDF) [ORNL/TM-2006/583 January 2007]
This report is from a joint study by EPA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory on uncertainties of the federal guidance report risk coefficients for both ingestion and inhalation of radionuclides. - Estimating Radiogenic Cancer Risks (PDF) (68 pp, 271K About PDF) [EPA 402-R-93-076 June 1994]
This document presents a revised methodology for EPA's estimation of cancer risks due to low-LET radiation exposures developed in light of information that has become available since the publication of BEIR III, especially new information on the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. NOTE: We have included minor updates to this methodology in Federal Guidance Report 13.- Addendum: Uncertainty Analysis (PDF) (47 pp, 227K About PDF) [EPA 402-R-99-003]
The analysis describes a method for estimating the uncertainties in EPA's risk projections for cancer risk from low-LET radiation exposures.
- Addendum: Uncertainty Analysis (PDF) (47 pp, 227K About PDF) [EPA 402-R-99-003]
- Federal Guidance Report 12: External Exposure to Radionuclides In Air, Water, and Soil (PDF) (238 pp, 1.61MB About PDF) [EPA 402-R-93-081 September 1993]
Includes exposure-to-dose coefficients for general application, based on the 1987 Federal Radiation Protection Guidance. - Federal Guidance Report 11: Limiting Values of Radionuclide Intake and
Air Concentration and Dose Conversion Factors for Inhalation, Submersion, and Ingestion (PDF) (224 pp, 15.2MB About PDF) [EPA 520/1-88-020 September 1988]
Includes derived guides for control of occupational exposure and exposure-to-dose conversion factors for general application, based on the 1987 Federal Radiation Protection Guidance.
(HEAST) Radionuclides Table -- Radionuclide Slope Factors
Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables (HEAST) Radionuclides Table
These tables contain radionuclide slope factors for estimating cancer risks at sites managed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. EPA has developed these cancer slope factors for ingestion, inhalation and external
exposure to radionuclides in units of picocuries (pCi).
Ingestion and inhalation slope factors are central estimates in a linear model of the age-averaged, lifetime attributable radiation cancer incidence (fatal and nonfatal cancer) per unit of activity inhaled or ingested, expressed as risk/pCi.
External exposure slope factors are central estimates of lifetime attributable radiation cancer incidence for each year of exposure to external radiation from photon-emitting radionuclides distributed uniformly in a thick layer of soil, and are expressed as risk/year per pCi/gram soil. When combined with site-specific media concentration data and appropriate exposure assumptions, slope factors can be used to estimate lifetime cancer risks to members of the general population due to radionuclide exposures.
EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
EPA updates its assessment of health risks from indoor radon, which the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has determined to be the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.
EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes(PDF) (99 pp, 1.3MB About PDF) [EPA 402-R-03-003]
This risk assessment is based primarily on results from a recent study of radon health effects (BEIR VI) by the NAS, with some technical adjustments and extensions.
Comparative Dosimetry of BEIR VI Revisited
In support of EPA’s Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, the Agency sponsored a study designed to aid in the extrapolation of risk estimates based on data from underground miner cohorts to the case of residential exposures.
Comparative Dosimetry of BEIR VI Revisited 
, Radiation Protection Dosimetry 108:3-26; 2004) [A.C. James, A. Birchall and G. Akabani]
estimates the radiation doses delivered to target cells in the lung from radon progeny under indoor and mine exposure conditions.
Blue Book - EPA Risk Models Based on BEIR VII
Blue Book – EPA Radiogenic Cancer Risk Models and Projections for the US Population, April 2011 (174pp, 1.4MB About PDF)The EPA Radiogenic Cancer Risk Models and Projections for the U.S. Population, also known as the Blue Book, is a revision to EPA's methodology for estimating cancer risks from radiation exposure. These updates are based on the National Research Council's latest report on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) as well as other updated science.The Blue Book uses the best science available to calculate separate cancer risk estimates by age at exposure, what age a person might get cancer, sex, and potentially affected organ. More specifically, the Blue Book presents new EPA cancer incidence and mortality risk coefficients for the U.S. population from exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. The document also presents the scientific basis for the estimates.
The Blue Book is an important intermediate step towards updating Federal Guidance Report No. 13 - Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides (FGR-13), which allows for straightforward calculations of risks from ingestion and inhalation of radioactive substances.
Historical Documents
- Draft Blue Book - EPA Radiogenic Cancer Risk Models and Projections for the U.S. Population(116 pp, 513Kb About PDF)The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences released a report on the health risks from exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation in 2006. Cosponsored by the EPA and several other federal agencies, Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation BEIR VII Phase 2 (BEIR VII) primarily addresses cancer and genetic risks from low doses of low-LET radiation (high energy photons and electrons).
The draft Blue Book is a proposed revision of EPA's methodology for estimating radiogenic cancers, based on the contents of the National Research Council's BEIR VII report and some ancillary information. It takes into account the Science Advisory Board's advisory review comments on the white paper below. - Draft White Paper: Modifying EPA Radiation Risk Models Based on BEIR VII (PDF) (36 pp, 381K About PDF)
In this paper, we outline proposed changes in EPA’s methodology for estimating radiogenic cancers, based on the contents of BEIR VII and some ancillary information.
Perspective on LNT
- Perspective on the use of the LNT for Radiation Protection and Risk Assessment by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (8 pp, 78Kb About PDF)
This paper discusses EPA’s views on the controversy surrounding the use of the linear, no-threshold (LNT) model in radiation risk assessment, guidelines, and regulations.
Ground-Water Modeling
- Documenting Ground-Water Modeling at Sites Contaminated with Radioactive Substances (PDF)(168 pp, 1.5MB About PDF) [EPA/540-R-96-003]
This report demonstrates a thorough approach to documenting model applications in a consistent manner and is intended to assist technical staff responsible for identifying and implementing flow and transport models in support of cleanup decisions at radioactive and hazardous waste sites. - A Technical Guide to Ground-Water Model Selection at Sites Contaminated
with Radioactive Substances (PDF) (146 pp, 1.5 MB About PDF [EPA/402-R-94-012]
This report specifically addresses the selection of ground-water flow and contaminant transport models and is intended to be used by hydrogeologists and geoscientists responsible for identifying and selecting ground-water flow and contaminant transport models for use at sites containing radioactive materials.
