Dosimetry
Pregnant Worker Policy & Form
Plan Pertaining to Work with Radioactive Material by Pregnant Women
As part of a revision of regulations in January, 1994, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a rule limiting fetal radiation dose received as a result of a pregnant worker's occupational exposure to 500 mrem in the gestation period1. For this limit to apply, the regulation requires the woman to declare pregnancy in writing and give the estimated date of conception. If a woman chooses not to declare her pregnancy, the normal occupational dose limit of 5,000 mrem per year would be in effect with the provision to maintain occupational radiation exposure "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA)2.
A radiation worker who decides to declare a pregnancy would do so by submitting the attached form to the Radiation Protection Office and, at the woman's discretion, to her supervisor. As required by law3, the University maintainsthis declaration and any dose records to the embryo/fetus with those of the declared pregnant worker which are protected from public disclosure. This notification will initiate a process by which the RPO will assess potential doses, evaluate potential exposures from ionizing radiation, and review the individual's radiation exposure history. If this process identifies exposure potential to the embryo/fetus that is not in concert with the ALARA Plan, the individual will be contacted, (even if the Declaration Form did not request consultation with a Health Physicist). Recommendations on minimizing radiation exposure may be made on an individual basis after this review.
It has always been Harvard University's Policy to keep radiation doses to potentially exposed individuals ALARA. While the radiation dose limit for occupationally exposed individuals is 5,000 mrem per year, greater than ninety percent of all users of all radioactive material at Harvard have had an annual dose less than 100 mrem.
Anyone with questions relating to radiation protection measures for the embryo/fetus, the Radiation Protection Program or procedures on the declaration of a pregnancy is encouraged to contact the Radiation Protection Office (495-2060) or the local safety office for information.
1 - The Code of Federal Regulations, Standard for Protection Against Radiation 10 CFR 20.1208
2 - ibid 10 CFR 20.1003
3 - ibid 10 CFR 20.2106
Email radiation_protection at harvard dot edu to send comments and suggestions to the Radiation Protection Office
