Radiation Information for Technical Users and the Regulated Community
These pages give access to scientific information and regulatory guidance about radiation, radioactivity, and radiation protection.
On this page:
- Radiation Laboratories
- Environmental Data and Tools
- Reports and Publications
- Laws, Regulations, and Guidance
- Other Sources of Information
- Contacts
- Radiation Protection Programs at EPA
Radiation Laboratories
National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory
NAREL is a comprehensive environmental laboratory providing a variety of laboratory services:
- radioanalytical chemistry
- emergency response
- radiological survey
- environmental monitoring
NAREL monitors the national environment for particular radionuclides through the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System. The system is a national network of monitoring stations. NAREL is in Montgomery, Alabama.
Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory
RIENL is an EPA laboratory dedicated to minimizing exposure to radiation and indoor air pollution through environmental measurements, applied technologies, and education. The laboratory offers many laboratory services:
- radioanalysis of monitoring and other samples
- measurement and monitoring concentration, distribution, and transport of radioactive materials
- management
of indoor air quality
Environmental Data and Tools
Models and Software
Model
Software
descriptions and downloadable applications, users' manuals, and
updates for PRESTO, COMPLY, and CAP-88.
Risk
Assessment
this program develops radionuclide fate and transport models,
dose and risk models, and dose and risk coefficients.
[Environmental Data and Tools]
Tools
Cleanup:
Technology and Tools
offers manuals, technical guides, fact sheets about existing,
emerging, and innovative tools for cleaning up radioactively
contaminated sites
Federal
Guidance
general and technical guidance for federal agencies' use in developing
radiation protection regulations
Multi-Agency
Radiation Site Survey Investigation Manual
information on
planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting environmental
radiological surveys of surface soil and building surfaces for
demonstrating compliance with regulations. The MARSSIM is a multi-agency
consensus document.
Multi-Agency
Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols
a performance
based approach and will provide guidance and a framework to assure
that laboratory radioanalytical data meets the specific project
or program needs and requirements.
Public Review of MARSAME
directions for participating in the public review of MARSAME
Health
Effects Summary Tables (HEAST) Radionuclides Table
latest information and guidance on using radionuclide slope factors
from the HEAST Tables to calculate potential risks to the public.
Federal
Guidance Report 13, Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental
Exposure to Radionuclides (PDF) (335pp, 3Mb
[about pdf format]) [EPA 402/R-99-00]
a set of guidelines developed by EPA, for use by federal and
state agencies responsible for protecting the public from the
harmful effects of radiation. A CD supplement and Acute Dose
Calculator are available.
[Environmental Data and Tools]
Data
Environmental
Radiation Monitoring Reports
contain data from the RadNet monitoring
system.
Envirofacts
a national information system that provides an integrated single
point of access to data extracted from major EPA databases.
[Environmental Data and Tools]
Test Methods
EPA
Test Methods and Guidelines
specific test methods and procedures as well as an index for materials
not in electronic format.
[Environmental Data and Tools]
Reports and Publications
Radiation Protection Publications
Access to research publications and technical documents.
Laws, Regulations, and Guidance
Air Standards (NESHAPs)
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or NESHAPs are standards that limit emissions from specific sources of air pollutants that are known or suspected to cause serious health problems. These standards are developed by EPA under the Clean Air Act.
[Laws, Regulations, and Guidance]
Drinking Water Standards
Maximum
Contaminant Levels for Radionuclides
National Primary Drinking Water Standards
Safe
Drinking Water Act
guide to the law, regulations, and fact sheets
- Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations and Guidance
requirements and help meeting them
[Laws, Regulations, and Guidance]
Guidance
Radiation Risk Assessment Guidance (RAGS) Part A
provides guidance on the human health evaluation activities that are conducted during the baseline risk assessment--the first step of the RI/FS.
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part B
guidance on using EPA toxicity values and exposure information to derive risk-based preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) for a Superfund site.
Guidance
for Data Usability for Radionuclides (RAGS)Part B (PDF) (74pp,1.3Mb
[about pdf format]) [PB92-963362] May,1992
supplemental guidance to Part A (must be used with part A)on
planning and assessing radioanalytical data needs for
the baseline human health risk assessment in the remedial investigation (RI) process at sites
containing radioactive substances.
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part C
guidance on the human health risk evaluations of remedial alternatives that are conducted during the feasibility study, during selection and documentation of a remedy, and during and after remedy implementation.
Radiation
Technology Screening Guide (PDF) (203pp, 527Kb
[about pdf format]) [EPA 402-R-96-017] November 1996
designed to help identify and screen technologies that may effectively treat sites radioactively contaminated in solid and liquid media.
Waste and Cleanup
Risk Assessment
information about waste and cleanup risk assessment programs, glossary, localized information for all EPA Regions, and general-interest Risk Assessment information.
EPA Radiation
Guidance for CERCLA Risk Assessment
calculators and guidance
Radiation
Guidance for CERCLA Cleanup Levels and ARARs
training, assistance, and guidance on establishing cleanup levels
HRS
Training, Section 20: Radionuclides
benchmarks for radionuclides
Soil
Screening Guidance for Radionuclides
a framework for developing risk-based, soil screening levels (SSLs); focuses on a simple methodology for developing site-specific screening levels, but also includes detailed models and generic SSLs to be used where site conditions warrant.
For Manufacturers
Device
Advice
The FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health's self-service
site for medical device and radiation emitting product information.
[Laws, Regulations, and Guidance]
Other Sources of Information
Chemical
Registry System
information on chemicals, including radionuclides,by name, formula,
type, definition, specific governmental regulations, specific
literature references, or specific EPA offices
Contacts
Contact Us
Radiation Protection Program contact information including phone,
e-mail, and land mail
Regional
Rad Program Contacts
key contacts for radiation protection issues in EPA's regional
offices
Environmental
Justice Contacts
contact information, including phone, e-mail, land mail
Radiation Protection Programs at EPA
Radiation Protection Program
This site provides basic information about radiation science, and reference materials, as well as project/program-specific information and reports.
Brownfields
In addition to general information, the Brownfields site contains laws, regulations and guidance; information on funding and tax incentives; and reports and other information.
Superfund
The Superfund site is maintained by EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. It contains information about regulations as well as access to various databases.
Radionuclides in Drinking Water
This site addresses radionuclides in water and includes MCLs.
Radon in Air
This site provides general and technical information about indoor radon, radon detection and mitigation as well as lists of contracts.