functions if those functions would have allowed youtoreceive morethan0.5rem, andyoumaynot be able to have some emergency response responsibilities.

########## Whydotheregulations have alower dose limit for the embryo/fetus of adeclared pregnant womanthan for a pregnant worker who has not declared?

Alower dose limit for the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant woman is based on a consideration ofgreater sensitivity to radiation of theembryo/fetus andthe involuntary nature of theexposure.Several scientific advisory groups have recommended (References 1 and 2) that the dose to the embryo/fetus be limited to a fraction of the occupational dose limit.

########## What are the potentially harmful effects of radiation exposure to my embryo/fetus?

Theoccurrenceandseverityofhealtheffectscausedbyionizingradiationaredependentuponthetype and total dose of radiation received, as well as the time period over which the exposure was received. See Regulatory Guide 8.29, 'Instructio n Concerning Risks from Occupational Exposure ' (Ref. 3), for more information. The main concern is embryo/fetal susceptibility to the harmful effects of radiation such as cancer.

########## Are there any risks of genetic defects?

Although radiation injury has been induced experimentally in rodents and insects, and in theexperiments was transmittedandbecamemanifestashereditarydisordersintheiroffspring,radiationhasnotbeenidentified as a cause of such effect in humans. Therefore, the risk of genetic effects attributable to radiation exposure is speculative. For example, no genetic effects have been documented in any of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, their children, or their grandchildren.

########## What if I decide that I do not want any radiation exposure at all during my pregnancy?

You may ask your employer for a job that does not involve any exposure at all to occupational radiationdose, but your employerisnotobligatedtoprovideyouwithajobinvolvingnoradiationexposure.Evenif you receive no occupational exposure at all, your embryo/fetus will receive some radiation dose (on average 75 mrem(0.75 mSv)) during your pregnancy from natural background radiation. The NRChasreviewedtheavailablescientific literature andconcludedthatthe0.5rem (5 mSv)limit providesanadequate marginofprotectionfortheembryo/fetus. Thisdoselimit reflectsthedesireto limit thetotal li fetime risk of leukemia and other cancers. If this dose limit is exceeded, the total lifetime risk of cancer to theembryo/fetus may increase incrementally. However, the decision on what level of risk to accept is yours. Moredetailed information on potential risk to the embryo/fetus from radiation exposure can be found in References2-10.

########## What effect will formally declaring my pregnancy have on my job status?

Only the licensee can tell you what effect a written declaration of pregnancy will have on your job status. As part of your radiation safety training, the licensee should tell you the company's policies with respect to the job status of declared pregnant women. In addition, before you declare your pregnancy, you may want to talk to your supervisor or your radiation safety officer and ask what a declaration of pregnancy would meanspecifically for you and your job status. In many cases you can continue in your present job with no change and still meet the dose limit for the embryo/fetus. For example, most commercial power reactor workers (approximately 93%) receive, in 12months, occupational radiation doses that are less than 0.5 rem (5 mSv) (Ref. 11). The licensee may also consider the likelihood of increased radiation exposures from accidents and abnormal events before making a decision to allow you to continue in your present job. If your current work might cause the dose to your embryo/fetus to exceed 0.5 rem (5 mSv), the licensee has various options. It is possible that the licensee can and will make a reasonable accommodation that will allow you to continue performing your current job, for example, by having another qualified employee do a small part of the job that accounts for some of your radiation exposure.