Though nuclear gauges are physically a minuscule part of a process unit, often the gauges are critical, convenient, and irreplaceable for producing high-quality products at competitive prices. But the use of gauges also has consequences. People have been overexposed to radiation and equipment along the recycling stream has been contaminated. The public domain is where the risk element sequences of the nuclear gauges end.
Some sequences are short.
Other sequences are long. But in the study of nuclear gauges, a surrogate measure may be more practical because of the complex circumstances in which the consequences arise. Also, a gauge that is intact is still of concern, even though disease, injury, and dose are not occurring, because it has a potential to do so. The consequence to property is often expressed in terms of costs. Available cost estimates to the steel industry are poorly characterized.