Document: NUREG-1555
Document ID: cea83d24-7b0b-40df-8c89-aec02ddf5d98
Document Type: esrp
Title: IMPACTS TO BIOTA OTHER THAN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Source: NUREG-1555
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1555/initial/
Revision Date: 2007-10
Chapter: 5
Section ID: 5.4.4
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
CFR 190 apply specifically to members of the public or other persons in unrestricted areas. These guidelines are, however, applied in this section to biota other than members of the public. Depending on the pathway and the radiation source, terrestrial and aquatic biota will receive doses about the same or somewhat higher than members of the public receive. Although guidelines have not been established for acceptance limits for radiation exposure to species other than members of the public, it is generally agreed that the limits established for humans are also conservative for other species. Experience has shown that it is the maintenance of population stability that is crucial to the survival of a species, and species in most ecosystems suffer rather high mortality rates from natural causes. The fate of individual organisms is generally not the major concern; rather, the response and maintenance of the endemic population is a major concern (NCRP 1991). Exceptions are threatened or endangered species where protection of the individual is required in the absence of an incidental take permit specifically for dose-related effects. Although the existence of extremely radiosensitive biota is possible, and whereas increased radiosensitivity in organisms may result from environmental interactions with other stresses (e.g., heat, biocides), no biota have yet been discovered that show a significantly increased sensitivity (in terms of increased morbidity or mortality) to radiation exposure at the predicted levels. Furthermore, at all the nuclear power plants for which an analysis of radiation exposure to biota other than members of the public has been made, there have been no cases of exposures that can be considered significant in terms of harm to the species or that approach the exposure limits of 10 CFR 20 to members of the public (AEC 1975). The BEIR Report (BEIR 1972) concludes that the evi- dence indicates that no other living organisms have been identified that are