## 4 Results and Discussion
### Evaluation of Organ Equivalent Annual Effective Dose
For S08, the equivalent dose in leg bone and leg were 1.34 and 1.25 mSv y\({}^{-1}\), respectively, comparable with the HPC results for bone and muscle of 1.24 and 1.43 mSv y\({}^{-1}\) (Table 3), in support of results obtained using the HPC program. Figure 3: Organ equivalent dose (mSv/y) for 28 organs using the MIRD5 mathematical female phantoms, for garment items (a) S05; (b) S08; (c) S09; and (d) S13. The effective annual dose for the 13 undergradments are presented in Figure 4; S03 recorded the lowest annual effective dose, at 81 \(\mu\)Sv y\({}^{-1}\), while undergarment S05 indicated the highest annual effective dose, at 1.57 mSv y\({}^{-1}\). As shown in Figure 4, wearing the negative ion undergarment can infer annual effective doses in excess of the annual dose limit of 1 mSv/y for members of the public [11; 12]. In Figure 4, use of garments S05, S08 and S13, were seen to exceed the annual public dose limit 1 mSv/y. The beta emissions from the undergarment will be mostly absorbed within the epidermal layers of the skin, while the more deeply penetrating gamma radiation involves large areas of tissue and organs [32]. The dose equivalent was also measured for the thirteen undergarments, capable of giving rise to annual effective doses in excess of 1 mSv/y. For this, use was made of a calibrated IdentiFinder 2 FLIR Survey Meter, which recorded dose rates in \(\mu\)Sv/h and identifying the radionuclides contained within the undergarments (Table 4). The highest dose equivalent, at 0.24 \(\pm\) 0.03 \(\mu\)Sv/h, was from S05. Regarding the wearing period, we suggested 24 h per day, 365 days a year to be likely for those who purchase such items [9]. For this, the annual dose from the use of items S05 and S13 could achieve values of 2.1 and 2 mSv y\({}^{-1}\), respectively, values that are comparable with the Geant4 simulation results. Note here that in its LEM-TEK-69 document, per NORM-added consumer product basis, the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board AELB requires the effective dose for individual members of the public to be less than 10 \(\mu\)Sv/y. Conversely, for artificial radionuclides the European Commission advocates 300 \(\mu\)Sv/y per product. Prior to ICRP 103, the exemption level was 10 \(\mu\)Sv/y per product. The European Commission also prohibits the addition of radioactive material to consumer products [5]. Moreover, the EURATOM Council Directive prohibits the sale of clothes, personal jewelry, toys, foodstuffs, and cosmetics within which NORM have been added. Figure 4: Annual effective dose for 13 undergarment products demonstrating measurable gamma activity. It is apparent that international harmonization of regulation protections is necessary. The idea of justification, 'ALARA' (as low as reasonably achievable) and dose limits, as promulgated by the ICRP, are highly important with respect to public safety. Unjustified exposures, as reported in ICRP-103, can be applied to a range of NORM added consumer products. If consumer products to which NORM have been added cannot be shown to offer benefits that far outweigh the risks, then prohibition would seem to be required [5,7]. This would certainly seem to be the case for the present products. Accordingly, a strong recommendation is made for worldwide prohibition of negative ion products.