Regulation and guidelines for enhanced natural radiation in the United States

This paper discusses radiation protection guidelines and standards in the United States for enhanced natural radiation levels. Although no national standards have been developed in the United States, there have been standards and guidelines developed for individual situations throughout the country. These apply to uranium mill sites and land in their vicinity, phosphate lands, land contaminated by radium processing, hazardous waste sites, and related situations. The rationale for these recommendations and standards is discussed along with the health implications and other important factors. The applicability of these recommendations and standards to other situations is also discussed. Finally, the recommendations and standards developed by EPA are compared generally to recommendations and standards of other U.S. organizations.