Current status of the plutonium hot-particle problem

In February 1974 the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC), brought a petition to the attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission which called for a reduction in radiation standards for insoluble, inhaled alpha-emitting transuranium elements by a factor of 115,000. The petition to amend radiation protection standards as they apply to hot particles was submitted along with a supporting document entitled ''Radiation Standards for Hot Particles.'' This article summarizes the responses of various agencies, organizations, and individuals that have appeared during the 2 years since the petition was submitted. The bulk of scientific evidence available to date does not appear to support the petition or the supporting hypothesis. Not considered at this time are changes in the original petition or rebuttals prepared in response to some of the works presented in this article