The application of cost-benefit analysis when considering action to reduce environmental dose rates in hospitals

Cost-benefit analysis, in which a monetary value is assigned to radiation-induced health detriment, is used to establish whether a proposed course of action to reduce the dose rate in a particular environment is reasonable in the ''as low as reasonably achievable'' context. The instantaneous dose rate is used in conjunction with a use factor and a man-occupancy factor to establish a dose accumulation rate. This, in turn, is used to calculate what capital expenditure on radiation protection measures is reasonable. Such an approach provides an objective method of assessing and comparing radiation protection problems and leads to better consistency in allocating available resources. (author)