Step 3. Subtract the known total cumulative dose of 30 cGy from the RES-0 criterion for the
desired degree of risk (Table 3-2). In this example, the negligible risk dose is 50 cGy.
Step 4. The answer from Step 3 is 20 cGy. Therefore, this unit can receive an additional dose of
up to 20 cGy before exceeding a negligible risk.
Table 3-2. Nuclear Radiation Degree-of-Risk Exposure Chart
POSSIBLE EXPOSURE CRITERIA FOR A SINGLE
TOTAL PAST
OPERATION WHICH WILL NOT RESULT IN
1, 2
3
RES
CUMULATIVE DOSE
EXCEEDING THE DOSE CRITERIA FOR THE STATED
cGy
4, 5
DEGREE OF RISK cGy
Negligible risk:
≦
50
Moderate risk:
≦
70
RES-0 units
No exposure
Emergency risk:
≦
150
Negligible risk:
≦
10
Greater than 0 but less
Moderate risk:
≦
30
RES-1 units
than or equal to 70
Emergency risk:
≦
110
Any further exposure is considered to exceed a negligible
Greater than 70 but less
RES-2 units
or moderate risk. Emergency risk: ≦ 40
than or equal to 150
RES-3 units
Greater than 150
All further exposure will exceed the emergency risk.
1
Categories are based on previous exposure to radiation.
2
Reclassification of units from one RES to a less serious one is made by the commander upon advice of
the surgeon after observing the actual state of the health of the exposed personnel.
3
All exposures to radiation are considered total body and simply additive. No allowance is made for body
recovery from radiation injury.
4
Risk levels are graduated within each exposure state to provide more stringent criteria as the total
radiation dose accumulated becomes more serious. The exposure criteria given for RES-1 and RES-2
units should be used ONLY when the numerical value of a unit's total past cumulative dose is
UNKNOWN. Otherwise, the criteria for the desired degree of risk should be obtained by SUBTRACTING
the numerical value of the unit's dose from the RES-0 CRITERA for the desired degree of risk.
5
Each of the degrees of risk can be applied to radiation hazards resulting from enemy or friendly
weapons, or both, and from initial nuclear radiation resulting from planned friendly supporting fires.
(b) Calculate the degree of risk when the total cumulative dose is UNKNOWN. A unit is
RES-1, but you do not know the total cumulative dose of the unit. How much more radiation can the unit
receive before exceeding a negligible risk?
Step 1. You do not know the total cumulative dose of the unit.
Step 2. You know that the commander does not want to exceed a negligible risk.
Step 3. You determine from the degree-of-risk exposure chart in Table 3-2 that a RES-1 unit can
receive an additional dose of up to 10 cGy before exceeding a negligible risk.
(2) Use additional radiation exposure guidelines. The guidelines discussed below will help the
commander employ the command on the nuclear battlefield.
3-7
CM2306