Life Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

NCRP Publishes Report on Radionuclide Exposure to the Embryo/Fetus (October 1998)

On September 25, 1998, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) published NCRP Report No. 128 titled Radionuclide Exposure of the Embryo/Fetus. Dr. Keith Eckerman, leader of the Dosimetry Research Group in the Assessment Technology Section of ORNL’s Life Sciences Division, was instrumental in the publication of this document in his role as consultant. The report describes effects of radionuclide exposure on the embryo/fetus, concerns of radiation exposure during pregnancy, dose estimation methods, and exposure limits. Dr. Eckerman's primary contributions to this effort involved developing biokinetic and metabolic models and performing associated dose calculations for the embryo/fetus and mother following exposure to a wide variety of radionuclides. (Contact: Keith Eckerman, kfe@ornl.gov, 423-574-6251; Funding Source: WFO)