CSULB RADIATION SAFETY
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH POLICY
Male or female, you should never work with
a chemical or radioactive material without knowing how it may affect the reproductive
system, and the length of time the material could remain in your body if
ingested, inhaled or absorbed. The use
of some agents should be stopped well in advance of conception. The following website from the International
Labor Association provides information regarding when and how reproductive damage occurs, what kinds of
reproductive health problems can occur, how a worker can tell if a
chemical/work situation is hazardous to reproductive health, how workers are
protected etc.: http://www.itcilo.it/english/actrav/telearn/osh/rep/prod.htm
If you are concerned about reproductive
health, or you become pregnant, you should consult your physician regarding the
evaluation of workplace hazards with respect to fetal
health/fertility etc. You would be able to better discuss these
issues with your physician if you provide her/him with specific
information regarding your work e.g. details regarding specific
chemical/radioactive identities of any hazardous substances to which you may be
exposed, potential radiation exposures, etc. Your physician might find it
helpful to also be informed of your standard operating procedures; for example,
if you use chemicals you could discuss your use of personal protective
equipment (gloves, no exposed skin, labcoat,
goggles), engineering controls (fume hood use, local/supplemental
ventilation etc.), frequency of exposure, average length of exposure, etc.
You may find the following materials
helpful, all available from CNSM Safety:
Please feel free to contact your
supervisor, CNSM Safety, Chemistry/Biochemistry Laboratory Manager Joyce Kunishima, or Campus SRM with any further requests for
information required by you or your physician regarding reproductive hazards in
the workplace.
With respect to a dose by radioactive
material to a fetus:
In
compliance with 10 CFR part 20, section 20.1208, "Dose to an
embryo/fetus", every effort shall be made to ensure that the dose to an
embryo/fetus during the entire pregnancy of a declared pregnant woman does not
exceed 0.5 rem (5 mSv)1.
It is
the responsibility of each Authorized Radioisotope User to:
a) Distribute this policy to all students and
employees in your group.
b) Obtain signed confirmation on your radiation
training record (see Radiation Notebook) that this policy has been read by each
person under your supervision.
c) Encourage early disclosure (intent, fact, or
suspicion) of pregnancy to the Authorized Radioisotope User and/or Radiation
Safety Office personnel. Assure the
student/employee that this disclosure will remain confidential.
d) Notify the Radiation Safety Office
immediately upon receiving information regarding a student/employee's declared
intent, suspicion or confirmation of pregnancy.
e) Advise students/employees of their personal
responsibilities with regard to limiting their exposure to radiation while
pregnant (see below).
f) Review student/employee work assignments in
order to reduce the potential of radiation exposures where possible.
g) Ensure that pregnant students/employees
receive a monthly film badge if she uses radioactive materials or works near
radioactive materials. The
student/employee must wear the badge at waist level.
It is
the responsibility of the Radiation Safety Office to:
a) Monitor the dose accumulated by the
student/employee and the fetus. The dose
to an embryo/fetus shall be determined according to 10 CFR part
20, section 20.12081, and the NRC Regulatory Guide 8.36,
"Radiation Dose to the Embryo/Fetus"2.
b) Work with the student/employee and the
Authorized Radioisotope User to endeavor to reduce radiation exposure to
background readings if any monthly dose exceeds 50 mR
(0.5 mSv). If
the accumulated dose approaches a total of 500 mR (5 mSv), or exceeds 300 mR (3 mSv) within six months, transfer or leave from the area of
exposure is mandatory.
It is
the responsibility of each female employee to:
Inform
the Authorized Radioisotope User, HEERA Manager and/or the Radiation Safety
Office of your intent, suspicion or confirmation of pregnancy. RSO personnel will determine whether
radiation levels in your working areas are such that you might receive 0.5 rem (5 mSv)
or more over the gestational period. You
must decide whether the exposure you are receiving is sufficiently low to
protect the fetus; you are welcome to review the literature the Radiation
Safety Office has available on this topic.
If you decide to continue working in these areas, you must work with
your supervisor and RSO personnel to reduce your exposure by increasing your
use of shielding, and by decreasing both your distance from the radiation
source and the amount of time you spend in the radiation area.
The
alternatives that you might want to consider are:
a) You could decide not to accept or continue
assignments in these areas at this time.
According
to the Memoranda of Understanding for both staff and faculty, the CSU shall
endeavor to ensure that employees will not be required to work in unsafe
conditions or to perform tasks that endanger their health or safety. An employee may request a temporary reassignment
when she/he believes in good faith that the present assignment presents a clear
danger to her/his health and safety; the appropriate administrator shall
promptly respond to such a request4,5. Similarly, the Foundation will attempt to do
everything within its control to assure a safe environment and compliance with
federal, state, and local safety regulations6.
b) You could consider delaying conception.
Please
consider the following:
The
National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) recommends a total dose
equivalent limit of 0.5 rem (5 mSv) for the fetus.
Once a pregnancy becomes known, exposure of the embryo/fetus shall be
not greater than 50 mR (0.5 mSv)
in any month. The total dose equivalent
limit for the whole period of pregnancy is important for the limitation of the
risk of cancer induction and of developmental anomalies, while the monthly
limit is important to ensure that exposures of the embryo-fetus during
particularly critical periods of organogenesis and development are adequately
restricted. The United Nations
Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) indicates
that for doses smaller than 2 rem (0.02Sv) over the
gestation period, the risk for defects is relatively small in relation to the
natural incidence or probability, which is assumed to be of the order of 6 x 10-2
for anomalies of all kinds that may seriously affect health and viability of
newborn children (NCRP Report No. 91; June 1987.)3
1 Federal
Register, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
10 CFR Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against
Radiation". January 1993.
2
3 National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
NCRP Report No. 91, "Recommendations on Limits for Exposure to
Ionizing Radiation". June 1,
1987.
4 Agreement Between
the Board of Trustees of The
5 Collective
Bargaining Agreement Between the
6
Section
501, "Safety". ReproductiveHlthPcy.9.04.doc