Radiation protection — On the road to professional maturity?☆

In the twenith century U.S. radiation protection standards have become much more restrictive and dose limits have been reduced from hundreds of millisieverts/y to less than tenths of a mSv/y. The question discussed in this commentary is whether the above constitutes a sign of approaching professional maturity or continuous immaturity. The author concludes that radiation protection lacks discipline both in applying the best of science by limiting speculation and in achieving stability in its regulatory policy decisions. 6 refs., 3 tabs.