Air Quality - doe-hdbk-1188-20060116

DOE-HDBK-1188-2006

AIR QUALITY. The cleanliness of the air as measured by the levels of pollutants relative to

standards or guideline levels established to protect human health and welfare. Air quality is often

expressed in terms of the pollutant for which concentrations are the highest percentage of a standard

(e.g., air quality may be unacceptable if the level of one pollutant is 150% of its standard, even if levels

of other pollutants are well below their respective standards). [Derived from EPA Terms]

ALARA. See "As low as reasonably achievable."

ALPHA PARTICLE. A positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some

radioactive elements. It is identical to a helium nucleus and has a mass number of 4 and an

electrostatic charge of +2. It has low penetrating power and a short range (a few centimeters in air).

(See alpha radiation.) [NRC Glossary]

10.

ALPHA RADIATION. A strongly ionizing, but weakly penetrating, form of radiation consisting of

positively charged alpha particles emitted spontaneously from the nuclei of certain elements during

radioactive decay. Alpha radiation is the least penetrating of the four common types of ionizing

radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron). Even the most energetic alpha particle generally fails to

penetrate the dead layers of cells covering the skin and can be easily stopped by a sheet of paper.

Alpha radiation is most hazardous when an alpha-emitting source resides inside an organism. (See

alpha particle.) [Derived from NRC Glossary, NCRP 65]

11.

APPLICABLE OR RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS (ARARS).

Requirements that must be met when taking an action under the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). They include cleanup standards, standards

of control, and other substantive environmental protection requirements and criteria established under

Federal and state law and regulations. (See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,

and Liability Act.) [Derived from 40 CFR 300.5]

12.

AQUIFER. A body of rock or sediment that is capable of transmitting groundwater and yielding

usable quantities of water to wells or springs. [Derived from AGI 87, DOE 6430.1A]

EPA regulations define "aquifer" as follows (different regulations vary slightly in wording):

An underground geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of

yielding a significant amount of water to wells or springs. [40 CFR 146.3, 149.2, 144.3, 191.12,

260.10, 270.2]

13.

AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE (ALARA). An approach to radiation protection to

manage and control worker and public exposures (both individual and collective) and releases of

radioactive material to the environment to as far below applicable limits as social, technical, economic,

practical, and public policy considerations permit. ALARA is not a dose limit but a process for

minimizing doses to as far below limits as is practicable. [Derived from 10 CFR 835.2, Proposed

10 CFR 834]

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