Loosening Radiation Rules Won't Help Us Get Nuclear Power Any Faster

"The U.S. regulates the amount of radiation people are exposed to using something called the linear no-threshold model, which says that every additional dose of ionizing radiation, however small, adds a small risk to health. It's a simple equation that describes the relationship between dose and risk. For decades it has anchored radiation dose limits for both the public and radiation workers."

"But by February 23, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is expected to overhaul its regulations, potentially retiring this risk model, per a May executive order by President Donald Trump. Why loosen this protection? Supposedly to spur nuclear energy production. The administration says that this risk model is too cautious, leading to costly conservatism in reactor design, staffing redundancies and stringency in licensing. The executive order promises that lifting it will accelerate nuclear reactor licensing while lowering the costs of providing nuclear energy to the grid."

"As a nuclear energy advocate and former Department of Energy official, I want to see more nuclear energy on the grid soon. But loosening the protections of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model is not supported by current research. Some experts warn that relaxing it could especially place women and children at higher risk of damage from radiation."

The linear no-threshold (LNT) model holds that any additional ionizing radiation dose, however small, proportionally increases health risk and has guided dose limits for decades. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to overhaul regulations and may retire the LNT model following a presidential executive order aimed at accelerating nuclear reactor licensing and reducing costs. The administration argues the model is overly cautious, increasing design conservatism, staffing redundancies and licensing stringency. Advocates push for more nuclear energy on the grid, but current research does not support loosening LNT protections. Experts warn that relaxing the model could increase radiation-related harm, particularly for women and children.

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