Concerns about stochastic radiogenic risks have led to NRC regulations for diagnostic nuclear medicine that inherently demand a radiation protection philosophy based on the conservative hypothesis that some risk is associated with even the smallest doses of radiation. There is no question that exposure of any individual to potential risk, however low, should be minimized if it can be readily avoided or is not accompanied by some benefit. The weighing of risks and benefits, however, is not always based on objective data and calls for personal value judgments, which can vary widely. In 1901, 5 years after discovering radioactivity, Henri Becquerel recognized the risks involved in exposure to radioactive isotopes. A short time.
