Answer to Question #68 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Can you recommend current HP texts for undergrads?

I recommend the following texts. Which would be the most appropriate for your course depends on the background of the students and the goals that you have for the course.

Basic Health Physics, by Joseph John Bevelacqua, Wiley, 1999, is a broad introductory survey of the health physics field. The text assumes that the reader is familiar with the physics of radiation protection and is either a student in the field or is interested in learning more about the health physics profession. 

Health Physics in the 21^st Century, by Joseph John Bevelacqua, Wiley, 2008, presents emerging and maturing radiation-generating technologies that will affect the health physics and radiation protection profession, summarizes the relevant technology and scientific basis, extracts the relevant health physics issues to provide a unified, first-of-a-kind presentation of 21^st century radiation generating systems, and contains twelve appendices that add background material and provide supporting information and enrichment to topics addressed in the text.

Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection, 3^rd Edition, by James E. Turner, Wiley, 2007. The book is written at the senior or beginning graduate level as a text for a one-year course in a curriculum of physics, nuclear engineering, environmental engineering, or an allied discipline.

Introduction to Health Physics, Fourth Edition, by Herman Cember and Thomas E. Johnson, McGraw-Hill Medical, Health Professions Division, 2008. If it's an important topic in the field of health physics, you'll find it in this text in sections on physical principles, atomic and nuclear structure, radioactivity, biological effects of radiation, and instrumentation. This guide spans the entire scope of the field and offers a problem-solving approach that will serve you throughout your career.

Radiation Protection, Fourth Edition, by Jacob Shapiro, Harvard University Press, 2002. This manual explains the principles and practice of radiation protection for those whose work in research or in the field of medicine requires the use of radiation sources. It is designed for a wide spectrum of users, including physicians, research scientists, engineers, and technicians, and it should be useful also to radiation safety officers and members of radiation safety committees who may not be working with the sources directly.

Basic Radiation Protection Technology, Fifth Edition, by Daniel A. Gollnick, Pacific Radiation Corporation, 2006. The text is illustrated with over 600 photographs and drawings, and each chapter concludes with a "problem set" and "reading list." The 2006 fifth edition features new material on nuclear terrorism scenarios, emergency operations, and special homeland security instruments. Also added or expanded are topics on radioprotectants, the Large Hadron Collider, biological methods of remediation, and FRMAC.

Radiation Protection and Dosimetry: An Introduction to Health Physics, by Michael G. Stabin, Springer, 2008. This comprehensive text provides an overview of all relevant topics in the field of radiation protection (health physics). It serves as an essential handbook for practicing health physics professionals and is also ideal as a teaching text for courses at the university level.

Radiological Risk Assessment and Environmental Analysis, by John E. Till and Helen Grogan, Oxford University Press, 2008, comprehensively explains methods used for estimating risk to people exposed to radioactive materials released to the environment by nuclear facilities or in an emergency such as a nuclear terrorist event.

Principles of Radiological Health and Safety, by James E. Martin and Chul Lee, Wiley, 2002, is designed for health and scientific professionals who require a basic understanding of radiological safety principles and is a resource for safety personnel who also handle radiation safety duties. It is a text of basic concepts needed in broad-based protection programs, with real-world examples and practice problems to demonstrate principles and hone skills.

Gen Roessler, Editor
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