EPA developed PAGs (Protective Action Guides) to help
state and local authorities make radiation protection decisions
during emergencies. The PAGs provide guidance that is keyed
to potential conditions during an emergency. When an emergency
occurs, first responders can use the key to quickly locate
the protective action guidance that matches existing conditions.
When and how would PAGs be used?
Responders can use PAGs in a radiation emergency in any
situation in which radioactive materials are present:
nuclear power plants
Department of Energy or Defense facilities
foreign reactors
research facilities
contaminated materials at steel mills or scrap
metal recycling facilities
transportation of radioactive materials
PAGs apply throughout all three phases of a nuclear incident:
Early Phase, or emergency phase, lasting hours to days
Intermediate Phase, lasting weeks to months
Late or Recovery Phase, lasting months to years
The following table shows various protective actions and
how emergency personnel apply them during each phase of
a nuclear emergency.
Incident Phase
Exposure Pathway
Protective Action
early
phase
External
radiation from facility
Sheltering
Evacuation
Control of access
External
radiation from plume
Sheltering
Evacuation
Control of access
overlap
of early
& inter-
mediate
phases
Inhalation
of activity in plume
Sheltering
Administration of stable iodine
Evacuation
Control of access
Contamination
of skin and clothes
Sheltering
Evacuation
Decontamination of persons
External
radiation from ground deposition of radioactivity
Evacuation
Relocation
Decontamination of land and property
overlap
inter
mediate &
late phases
Ingestion
of contaminated food and water
Food and water controls
Inhalation
of re-suspended radioactivity
Relocation
Decontamination of land and property
Notes:
Stored animal feed and uncontaminated water could be used
to protect domestic animals in the food chain from consuming
radioactivity. This can be done in any of the phases.
Evacuation occurs in the early, or emergency,
phase of a nuclear incident and relocation occurs during
the intermediate phase and may continue into the late, or
recovery, phase.
IS-301
Radiological Emergency Response, of which unit 5, "Protective
Actions & Protective Action Guides" provides
an excellent introduction to the use of PAGs in an emergency.
Obtaining a Copy of the PAGs
While we no longer have hard copies of the PAGs for distribution,
an electronic version in PDF format is available two ways:
(Please note that this document is not currently accessible
for those using screen readers. We are making it available
to general audience while we explore the best way to make
it accessible to these readers. If you need assistance accessing
its contents, please Contact
Us.An updated and fully accessible version will be available
later this year.)