An overview of radiation safety regulatory recommendations and requirements.

This article reviews the formal basis of radiation protection programs. It also reviews the application of these programs in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Radiation protection rules are based on epidemiology, radiobiology, and radiation physics. Applicable scientific results are periodically reviewed by committees reporting to the United States National Academy of Science and to the United Nations. National and international expert committees convert science to recommendations. The legislative process enacts enforceable regulations. These regulations need to be interpreted in relation to the actual risks experienced by the fluoroscopist.