ABSTRACT
The course of the evolution of radiation protection guidance devolves into two distinct eras separated by World War II. Efforts at radiation protection moved slowly, almost glacially so, and were largely concentrated on simple solutions to specific problems. World War II provided the greatest motivation for the development of radiation protection guidance, but because of military security requirements, very little appeared to have been done, as secrecy was maintained. Efforts at radiation protection moved slowly, almost glacially so, and were largely concentrated on simple solutions to specific problems. One hindrance to the development of protection standards was the lack of a commonly accepted quantity and unit for dose, and in particular one that could be applicable to the X-radiation and gamma radiation from radium. Little guidance was established in the form of standards and there were essentially no regulatory requirements.
