Governance of Radiation Protection Under Uncertainty: LNT, ALARA, and Narrative-Driven Reform

Radiation protection has long operated under conditions of irreducible scientific uncertainty, particularly at low doses and low dose rates. Governance frameworks such as the linear nothreshold (LNT) model and the principle of As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) were adopted not as claims of biological certainty, but as prudential tools to support transparent and accountable decision-making. Decades of epidemiological studies support the continued use of LNT as a reasonable approach for regulating low-dose exposures. Recent policy initiatives calling for reconsideration of these frameworks, including proposals to adopt deterministic exposure limits without transparent derivation, reflect a shift toward narrative-driven reform. This paper situates these developments within historical experience, contemporary legal constraints, and the 2025 National Academies framework on mis-, dis-, and malinformation, and evaluates the risks of destabilizing radiation protection governance by substituting symbolic certainty for transparent management of risk and uncertainty.