ICRP Publication 104 (2007): Scope of Radiological Protection Control Measures

In this report, the ICRP recommends approaches to national authorities for their definition of the scope of radiological protection control measures through regulations, by using its principles of justification and optimisation. The report provides advice for deciding the radiation exposure situations that should be covered by the relevant regulations because their regulatory control can be justified, and, conversely, those that may be considered for exclusion from the regulations because their regulatory control is deemed to be unamenable and unjustified.

It also provides advice on the situations resulting from regulated circumstances but which may be considered by regulators for exemption from complying with specific requirements because the application of these requirements is unwarranted and exemption is the optimum option. Thus, the report describes exclusion criteria for defining the scope of radiological protection regulations, exemption criteria for planned exposure situations, and the application of these concepts in emergency exposure situations and in existing exposure situations. The report also addresses specific exposure situations such as exposure to low-energy or low-intensity adventitious radiation, cosmic radiation, naturally occurring radioactive materials, radon, commodities, and low-level radioactive waste.

The quantitative criteria in the report are intended only as generic suggestions to regulators for defining the regulatory scope, in the understanding that the definitive boundaries for establishing the situations that can be or need to be regulated will depend on national approaches (From ICRP Site).

The ICRP draft report on Early and late effects of radiation in normal tissues and organs----at its site for comments

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) invites comments on the draft document: “Early and late effects of radiation in normal tissues and organs: threshold doses for tissue reactions and other non-cancer effects of radiation in a radiation protection context” which can be downloaded through the consultations page of the ICRP web site. The last date for receiving the comments is April 1, 2011.

This radiation protection related draft report provides a review of early and late effects of radiation in normal tissues and organs considering recent advances in the scientific results. It follows the ICRP Publication 103, and provides updated estimates of dose responses and threshold doses for tissue reactions (deterministic effects). Estimates are given for morbidity and mortality endpoints in all organ systems following acute, fractionated or chronic exposure.

In light of the new information, ICRP may consider how best to manage and control exposures to ionizing radiation to protect human health with respect to certain tissue reactions

ICRP Committee 4 meeting

Committee 4 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) met in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15 to 19 November 2010. The meeting was hosted by the World Health Organization headquarters (WHO) which is an official observer organization to ICRP Committees.

The Committee devoted significant time to further clarifying how the basic radiation protection principles and the dose criteria recommended in the new recommendations of the Commission apply to protection of the public and workers according to the three exposure situations defined in Publication 103, i.e. planned, existing and emergency exposure situations.

The Committee also reviewed several draft reports under preparation:

• Protection against enhanced exposure from industrial processes using NORM, prepared by Task Group 76 chaired by Peter Burns (Australia)
• Protection in disposal of long lived solid radioactive waste prepared by Task Group 80 chaired by Wolfgang Weiss (Germany)
• Protection against radon exposure prepared by Task Group 81 chaired by Jean-François Lecomte (France)
• The ICRP approach to integrate human and environmental protection prepared by the joint Committee 4 – Committee 5 Task Group 82 co-chaired by Jan Pentreath (UK) and Jacques Lochard (France)

The Committee also discussed the general orientation to be given to Task Group 83 on the protection of aircraft crew from cosmic radiation exposure chaired by Jacques Lochard (France). The next meeting of the Committee will take place in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, from 24 to 28 October, 2011 (Extract from ICRP Site).

Exposure to radiation from mobile phones and towers

Bloggers like me have been relentlessly calling attention of the authorities to the health effects of exposure from radiation from the cell phones. Like most us, endocrinologist Dr. Shashank Joshi also says the mobile phone should be used only as an emergency toll to pass on messages. Some reports say that the mobile phones can cause cancer. This is over-exaggeration. Cancer is a multi cause disease with a latency period of 10 to 30 year after exposure. Nobody can say for sure that the EMF radiation exposure can cause cancer.

Mobile towers are particularly more dangerous due to the emission higher levels of EM radiation for 24x7 basis. Ideally, the towers should be put up at a sufficient height away from populated areas. The guidelines specified should be followed by the service providers. Instead of erecting separate towers, the existing towers should be shared by the service providers. The city areas should be monitored frequently by the designated agencies to ensure that the levels are below the prescribed guidelines. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values of mobile phones should be displayed continuously on the screen to caution or alert the user in case of any over-exposure. Keep the mobile phones away from the children.

As regards to the standards, India also should follow the International Standards Specified by International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP), a non-governmental expert body to recommend permissible limits for exposures to non-ionizing radiations such as electromagnetic radiation. The guidelines are based on science and should be respected by one and all.

Mobile phones - a health risk

Finally, the much awaited report from the India Government Inter-ministerial Panel’s study is out. Radiation from mobile phones and towers poses serious health risks, says the Panel. The study also attributed disappearances of bees, insects, sparrows and butterflies from cities for the EMF radiation emission from the towers. The reported health risks are memory loss, lack of concentration, sleep disruptions, etc. The eight-member panel recommended that mobile phones not adhering to the international standards be barred. It is also recommended that mobile towers should not be installed near high density residential areas, schools, hospitals, etc.

Precautions: Use wireless hand-free system, keep your calls short- use for sending messages only and do not use mobile phones for gossip and long chats. Do not give mobiles to children. They are more sensitive to radiation.

Note: There are many posts in this blog since last two years calling authorities to take urgent action against this public health concern.