The Indian Association for Radiation Protection (IARP) will be organizing its 28th IARP Conference with focal theme of “Management of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies (IARP NC-2008), being held at Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur during 19-21 November, 2008. The “Proceedings” of the conference is being brought out as a special issue of the journal, Volume 31 (1-4), 2008.
All the thematic areas in radiation protection are covered in the conference. The papers submitted were peer reviewed by experts. In all, 128 papers were accepted for presentation in oral and poster sessions, over the three days. The Proceedings is also being brought out as Compact Disk for distribution to the members of the Association. The information is also available in the IARP website: www.iarp.org.in
Friday, November 14, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
What is new in the ICRP site?
The work of two sub-groups of an ICRP Task Group is nearing completion. The reports of the Task Group will address:
1. Nuclear decay data for dosimetric calculations; and
2. Reference computational phantoms of the adult male and female (a joint ICRP/ICRU Report).
These two drafts, which are interrelated in the sense that they both provide data for dosimetric calculations, are primarily collections of tabulated information, in the first report to describe radionuclide transformations as an extension of ICRP Publication 38, and in the second report to describe the characteristics of the voxel-based reference phantoms referred to in ICRP Publication 103.
1. Nuclear decay data for dosimetric calculations; and
2. Reference computational phantoms of the adult male and female (a joint ICRP/ICRU Report).
These two drafts, which are interrelated in the sense that they both provide data for dosimetric calculations, are primarily collections of tabulated information, in the first report to describe radionuclide transformations as an extension of ICRP Publication 38, and in the second report to describe the characteristics of the voxel-based reference phantoms referred to in ICRP Publication 103.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Revision of IAEA International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) - draft (1.0)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been playing a lead role in developing international Basic Safety Standards (BSS) for protection against ionizing radiation and for the safety of radiation sources. The BSS provide guidance for implementing and regulating the all applications involving radiation and radioisotopes, taking cognizance of the basic recommendations of the ICRP. A review of the BSS (SS-115, 1996) was carried out in 2007 in cooperation with the co-sponsors (FAO, ILO, NEA, PAHO and WHO). In a technical meeting involving more than 130 participants from Member States, international organizations and international professional societies, recommendations were made on the revision of the BSS, including that the revised edition should follow the 2007 recommendations of the ICRP (ICRP-103, 2007) to the extent possible.
The first draft 1.0 (DS379) – was thus prepared and is available for comments at the IAEA website. The draft consists of: Introduction, general requirements for protection and safety and requirements for the three exposure situations identified by the ICRP, viz., planned exposure situations, Emergency exposure situations and Existing exposure situations, four Schedules and list of References.
The document emphasizes the responsibilities of government: The government shall establish and maintain an appropriate and effective legal, regulatory and organizational framework for radiation protection and safety. It ensures that the prime responsibility for protection and safety rests with the person/organization responsible for facilities and activities that give rise to radiation risks. The government establishes and maintains a regulatory body with clearly defined functions and responsibilities for regulating radiation protection and safety. It also ensures that the scale of regulatory requirements applied to any exposure situation is commensurate with the associated radiation risks.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the regulatory body is adequately funded and is effectively independent of persons and organizations using or otherwise promoting the use of radiation, so that it is independent of any undue pressure from interested parties and any conflict of interest.
(Some more highlights will be presented in the National Conference of IARP, Defence Labs, Jodpur, India during November 19-21, 2008).
The first draft 1.0 (DS379) – was thus prepared and is available for comments at the IAEA website. The draft consists of: Introduction, general requirements for protection and safety and requirements for the three exposure situations identified by the ICRP, viz., planned exposure situations, Emergency exposure situations and Existing exposure situations, four Schedules and list of References.
The document emphasizes the responsibilities of government: The government shall establish and maintain an appropriate and effective legal, regulatory and organizational framework for radiation protection and safety. It ensures that the prime responsibility for protection and safety rests with the person/organization responsible for facilities and activities that give rise to radiation risks. The government establishes and maintains a regulatory body with clearly defined functions and responsibilities for regulating radiation protection and safety. It also ensures that the scale of regulatory requirements applied to any exposure situation is commensurate with the associated radiation risks.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the regulatory body is adequately funded and is effectively independent of persons and organizations using or otherwise promoting the use of radiation, so that it is independent of any undue pressure from interested parties and any conflict of interest.
(Some more highlights will be presented in the National Conference of IARP, Defence Labs, Jodpur, India during November 19-21, 2008).
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
IRPA News Extracts – IRPA 12
The primary objective of International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) is to provide a medium whereby those engaged in radiation protection activities in all countries may communicate more readily with each other and through this process advance radiation protection in many parts of the world. This includes relevant aspects of such branches of knowledge as science, medicine, engineering, technology and law, to provide for the protection of man and his environment from the hazards caused by radiation, and thereby to facilitate the safe use of medical, scientific, and industrial radiological practices for the benefit of mankind. For many other related professions it is an excellent opportunity to communicate on the achievements, scientific knowledge and operational experience in radiation protection.
It is a major task for IRPA to provide for and support international meetings for the discussion of radiation protection. The International Congresses of IRPA itself are the most important of these meetings. These have been held about every four years since 1966. For all Associate Societies of IRPA and individual members, it is an important objective to attend the next International IRPA Congress (IRPA 12), to be held in Buenos-Aires, Argentina. Details can be found in www.irpa12.org.ar
IRPA 12 is only 2 months away, and it is shaping up to be an outstanding event! An IRPA Congress record of nearly 1500 abstracts, from more than 80 countries has been submitted!
During the Congress, the 2008 Rolf M. Sievert Award for outstanding contributions to radiation research and radiation protection will be presented to Prof. Christian Streffer of Germany. He is the 10th Sievert award winner, and joins a prestigious group of recipients. Christian Streffer is a leading expert on health effects by irradiation during all stages of pregnancy including the protection of the unborn child. Christian Streffer has been involved with the review of several UNSCEAR reports to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In 1993, Christian was appointed to ICRP Committee 1 (Radiation Effects) and served until 2001 when he was elected as a member of the ICRP Main Commission. Between 2001 and 2007 he chaired ICRP Committee 2 (Doses from radiation exposure).
IRPA 12 will be the most important event of the year for Radiation Protection Professionals!
It is a major task for IRPA to provide for and support international meetings for the discussion of radiation protection. The International Congresses of IRPA itself are the most important of these meetings. These have been held about every four years since 1966. For all Associate Societies of IRPA and individual members, it is an important objective to attend the next International IRPA Congress (IRPA 12), to be held in Buenos-Aires, Argentina. Details can be found in www.irpa12.org.ar
IRPA 12 is only 2 months away, and it is shaping up to be an outstanding event! An IRPA Congress record of nearly 1500 abstracts, from more than 80 countries has been submitted!
During the Congress, the 2008 Rolf M. Sievert Award for outstanding contributions to radiation research and radiation protection will be presented to Prof. Christian Streffer of Germany. He is the 10th Sievert award winner, and joins a prestigious group of recipients. Christian Streffer is a leading expert on health effects by irradiation during all stages of pregnancy including the protection of the unborn child. Christian Streffer has been involved with the review of several UNSCEAR reports to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In 1993, Christian was appointed to ICRP Committee 1 (Radiation Effects) and served until 2001 when he was elected as a member of the ICRP Main Commission. Between 2001 and 2007 he chaired ICRP Committee 2 (Doses from radiation exposure).
IRPA 12 will be the most important event of the year for Radiation Protection Professionals!
Monday, September 1, 2008
IAEA Raises Awareness of Radiation Risks Among Heart Doctors
Patients are not the only ones at risk during cardiac procedures. Doctors performing heart surgery also face health risks, namely to their eyes. The issue of radiation protection for medical personnel is particularly acute in the case of lengthy angioplasty and other cardiac interventions performed under X-ray fluoroscopic guidance. The procedure can cause extensive radiation exposure to cardiologists that could lead to cataracts, alongside other longer term health risks. Fluoroscopy provides X-ray images of a patient that physicians can view on a display screen or monitor in real time. Proper use of tools for radiation protection - like protective screens or barriers - can prevent such radiation exposure problems.
The IAEA is helping the medical community to address this problem through a major international initiative aimed at training cardiologists and other medical professionals in radiation protection. This September in Latin America, the IAEA is organizing a study to test the eyes of interventional cardiologists participating in a regional medical conference. This will allow experts to assess retrospectively what radiation dose these cardiologists received, and then correlate the data with changes in their lens. Hopefully, this will help doctors to protect themselves better in the future and reduce further radiation in their eyes while maintaining the clinical load.
The Cardiology Conference is organized by the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiologists (SOLACI) in Bogota, Colombia - (IAEA News).
The IAEA is helping the medical community to address this problem through a major international initiative aimed at training cardiologists and other medical professionals in radiation protection. This September in Latin America, the IAEA is organizing a study to test the eyes of interventional cardiologists participating in a regional medical conference. This will allow experts to assess retrospectively what radiation dose these cardiologists received, and then correlate the data with changes in their lens. Hopefully, this will help doctors to protect themselves better in the future and reduce further radiation in their eyes while maintaining the clinical load.
The Cardiology Conference is organized by the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiologists (SOLACI) in Bogota, Colombia - (IAEA News).
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tests Confirm No Radioactivity Release to Environment from IAEA Seibersdorf Lab, After 3 August Incident
(Extract from IAEA News)
There was an incident at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)´s Seibersdorf Laboratory on 3 August, 2008. The Laboratory is located about 35 km southeast of Vienna, Austria. The laboratories provide research and training in applying nuclear science to environmental protection, insect pest control, plant breeding, human and animal health, as well as physical and chemical studies, and nuclear instrumentation.
Tiny amount of plutonium contained in an acid solution spilled from five small glass vials when one of them burst after a build up of pressure in it. The vials were stored in a secure steel safe. In total there was less than one gram of plutonium in the five vials. The material was in the laboratory for scientific reference purposes and virtually all of the contamination was confined within the steel walled safe.
An automatic alarm was triggered when the highly sensitive detectors of the continuous air monitoring system identified minor amounts of radioactive aerosols in the storage room containing the safe. The air contamination was trapped entirely in the filters of the ventilation system. The IAEA emergency response team promptly secured and sealed off the windowless storage room.
An investigation into the circumstances and causes of the incident is still underway. In the meantime the first stage of the clean-up of the storage room was successfully completed on 22 August, 2008. Further independent tests confirmed that there was no release of activity to environment.
According to the IAEA´s nuclear regulator´s assessment of the incident, the lab´s safety systems worked properly and successfully contained the contamination. The incident was rated as level 1 (anomaly) on the Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) of events. The INES scale has seven categories, the most serious being a "major accident."
An example of good safety culture is set by the IAEA that even small incidents of this type need to be investigated and reported.
There was an incident at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)´s Seibersdorf Laboratory on 3 August, 2008. The Laboratory is located about 35 km southeast of Vienna, Austria. The laboratories provide research and training in applying nuclear science to environmental protection, insect pest control, plant breeding, human and animal health, as well as physical and chemical studies, and nuclear instrumentation.
Tiny amount of plutonium contained in an acid solution spilled from five small glass vials when one of them burst after a build up of pressure in it. The vials were stored in a secure steel safe. In total there was less than one gram of plutonium in the five vials. The material was in the laboratory for scientific reference purposes and virtually all of the contamination was confined within the steel walled safe.
An automatic alarm was triggered when the highly sensitive detectors of the continuous air monitoring system identified minor amounts of radioactive aerosols in the storage room containing the safe. The air contamination was trapped entirely in the filters of the ventilation system. The IAEA emergency response team promptly secured and sealed off the windowless storage room.
An investigation into the circumstances and causes of the incident is still underway. In the meantime the first stage of the clean-up of the storage room was successfully completed on 22 August, 2008. Further independent tests confirmed that there was no release of activity to environment.
According to the IAEA´s nuclear regulator´s assessment of the incident, the lab´s safety systems worked properly and successfully contained the contamination. The incident was rated as level 1 (anomaly) on the Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) of events. The INES scale has seven categories, the most serious being a "major accident."
An example of good safety culture is set by the IAEA that even small incidents of this type need to be investigated and reported.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
New ICRP Draft report for consulting-Rehabilitation
New ICRP draft report “Application of the Commission’s Recommendations to the Protection of Individuals Living in Long Term Contaminated Territories after a Nuclear Accident or Radiation Emergency”, Version 4 dated 22/7/2008 is available in the ICRP site (www.icrp.org) for public consulting. This is a companion document to the draft report on Emergency Exposure Situations posted earlier for consulting.
The present report provides guidance on the application of the Commission’s recommendations on the above topic. This post-accident (late phase) rehabilitation situation is considered by the Commission as an Existing Exposure Situation. There are six chapters and 3 Annexures. The last date to receive comments is: October 13, 2008.
The present report provides guidance on the application of the Commission’s recommendations on the above topic. This post-accident (late phase) rehabilitation situation is considered by the Commission as an Existing Exposure Situation. There are six chapters and 3 Annexures. The last date to receive comments is: October 13, 2008.
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