It is true that mobile phones have brought in revolution in telecommunications industry. The expected mobile phone usage in India is projected to be 500 million (half of the population) within a short period of time. As per the recent reports, of the service providers are planning to erect over 90,000 base stations all over India to meet the ever increasing demand from rural areas! Mobile phone usage is very predominant in the new lifestyle adopted by younger generation. Mobiles are often given to children to play by the ever obliging parents. The scenario is not different in other countries.
Communication between a mobile phone and the nearest base station is achieved by the microwave radiation emissions from the transmitters connected to the antennas mounted at the base stations. These base stations are erected on top of buildings or specially built towers. There is much apprehension worldwide about the long-term health effects due to the exposure of people residing near the base stations and the mobile phone users to the radiofrequency emissions. Health effects such as heating of the exposed tissues, increased risk of malignant tumors (cancers) in the head and ears, genetic effects due to exposure of body cells to the radiofrequency (RF) radiations, etc. are reported in the literature.
Keeping in mind of the above uncertainties, including scanty nature of the studies and the gaps in our knowledge about the health effects of RF radiation, it is advised to keep the exposures much below the prescribed international guidelines. Use mobile phones for messaging only. Hand-free phones are safer. Since children are more sensitive to the radiation, mobile phones should be kept away from children.
There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones maintain the radiation emission levels of the mobiles much lower than the standards. The base stations should be shared among the service providers to minimize the required number of base stations. Base stations near schools and crowded areas should be avoided.
There should be a dedicated regulatory body for strict regulation of the mobile phone usage. The regulators should periodically monitor the ambient RF levels near the base stations and display the readings for public knowledge and for checking compliance with the set limits by regulators. House insurance/health insurance schemes should also look into the safety of erecting antenna on the residential building tops.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
What is dirty bomb?
A “dirty bomb” is not a nuclear weapon or bomb, the type of which was exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Dirty bomb is also called as “radiological dispersal device” (RDD) that combines a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material. Most RDDs would not release enough radiation to kill people or to cause radiation induced severe illness. However, the effects of the conventional explosive itself would be more harmful to individuals than the radioactive material.
Terrorist organizations may use this type of explosion to create panic and fear amongst the target population groups. Making prompt, accurate information available to the public could prevent the panic situation sought by terrorist organizations.
However, depending on the scenario, RDD explosion could create fear and panic due to the radioactive part of the bomb. This is the main motive behind using radioactive material in the conventional bomb. The explosion will contaminate property, may be a few blocks or a few kilometers depending upon the quantity, type of radioactive material used, method used for the dispersal and the weather conditions at that point of time. The clean up of the contamination is potentially costly, need expert’s guidance and time consuming.
Prompt detection of the type of radioactive material used will greatly assist local authorities in advising the community on protective measures, such as sheltering in place, or quickly leaving the immediate area. Radiation can be readily detected with equipment already carried by many emergency responders. There are expert groups identified by the government to respond to such type of emergencies within minutes. Media such as television and mobile messaging system come handy in informing the public as to the protective actions to be taken to minimize the exposure to radiation. The experts also will asess the radiation dose received by the exposed persons and suggest remedial measures, if required.
Thumb rules for the protection are: i) minimize the time spent near the affected area and ii) keep sufficient distance from the site of contamination. The inhalation of the airborne radioactive material can be prevented by using a wet handkerchief over the nose or a respirator normally used by the hospital staff.
Terrorist organizations may use this type of explosion to create panic and fear amongst the target population groups. Making prompt, accurate information available to the public could prevent the panic situation sought by terrorist organizations.
However, depending on the scenario, RDD explosion could create fear and panic due to the radioactive part of the bomb. This is the main motive behind using radioactive material in the conventional bomb. The explosion will contaminate property, may be a few blocks or a few kilometers depending upon the quantity, type of radioactive material used, method used for the dispersal and the weather conditions at that point of time. The clean up of the contamination is potentially costly, need expert’s guidance and time consuming.
Prompt detection of the type of radioactive material used will greatly assist local authorities in advising the community on protective measures, such as sheltering in place, or quickly leaving the immediate area. Radiation can be readily detected with equipment already carried by many emergency responders. There are expert groups identified by the government to respond to such type of emergencies within minutes. Media such as television and mobile messaging system come handy in informing the public as to the protective actions to be taken to minimize the exposure to radiation. The experts also will asess the radiation dose received by the exposed persons and suggest remedial measures, if required.
Thumb rules for the protection are: i) minimize the time spent near the affected area and ii) keep sufficient distance from the site of contamination. The inhalation of the airborne radioactive material can be prevented by using a wet handkerchief over the nose or a respirator normally used by the hospital staff.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Radiation protection of non-human species.
ICRP Publication 91 (2003) provided the basic framework for assessing the impact of ionizing radiation on non-human species. In order to provide further guidance on the issue, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) brought out a draft document, the work of an ICRP Task Group, to address “Environmental Protection: The Concept and Use of Reference Animals and Plants”.
This draft provides the practical basis for consideration of non-human species in radiological protection. The draft report can be downloaded from the ICRP site. It is said that the ICRP would much appreciate receiving comments and suggestions regarding this draft by all concerned not later than Friday 28 March, 2008.
This draft provides the practical basis for consideration of non-human species in radiological protection. The draft report can be downloaded from the ICRP site. It is said that the ICRP would much appreciate receiving comments and suggestions regarding this draft by all concerned not later than Friday 28 March, 2008.
Friday, December 28, 2007
ICRP Publication 103: Recommendations of the ICRP
Annals of the ICRP Volume 37/2-3
Elsevier, Price: £ 116.00
Abstract- These revised Recommendations for a System of Radiological Protection formally replace the Commission’s previous, 1990, Recommendations, and update, consolidate, and develop the additional guidance on the control of exposure from radiation sources issued since 1990.
The present Recommendations update the radiation and tissue weighting factors in the quantities equivalent and effective dose and update the radiation detriment, based on the latest available scientific information of the biology and physics of radiation exposure. They maintain the Commission’s three fundamental principles of radiological protection, namely justification, optimisation and the application of dose limits, clarifying how they apply to radiation sources delivering exposure and to individuals receiving exposure. The Recommendations evolve from the previous process-based protection approach using practices and interventions by moving to an approach based on the exposure situation. They recognise planned, emergency, and existing exposure situations, and apply the fundamental principles of justification and optimisation of protection to all of these situations. They maintain the Commission’s current individual dose limits for effective dose and equivalent dose from all regulated sources in planned exposure situations. They re-inforce the principle of optimisation of protection, which should be applicable in a similar way to all exposure situations, subject to restrictions on individual doses and risks: dose and risk constraints for planned exposure situations, and reference levels for emergency and existing exposure situations. The Recommendations also include an approach for developing a framework to demonstrate radiological protection of the environment.
(For details: www.icrp.org)
Elsevier, Price: £ 116.00
Abstract- These revised Recommendations for a System of Radiological Protection formally replace the Commission’s previous, 1990, Recommendations, and update, consolidate, and develop the additional guidance on the control of exposure from radiation sources issued since 1990.
The present Recommendations update the radiation and tissue weighting factors in the quantities equivalent and effective dose and update the radiation detriment, based on the latest available scientific information of the biology and physics of radiation exposure. They maintain the Commission’s three fundamental principles of radiological protection, namely justification, optimisation and the application of dose limits, clarifying how they apply to radiation sources delivering exposure and to individuals receiving exposure. The Recommendations evolve from the previous process-based protection approach using practices and interventions by moving to an approach based on the exposure situation. They recognise planned, emergency, and existing exposure situations, and apply the fundamental principles of justification and optimisation of protection to all of these situations. They maintain the Commission’s current individual dose limits for effective dose and equivalent dose from all regulated sources in planned exposure situations. They re-inforce the principle of optimisation of protection, which should be applicable in a similar way to all exposure situations, subject to restrictions on individual doses and risks: dose and risk constraints for planned exposure situations, and reference levels for emergency and existing exposure situations. The Recommendations also include an approach for developing a framework to demonstrate radiological protection of the environment.
(For details: www.icrp.org)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Latest ICRP Recommendations -2007 are now available
NEWS ITEM
User’s Edition
This lower-cost version includes the full text of the actual Recommendations
(pp. 1 – 135) but not the scientific Annexes with background data (pp. 137 – 332); it can be ordered at: http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/catalogue/
Bulk orders and/or sponsored copies
Significant discounts are available if you wish to purchase a number of copies, e.g., for your employees, or regulators may wish to distribute copies to licensees. It is also possible if desired to discuss overprinting the cover with your logo on a print run (however, ICRP reserves the right to edit or reject specific proposals). For more information about these options, please contact Sarah Cahill at our publisher’s, at: s.cahill@elsevier.com
Special discount options and translations
Developing countries
In about 100 countries, the reports of ICRP (and many other scientific publications) are available at little or no cost through the ‘HINARI’ programme. In order to investigate whether you qualify for this programme, and to register, please visit: http://www.who.int/hinari/en/
IRPA Associated Societies
If your IRPA Associated Society has made the appropriate deal with our publishers and ICRP, there is a discount for members. For more information, please see: http://www.icrp.org/freepubl.asp
User’s Edition
This lower-cost version includes the full text of the actual Recommendations
(pp. 1 – 135) but not the scientific Annexes with background data (pp. 137 – 332); it can be ordered at: http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/catalogue/
Bulk orders and/or sponsored copies
Significant discounts are available if you wish to purchase a number of copies, e.g., for your employees, or regulators may wish to distribute copies to licensees. It is also possible if desired to discuss overprinting the cover with your logo on a print run (however, ICRP reserves the right to edit or reject specific proposals). For more information about these options, please contact Sarah Cahill at our publisher’s, at: s.cahill@elsevier.com
Special discount options and translations
Developing countries
In about 100 countries, the reports of ICRP (and many other scientific publications) are available at little or no cost through the ‘HINARI’ programme. In order to investigate whether you qualify for this programme, and to register, please visit: http://www.who.int/hinari/en/
IRPA Associated Societies
If your IRPA Associated Society has made the appropriate deal with our publishers and ICRP, there is a discount for members. For more information, please see: http://www.icrp.org/freepubl.asp
Monday, December 17, 2007
Microwaves for Cancer treatment
It is reported in Cancer Therapy Journal that large tumors in the breast, treated with a combination of chemotherapy and microwave heat treatment, have shown 50% higher size reduction than the tumors treated with chemotherapy alone. The combination of different cancer treatment techniques has been consistently showing better results than using a single technique such as chemotherapy or surgery.
It is worth mentioning here that radiation, either ionizing radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays or non-ionizing radiation such as microwaves can cause cancers under some conditions, and can also cure (destroy) cancers when the dose and dose rates are sufficiently high to kill the cancer tissues.
Two important precautions, however to be taken from the considerations of radiation protection are i) to ensure that the radiation dosage given should be optimized (not less, not more) and ii) the healthier tissues around the tumor are protected while giving the radiation dose.
It is worth mentioning here that radiation, either ionizing radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays or non-ionizing radiation such as microwaves can cause cancers under some conditions, and can also cure (destroy) cancers when the dose and dose rates are sufficiently high to kill the cancer tissues.
Two important precautions, however to be taken from the considerations of radiation protection are i) to ensure that the radiation dosage given should be optimized (not less, not more) and ii) the healthier tissues around the tumor are protected while giving the radiation dose.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) is being revised
A staff reporter of the IAEA reported that the INES scale, originally developed for nuclear power plants in the 1990s, is being revised to make it more versatile and informative tool. Its aim is to consistently communicate the severity of nuclear and radiological incidents and accidents in nuclear industry in the scale 1-3 (incidents) and 4 to 7 (accidents). The scale will now cover all events associated with radiation and radioactive material, including transport related events and human exposure to sources of radiation. The underlying methodology of assessment originally planned for the events rating has not changed. However, the previous procedures were not detailed enough to consistently rate events related to all radiation sources and transportation of the radioactive materials. Over the years, the procedures employed for rating the events have been considerably improved /modified.
The revised scale considers the impact on people and the environment of localized events of exposure of a few people close to the location of the event, or widespread impact, as with the release of radioactive material from an installation. The impact on facilities covers unplanned increased radiation fields due to breach in shielding and spillage of significant quantities of radioactive material resulting from failure of barriers. Degradation in defense-in-depth covers those events without direct impact on people or facilities but for which the measures put in place to prevent accidents did not function as intended.
The revision process has engaged IAEA experts, the INES Advisory Committee and consultants in nuclear safety and radiological protection. The target date for officially issuing the new and improved scale is the end of 2008.
The revised scale considers the impact on people and the environment of localized events of exposure of a few people close to the location of the event, or widespread impact, as with the release of radioactive material from an installation. The impact on facilities covers unplanned increased radiation fields due to breach in shielding and spillage of significant quantities of radioactive material resulting from failure of barriers. Degradation in defense-in-depth covers those events without direct impact on people or facilities but for which the measures put in place to prevent accidents did not function as intended.
The revision process has engaged IAEA experts, the INES Advisory Committee and consultants in nuclear safety and radiological protection. The target date for officially issuing the new and improved scale is the end of 2008.
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