TPM-A - AAHP Special Session: The System of Radiological Protection, Part 1 Centennial Ballroom 300A 13:30 - 18:30
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| Chair(s): Scott Schwahn, Christopher Clement
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TPM-A.1
13:30 Why Revise the System of Radiological Protection? W Rühm*, ICRP
; CH Clement, ICRP
Abstract: The effort to review ICRP Publication 60, the 1990 general recommendations of ICRP, that led to ICRP Publication 103, the current 2007 general recommendations, began more than two decades ago and took about a decade to complete. Given this timing, and more than a decade of experience with the 2007 general recommendations, ICRP is initiating, in consultation with stakeholders, a review of the current system to assess which areas may need further attention given the lessons of the past decade and advances in scientific knowledge, the evolution of societal values, and progress in the practical implementation of radiological protection. While it is safe to conclude that the system is robust and has performed well in relation to the protection objectives, the system must adapt to address changes in science and society to remain fit for purpose. There are new scientific findings that must be addressed, new applications and other exposures to ionising that need to be considered, and experience with relatively new aspects of the System of Radiological Protection such as the concept of exposure situations introduced in 2007. Development of revised general recommendations is also an opportunity to produce a single internally consistent reference incorporating the incremental updates since the 2007 recommendations.
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TPM-A.2
14:15 The Process for Developing New Recommendations for Radiological Protection DA Cool*, ICRP
Abstract: The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has embarked on a process to review and revise the current System of Radiological Protection (‘the System’). This goal of the process is to issue a successor to ICRP Publication 103 in about a decade. It is important to note that, while ICRP is the steward of the System, the System exists for those who use it to protect patients, workers, the public and the environment. Consequently, collaboration with all of those using and benefitting from the System is essential. For this reason, over the next decade, ICRP will work in a collaborative spirit to develop the next General Recommendations that will shape radiation-related policy, practice, guidelines, and regulations around the world. The ICRP plans to engage widely on the topics for the review, and plans to do so through published papers, workshops, and other forums. To stimulate discussion, in 2021 ICRP published two open-access articles, one on aspects of the System that might require review, and another on research which might improve the scientific foundation of the System. Building on these articles, ICRP organised a digital workshop on ‘The Future of Radiological Protection’ as an opportunity to engage in the review and revision of the System. This type of open discussion and engagement is critical to both understand the issues and perspectives, and to elicit approaches to updated recommendations that can serve radiological protection in the coming decades. This presentation will outline the historical development of recommendations, the current plans for the review and update of the System, and solicit ideas for further enhancements.
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TPM-A.3
14:45 IRPA perspective on the Review of the System of Radiological Protection. SM Magnusson*, IRPA/Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority
; B LeGuen, IRPA; CL Chapple, IRPA
Abstract: The efficiency, communicability, and understandability of the system of Radiological Protection is a high priority for the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), the global voice of the radiation protection professionals.
In 2015 IRPA consulted with the Associate Societies (AS) on the broad effectiveness of the RP system. Summary of the outcome was published in the Journal of Radiological Protection 38 (2018).
One of the main issues to emerge from the 2015 consultation was reasonableness in optimization and this issue was the focus of a consultation with AS and international organizations in 2020.
Summary of the outcome “ An IRPA Perspective on ‘Reasonableness’ in the Optimisation of Radiation Protection “ has been published on IRPA website.
Both these IRPA initiatives are a very important input to the revision of the RP system providing the perspective of the professionals who must live with the system.
In July 2021 IRPA established a Task Group on the Review of the System of Radiological Protection as a first step to facilitate active IRPA involvement in the review process proposed by ICRP. Furthermore, IRPA informed all AS about this first step, encouraging them to organise feedback to ICRP, through the IRPA TG, and independently.
The Task Group has 30 members from 20 AS representing thousands of RP professionals from all regions of the world.
Initial feedback from 16 AS on the ICRP “ fit for purpose” paper in September 2021 and revised feedback from 10 AS at the end of 2021 was consolidated to provide an overview reflecting areas of broad consensus and the spectrum of views of the radiation protection professionals.
The focus of the IRPA presentation will be on the consolidated feedback obtained from AS in 2021 providing the perspective of the radiation protection professionals based on their practical experience living with the System.
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TPM-A.4
15:15 Break
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TPM-A.5
15:45 How the ICRP System of Radiological Protection Influences EPA’s Guidance and Regulations JS Nagata*, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
; SD DeCair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; MA Boyd, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract: The EPA mission is to protect human health and the environment. EPA’s Radiation Protection Program does this through regulatory processes, issuance of federal guidance for radiological protection, emergency preparedness and response activities, and radiological risk communication. The International Commission on Radiological Protection’s (ICRP) system of protection informs these areas of work in numerous ways—through integration of guiding principles (e.g., justification, optimization, application of dose limits, ethics, and stakeholder engagement), utilization of biokinetic and dosimetric methodologies, and consideration of international radiological emergency response guidance. EPA staff are actively engaged in the work of ICRP task groups and provide support to the work of its committees. EPA was an active stakeholder during the development of the most recent ICRP recommendations in Publication 103 and looks forward to continuing in that role in the coming years during the development of the next set of General Recommendations. The decentralized approach to a radiation protection framework in the United States can present challenges when updating regulations and guidance to reflect the most recent ICRP recommendations and harmonizing guidance and regulations across national and international radiation protection programs. Nevertheless, the ICRP system of protection and the underpinning science that supports it offer sound and welcome advice in support of EPA’s radiation protection mission.
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TPM-A.6
16:15 NCRP’s Views on Radiation Protection Guidance KD Held*, NCRP
Abstract: In 2018 the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) published Report No. 180, Management of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Radiation Protection Guidance for the United States (2018), which is an update of 1993 guidance. The new recommendations reflect the many advances in knowledge on biological effects of radiation, especially regarding cancer, but also cardiovascular diseases and cataracts, and the changing world of radiation sciences/protection due to the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident, increasing potential for radiological/nuclear incidents, and the increases in patients’ medical ionizing radiation exposures. Many important new elements are included, such as patient exposures to medical imaging and radiation therapy and considerations about comforters and caregivers and volunteers in biomedical research; NORM/TENORM; emergency responders; non-human biota; and ethical principles and their application to radiation protection. The new recommendations integrate knowledge of human biological effects of ionizing radiation, established ethical principles, experience with the use and management of radioactivity and radiation-producing devices, and experience with radiation protection approaches. While the goals for radiation protection in the United States are the same as those for the international community, there are some differences in the specific approaches taken to achieve these goals. NCRP radiation protection principles for exposure of humans are now expressed as justification, optimization of protection, and numeric protection criteria (for management of dose to an individual). When there is a numeric protection criterion for a specific exposure situation, the first objective is to meet that protection criterion, then optimization of protection should be applied. These differences are discussed in detail in Report No. 180 and may be useful to ICRP and others when considering revisions of the System of Radiological Protection.
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TPM-A.7
16:45 Panel
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TPM-A.8
17:30 AAHP Business Meeting
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