ICRP Publication 103. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection

Description

The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 103, Ann ICRP Vol. 37 No. 2-4 (2007).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. Thus, 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 reinforce the principle of optimisation of protection, which should be applicable in a similar way to all exposure situations, subject to the following 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.THE AIMS AND SCOPE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS The aims of the Recommendations The basis and structure of the system of protection The scope of the Recommendations Exclusion and exemption BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION The induction of deterministic effects (harmful tissue reactions) he induction of stochastic effects The induction of diseases other than cancer Radiation effects in the embryo and fetus Judgements and uncertainties QUANTITIES USED IN RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION Considerations of health effects Dose quantities Assessment of radiation exposure Uncertainties and judgements THE SYSTEM OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION OF HUMANS The definition of a source Types of exposure situations Categories of exposure The identification of the exposed individuals Levels of radiological protection The principles of radiological protection Justification Optimisation of protection Dose constraints and reference levels Dose limits IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS Planned exposure situations Emergency exposure situations Existing exposure situations Protection of the embryo/fetus in emergency and existing exposure situation. Comparison of radiological protection criteria Practical implementation MEDICAL EXPOSURE OF PATIENTS, COMFORTERS AND CARERS, AND VOLUNTEERS in BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH Justification for medical procedures Optimisation of protection in medical exposures Effective dose in medical exposure Exposure of patients who are pregnant Accident prevention in external beam therapy and brachytherapy Protection of carers and comforters of patients treated with radionuclides Volunteers for biomedical research PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT The objectives of radiological protection of the environment Reference Animals and Plants ANNEX A. BIOLOGICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ON HEALTH RISKS ATTRIBUTABLE TO IONISING RADIATION ANNEX B. QUANTITIES USED IN RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION