ICRP draft publication on 'radiological protection against radon exposure'

2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.- F. Lecomte
Keyword(s):  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Radon Exposure

scholarly journals PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION AGAINST RADON EXPOSURE. CHALLENGES AND RESOLUTIONS

2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey M. Kiselev ◽  
I. P. Stamat ◽  
A. M. Marenny ◽  
L. A. Ilyin
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current State ◽  
Russian President ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
State Of Affairs

In the Year of Ecology, announced by the Russian President in the Decree №7, 05/01/16, the authors aim both to draw the attention of the scientific community to the public radiological protection issues concerning radon exposure in Russia and to recognize the neccesity of their resolution. Taking into account the modern scientific evidence on the health impacts of radon and its progenies, the changes of the regulatory approaches to public radiation protection are analyzed. Considering modern challenges in the radon control the current state of affairs in Russia is reviewed. The achieved results in public radiation protection in Russia and new challenges are discussed taking into account new WHO, ICRP and IAEA recommendations. The potential means to improve the current national radon strategy are considered.

scholarly journals Effective dose coefficients for inhaled radon and its progeny: ICRP’s approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 03002
Author(s):  
James W. Marsh ◽  
John D. Harrison ◽  
Dominique Laurier ◽  
Margot Tirmarche
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Radon Progeny ◽  
Cancer Risks ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Dosimetric Data ◽  
Aerosol Parameter ◽  
Dose Coefficients ◽  
Parameter Values

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recently published three reports on radon exposure: (i) Publication 115 on lung cancer risks from radon and radon progeny [1], (ii) Publication 126 on radiological protection against radon exposure [2] and (iii) Publication 137 on Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides (OIR), Part 3 [3]. The latter document gives doses coefficients for the inhalation of radon, thoron and their airborne progeny as well as recommendations for their use for the protection of workers. As with all other radionuclides, the effective dose coefficients are calculated with ICRP reference biokinetic and dosimetric models. Sufficient information and dosimetric data are given so that site-specific dose coefficients can be calculated based on measured aerosol parameter values.

Risk of lung cancer from radon exposure: contribution of recently published studies of uranium miners

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 368-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tirmarche ◽  
J. Harrison ◽  
D. Laurier ◽  
E. Blanchardon ◽  
F. Paquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Absolute Risk ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Risk Models ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Asian Populations ◽  
Uranium Miners ◽  
Background Mortality

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recently estimated the risk of lung cancer associated with radon exposure, and a statement was issued in ICRP Publication 115. This was based on recent epidemiological studies and the results from a joint analysis of cohorts of Czech, French, and German uranium miners, and indicated that the excess relative risk of lung cancer per unit of exposure should be expressed with consideration of chronic exposure over more than 10 years, by modelling time since median exposure, age attained or age at exposure, and taking in account, if possible, interaction between radon and tobacco. The lifetime excess absolute risk (LEAR) calculated from occupational exposure studies is close to 5 × 10−4 per working level month (WLM) (14 × 10−5 per hm J/m3). LEAR values estimated using risk models derived from both miners and domestic exposure studies are in good agreement after accounting for factors such as sex, attained age, and exposure scenario. A sensitivity analysis highlighted the high dependence of background mortality rates on LEAR estimates. Using lung cancer rates among Euro-American males instead of the ICRP reference rates (males and females, and Euro-American and Asian populations), the estimated LEAR is close to 7 × 10−4 per WLM (20 × 10−5 per hm J/m3).

Radon and Lung Cancer: An Epidemiological Study in Norway

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 471-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Stranden ◽  
K. Magnus ◽  
A.C. James ◽  
B.M.R. Green ◽  
T. Strand
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Epidemiological Study ◽  
Cancer Registry ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Cancer Society ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Radon Measurements

Abstract The objectives and strategy of an epidemiological study on the effects of exposure to radon in Norwegian dwellings is presented. The study is a cooperation between the National Institute of Radiation Hygiene and the Norwegian Cancer Registry in Norway and the National Radiological Protection Board of the United Kingdom, with funding by the Norwegian Cancer Society. Measurements of radon are being made in 10,000 dwellings representing all Norwegian municipalities. The houses have been selected by a stratified random sampling procedure based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Norway. The number of measurements in each municipality is proportional to the number of inhabitants. The total population of Norway is about 4 million. Thus one measurement will be performed per 400 inhabitants and one in 150 homes will be measured. The potential for detecting an effect of radon exposure by such a study in Norway is unique because; (1) Radon concentrations are high and there are large regional variations. (2) Data from the Norwegian Cancer Registry is of high quality: all cancers have been subject to compulsory reporting since 1955. These data can be broken down according to municipality, sex and age. (3) In 1964/1965 a large scale survey of smoking habits was carried out in Norway. These data can also be broken down according to municipality, sex and age, and by types of smoking and smoking rate. It is intended to examine the correlation between lung cancer incidence and geographical variation in radon levels after making allowance for smoking habilts. Radon measurements were started in early 1987 and the results of the study are expected to be published in 1989.

scholarly journals The Laboratory of Natural Radiation (LNR) – a place to test radon instruments under variable conditions of radon concentration and climatic variables

Nukleonika ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Santiago Quindós Poncela ◽  
Carlos Sainz Fernández ◽  
José-Luis Gutiérrez-Villanueva ◽  
Ismael Fuente Merino ◽  
Santiago Celaya González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Natural Radiation ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
Direct Outcome ◽  
Testing Room

Abstract The publication of the new European Union Basic Safety Standards represents a remarkable milestone in the field of radiological protection in terms of adding radon exposure to this framework. Therefore, the coming years will bring the need to measure radon not only in the workplaces but also in the living spaces as a direct outcome of the application of the new EU Directive. So, the importance of having reliable instruments is evident and interlaboratory exercises are becoming more and more popular. However, most of them are carried out under constant conditions of meteorological variables. We present in this paper a facility to broaden the interlaboratory comparisons further by adding the study of radon exposures under real conditions of changes in climatic parameters. In addition, the facility has the possibility to verify the response of radon monitors when the radon concentration changes several orders of magnitude in a short period of time. Our work shows some results of one of the interlaboratory exercises carried out in the premises, where the radon levels were rather homogeneous in the testing room.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Thoron (220Rn) and Its Progeny in the Indoor Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8769
Author(s):  
Shinji Tokonami
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Lung Cancer Risk ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Thoron Progeny

The present paper outlines characteristics of thoron and its progeny in the indoor environment. Since the half-life of thoron (220Rn) is very short (55.6 s), its behavior is quite different from the isotope radon (222Rn, half-life 3.8 days) in the environment. Analyses of radon and lung cancer risk have revealed a clearly positive relationship in epidemiological studies among miners and residents. However, there is no epidemiological evidence for thoron exposure causing lung cancer risk. In contrast to this, a dosimetric approach has been approved in the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 137, from which new dose conversion factors for radon and thoron progenies can be obtained. They are given as 16.8 and 107 nSv (Bq m−3 h)−1, respectively. It implies that even a small quantity of thoron progeny will induce higher radiation exposure compared to radon. Thus, an interest in thoron exposure is increasing among the relevant scientific communities. As measurement technologies for thoron and its progeny have been developed, they are now readily available. This paper reviews measurement technologies, activity levels, dosimetry and resulting doses. Although thoron has been underestimated in the past, recent findings have revealed that reassessment of risks due to radon exposure may need to take the presence of thoron and its progeny into account.

Radon and the system of radiological protection

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 389-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Lecomte
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Dose Limit ◽  
Draft Report ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms ◽  
Radon Risk

At its meeting in Porto, Portugal, in November 2009, the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) approved the formation of a new Task Group, reporting to Committee 4, to develop guidance on radiological protection against radon exposure. This article describes the Task Group's draft report entitled “Radiological Protection against Radon Exposure” which has been posted on the ICRP website for public consultation between January and June 2012. In this report, the Commission provides updated guidance on radiological protection against radon exposure. The report was developed considering the recently consolidated ICRP general recommendations, the new scientific knowledge about radon risk, and the experience gained by many organisations and countries in the control of radon exposure. The report describes the characteristics of radon exposure, covering sources and transfer mechanisms, nature of the risk, exposure conditions, similarities with other existing exposure situations, and challenges to manage radon exposure. In order to control radon exposure, the Commission recommends an integrated approach that is focused as much as possible on the management of the building or location in which radon exposure occurs, regardless of the purpose of the building and the category of the occupants. This approach is based on the optimisation principle, and a graded approach according to the degree of responsibilities at stake, notably in workplaces, and the level of ambition of the national authorities. The report emphasises the importance of preventive actions, and provides recommendations on how to control radon exposure in workplaces when workers’ exposure can reasonably be regarded as being the responsibility of the operating management. In such a case, workers’ exposures are considered to be occupational, and are controlled using the corresponding requirements on the basis of the optimisation principle, and application, as appropriate, of the dose limit.

ICRP Publication 126: Radiological Protection against Radon Exposure

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
J-F. Lecomte ◽  
S. Solomon ◽  
J. Takala ◽  
T. Jung ◽  
P. Strand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Icrp Publication

Radiation protection at the iron mines in the conditions of technogenically increased sources of natural origin

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66
Author(s):  
L.O. Ischenko ◽  
T.A. Kovalchuk
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Radiation Control ◽  
Decay Products ◽  
Key Words Iron

The Purpose of the Research. To draw up a system of measures for radiation protection at the iron ore mines to facilitate the control of the natural exposure component of miners and to ensure that the established dose criteria are not exceeded. Methodsand Materials. During the development of the measures, the results and conclusions of the radiation-hygienic study of the Kryvyi Rih Agglomeration iron ore mines, the territory of which was identified as radon-dangerous with the presence of man-made sources of natural origin, were used. The measurements were made on the selected network of control points at the horizons of the mines. For analysis, the system was used to measure the volumetric activity of radon and its subsidiary decay products in the mine atmosphere, the dose rate of gamma radiation in mines, the content of natural radionuclides in the ores, the dustiness of the mine atmosphere. At the same time, they were guided by the main regulatory and methodological base. Results and Conclusions.The main stages of the developed system of radiation protection at iron ore mines in terms of technogenic-enhanced sources of natural origin are: radiation-hygienic examination, radiation control, protection measures for normalization of radiation situation, control of the effectiveness of radiation prevention, preventive protection. The decision on the need for radiation monitoring and the implementation of radiation protection measures for iron ore mines is made on the basis of the preliminary survey, which determines the categories of the mine and the type of control. On the basis of the conducted research of iron ore mines of Kryvyi Rih Agglomeration, a system of radiation protection was developed and ordered, the sequence of implementation of measures of radiation examination, radiation control and normalization of radiation situation was substantiated. The measures developed need to be consistent with the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection regarding radiological protection against radon exposure in the workplace. Key Words: iron ore mines, radiation protection, radiation control, radon, man-made sources of natural origin, miners.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document