scholarly journals The Australasian Radiation Protection Society's Position Statement on Risks from Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation

Dose-Response ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. dose-response.0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Higson

Controversy continues on whether or not ionizing radiation is harmful at low doses, with unresolved scientific uncertainty about effects below a few tens of millisieverts. To settle what regulatory controls should apply in this dose region, an assumption has to be made relating dose to the possibility of harm or benefit. The position of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society on this matter is set out in a statement adopted by the Society in 2005. Its salient features are: There is insufficient evidence to establish a dose-effect relationship for doses that are less than a few tens of millisieverts in a year. A linear extrapolation from higher dose levels should be assumed only for the purpose of applying regulatory controls. Estimates of collective dose arising from individual doses that are less than some tens of millisieverts in a year should not be used to predict numbers of fatal cancers. The risk to an individual of doses significantly less than 100 microsieverts in a year is so small, if it exists at all, that regulatory requirements to control exposure at this level are not warranted.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Ayal ◽  
Ronen Hareuveny ◽  
Oren Perez

AbstractThe main objective of this article is to develop a better understanding of the structure of transnational regulatory scientific institutions (RSIs). We will argue that the hybrid political-legal-epistemic nature of RSIs creates a continual tension between their hierarchical and policy-driven structure and the paradigms of objectivity, parallelism and non-centralism that characterize science. The article examines the way in which RSIs cope with the challenge of maintaining their epistemic/political authority against the tensions generated by their hybrid structure. The article focuses on three institutions: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the International Competition Network (ICN), and examines how this challenge manifests itself in the context of these three bodies. The article links the discussion of hybrid authority with the problem of scientific uncertainty. It concludes with a discussion of the optimal design of RSIs.


1984 ◽  
Vol 23 (02) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Flemming

SummaryIn the beginning of medical radiology, only the benefit of ionizing radiation was obvious, and radiation was handled and applied generously. After late effects had become known, the radiation exposure was reduced to doses following which no such effects were found. Thus, it was assumed that one could obtain an optimal medical benefit without inducing any hazard. Later, due to experimental findings, hypotheses arose (linear dose-effect response, no time factor) which led to the opinion that even low and lowest radiation doses were relevant for the induction of late effects. A radiation fear grew, which was unintentionally strengthened by radiation protection decrees: even for low doses a radiation risk could be calculated. Therefore, it was believed that there could still exist a radiation hazard, and the radiation benefit remained in question. If, however, all presently known facts are considered, one must conclude that large radiation doses are hazardous and low doses are inefficient, whereas lowest doses have a biopositive effect. Ionizing radiation, therefore, may cause both, hazard as well as benefit. Which of the two effects prevails is determined by the level of dose.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanggam Ramantisan ◽  
◽  
Siti Akbari Pandaningrum ◽  
Suwardi Suwardi ◽  
Syarifudin Syarifudin ◽  
...  

Ionizing radiation safety in the medical field, referred to as radiation safety, is an action taken to protect patients, workers, community members, and the environment from the dangers of radiation. One of the efforts to achieve this is by increasing the qualifications of radiation workers in understanding and implementing radiation protection and safety through ionizing radiation safety and security training initiated by the Radiation Protection Officer (PPR) team at Dr. RSUP. Kariadi Semarang. During the current pandemic, implemented the training by modifying what was previously done using face-to-face and field practice into online delivery of material and making videos as a substitute for field practice. As a result, these activities can run well and smoothly. The impression from the training participants stated that this training was beneficial and should be done regularly. Keywords: training, ionizing radiation, radiation protection officer


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42
Author(s):  
Gabriel Doménech Pascual

Private scientific organizations exert a great deal of influence in the regulation of some technological risks. The high level of expertise of their members is arguably a good reason for them to participate in making and monitoring risk regulations, in order to adjust these to scientific progress. Nevertheless, there are also sound reasons why governments shouldn’t uncritically follow the views expressed by such organizations. Taking the role played by the International Commission on Non–Ionizing Radiation Protection in the regulation of electromagnetic fields as an illustrative example, this paper shows that private scientific organizations such as these are structurally less well suited than democratic authorities when it comes to managing those risks.


Author(s):  
Nataliya Uzlenkova

The review systematized the current data on new classes of pharmacological compounds and biologically active substances in the field of radiation protection in Ukraine, as well as abroad. Methodological approaches and the importance of using appropriate animal models in the development of new pharmacological drugs for radiation protection are described, specifically in the cases when it is impossible to conduct full clinical trials on patients. Current views on the division of pharmacological agents into radioprotectors, radiomitigators, and therapeutic radiation protection agents are examined. The changes in the hematopoietic tissue, gastrointestinal tract and neurovascular system that occur after acute radiation exposure are also described. Particular attention is paid to pharmacological agents that can protect against acute exposure to ionizing radiation by limiting the risk of radiation mortality from the hematological and gastrointestinal forms of radiation syndrome. Results of the effectiveness of tolerant antioxidants with a wide spectrum of biological activity as promising agents for the prevention of acute and delayed radiation-induced pathology, in particular, in lung tissue, are presented. Possible molecular mechanisms of the radioprotective effect of pharmacological compounds on experimental models of total and local radiation exposure are discussed. The effectiveness of the therapeutic use of growth factors and recombinant cytokines in acute bone marrow suppression аfter accidental radiation exposure is shown. The possibilities of cell therapy with myeloid progenitor cells mobilized by tocopherol succinate hematopoietic/progenitor cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in acute radiation injuries are shown. Special attention is paid to the importance of improving such methodological approaches and regulatory requirements when introducing into practice new radiation protection facilities in Ukraine. Key words: radiation protection, ionizing radiation, pharmacological agents, acute radiation syndrome. For citation: Uzlenkova NE. New pharmacological means of radiation protection (literature review). Journal of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. 2019;25(3) :268–77


Author(s):  
Rekib Sacaklidir ◽  
Ekim Can Ozturk ◽  
Savas Sencan ◽  
Osman Hakan Gunduz

Background: Since fluoroscopy-guided interventional therapies grew significantly in recent years, exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) either for patient or medical staff became a critical issue. IR exposure varies according to the physicians’ experience, patients’ body mass index (BMI), imaging techniques and type of the procedure performed. The purpose of this study is to calculate the reference IR doses for fluoroscopy-guided epidural injections per procedure and BMI to provide reference doses for potential use in future dose reduction strategies. Methods: A retrospectively, evaluation of patients who received epidural steroid injections between January 2015 and December 2020 in a university hospital interventional pain management center, was performed. This observational study was conducted with patients aged  18 who underwent 3711 epidural injections including cervical interlaminar, lumbar interlaminar, lumbar transforaminal and caudal approaches. Provided IR doses for each patient were also divided by patients’ BMI to obtain dose per BMI. Results: The highest IR dose per procedure was found in caudal epidural injection with 0.218 mGy m2 and lowest dose was in cervical interlaminar epidural injection with 0.057 mGy m2. The IR dose per procedure was 0.123 mGy m2 for lumbar transforaminal and 0.191 mGy m2 for lumbar interlaminar epidural injection. Caudal epidural injection had also the highest IR dose per BMI which was 0.00749 and cervical interlaminar epidural injection had the lowest radiation dose per BMI which was 0.00214. Conclusions: We proposed reference IR dose levels of four approaches of epidural injections obtained from 3711 injections performed in a university hospital pain medicine clinic. BMI of patients were taken into account with the dose levels of injections given per BMI. Multicenter research with standardized techniques will assure more reliable reference levels which will guide pain physicians to self-assess their own levels of radiation exposure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
JE Ikubor ◽  
SN Awunor ◽  
EE Atare

It is important that doctors of the various specialties in a health facility requesting for radiological examinations are knowledgeable about the effect of ionizing radiation. When referring doctors know the amount of radiation their patients receive there will be justification for such investigations in line with the guiding principle of radiation protection – As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) - to minimize risk to the patient. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice of radiation protection and safety amongst doctors in a Teaching Hospital in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study using a self-administered structured questionnaire among 131 doctors in Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara. Data was analyzed using the IBM SPSS v.21. Eighty-eight (67.2%) respondents had a good knowledge of radiation safety while 49 (37.4%) of respondents had a good practice of radiation protection and safety. There was an association between the department of respondents (p=0.009), awareness of body parts sensitive to radiation (p=0.005) and their knowledge of radiation safety. Also, there was an association between the department of respondents (p=0.016), their years of experience (p=0.016) and the practice of radiation safety. Knowledge of radiation safety was high while the practice of radiation protection and safety was low amongst respondents. Gender, department of doctor and awareness of body parts that are sensitive to radiation were associated with good knowledge; while department and years of experience was associated with good practice. It is recommended that doctors receive regular updates on radiation hazards, risks and protection in order to reduce the risk of exposure of patients and health workers to unnecessary ionizing radiation.


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