The 11th EAN Workshop on ALARA in
radioactive waste management in Athens showed that the implementation
of the ALARA principle was a common and crucial factor in the nuclear
fuel cycle, medical, NORM, industrial, educational and research
sectors. In addition, numerous recent incidents and accidents in the
medical sector, in particular in radiotherapy, lead to a reinforcement
of the control of medical activities by Radiation Protection and Safety
Authorities all over Europe. Most of the surveys and inspections made
in the medical sector demonstrate that exposures received both by
patients and workers could be reduced and optimised through
improvements and changes in day-to-day practices, the use and mastery
of modern equipments, and the intensification of the training of
professionals. The article on patient doses from dental radiography in
the UK published in the present Newsletter is a very good example of
the extent of the problem and the benefits that could be gained by a
rigorous implementation of the ALARA principle. The industrial sector,
not to be outdone, continues to be affected by radiation incidents that
show that vigilance towards radiation protection should be everyones
business and concern - see hereafter the incident of a melting source in Italy and the implementation of the HASS Directive in the same country as a response to prevent radiological accidents in the industrial sector. The dissemination and extension of radiological
protection networking is a recent and promising solution to improve the
development of a practical radiological culture all over the world (see
Lefaures paper), through public and professionals channels.
To
conclude, until scientific research provides unequivocal answers about
the radiation effects at low doses and/or low dose rates (see Mundigls
paper as an example for tritium), the optimisation of radiological
protection will remain the only responsible approach to managing
radiation exposures.
Contents of the Issue
EAN 11th Workshop: "ALARA in Radioactive Waste Management" - Conclusions and Recommendations, P. Shaw (HPA, UK), P. Croüail (CEPN, France)
High activity sources (HASS) in Italy and the implementation of the EU Directive, S. De Crescenzo, A. Anversa, G. Bertani (Public Health Department, Lombardia District, Italy)
Patients doses from dental radiography in the UK - an analysis of HPA data, P.G. Ramsden (HPA, UK)
Incident involving stainless steel sheets contaminated with cobalt 60 in Italy, Lieutenant Colonel R. Massi (Carabinieri Environmental Care Command, Italy)
Dissemination and extension of radiological protection networking to new shapes and scopes, C. Lefaure (Independant expert, France)
EU Scientific Seminar 2007: "Emerging issues on tritium and low energy beta emitters", S. Mundigl (European Commission)