ICRP workshop on the review and revision of the system of radiological protection: a focus on research priorities-feedback from the international community

This is the final version. Available on open access from IOP Publishing via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: No new data were created or analysed in this study.In September 2022, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) organised a workshop in Estoril, Portugal, on the 'Review and Revision of the System of Radiological Protection: A Focus on Research Priorities'. The workshop, which was a side event of the European Radiation Protection Week, offered an opportunity to comment on a recent paper published by ICRP on areas of research to support the System of Radiological Protection. Altogether, about 150 individuals participated in the workshop. After the workshop, 16 of the 30 organisations in formal relations with ICRP provided written feedback. All participants and organisations followed ICRP's view that further research in various areas will offer additional support in improving the System in the short, medium, and long term. In general, it was emphasised that any research should be outcome-focused in that it should improve protection of people or the environment. Many research topics mentioned by the participants were in line with those already identified by ICRP in the paper noted above. In addition, further ideas were expressed such as, for example, that lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic with regards to the non-radiological social, economic and environment impacts, should be analysed for their usefulness to enhance radiological protection, and that current protection strategies and application of current radiological protection principles may need to be adapted to military scenarios like those observed recently during the military conflict in the Ukraine or the detonation of a nuclear weapon. On a broader perspective, it was discussed how radiation research and radiological protection can contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals announced by the United Nations in 2015. This paper summarises the views expressed during the workshop and the major take home messages identified by ICRP

“ALARA issues arising for safety and security of radiation sources and security screening devices” – Summary and recommendations of the 12th European ALARA network workshop

The 12th European ALARA Network (EAN) workshop on “ALARA issues arising for safety and security of radiation sources and security screening devices” took place in Vienna (Austria) in October 2009. The aim of that workshop was to consider how the implementation of ALARA

La gestion de la contamination de boutons d’ascenseur par du

Fin 2008, une contamination au cobalt-60 a été découverte dans des colis contenant des boutons d’ascenseur de la société française MAFELEC, fournisseur de la compagnie d’ascenseurs OTIS. Les inspections et enquêtes menées par l’ASN (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire) ont permis d’identifier que cette contamination était due à du métal importé d’Inde. L’ASN a alors saisi l’IRSN (Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire) pour évaluer les impacts dosimétriques potentiels de cette contamination. Bien que les impacts évalués pour les travailleurs des deux entreprises et pour le public soient très faibles, cet événement a eu un impact médiatique important en France. En outre, MAFELEC fournissant la société OTIS à travers le monde, des boutons contaminés avaient potentiellement été envoyés dans d’autres pays. Dans ce contexte, le réseau ALARA européen (EAN), regroupant des organismes et des institutions de radioprotection de 20 pays en Europe qui partagent l’objectif de favoriser l’échange et la diffusion d’informations sur les expériences pratiques en matière de mise en œuvre de la démarche d’optimisation, a lancé une requête via son Forum sur les moyens mis en œuvre pour gérer cet événement. Cet article présente la synthèse des informations concernant les 13 pays qui ont répondu à cette requête entre janvier et juillet 2009

“ALARA in radioactive waste management” Summary and recommendations of the 11th European ALARA Network Workshop

The 11th European ALARA Network (EAN) workshop on “ALARA in radioactive waste management” took place in Athens (Greece) in April 2008. The aim of that workshop was to focus on the implementation of the ALARA principle with regard to occupational and public exposures arising from the management of radioactive waste in all sectors (nuclear, medical, industrial, etc.). This workshop consisted of invited oral presentations, which highlighted the main issues, and half of the programme was devoted to discussions within working groups on specific topics. Individual presentations (papers and slides) are available to download from the EAN website (http://www.eu-alara.ne

“Experience and new developments in implementing ALARA in occupational, public and patient exposures” Summary and recommendations of the 10th european ALARA network workshop

The 10th european ALARA network (EAN) workshop took place in Prague (Czech Republic) in September 2006. This was the 10-year anniversary of the EAN, and unlike the previous workshops that addressed a particular ALARA topic, the aim of this workshop was to consider the implementation of the optimisation principle in all domains of activities (nuclear and conventional industry, medical sector, NORM industry). This principle is fundamental to radiation protection, and the workshop drew together key stakeholders to discuss its past, present and future status. The workshop was asked to consider the practical implementation of ALARA, and how this might be improved in the next 10 years. The objectives of the 10th EAN workshop were to review the past evolution of the ALARA concept, internationally, within the EU, and nationally, in terms of the practical impact on radiation protection; to examine the current status of the implementation of the ALARA principle; and to identify needs for future developments in the concept and implementation of optimisation. As with previous workshops, half the programme time was devoted to invited presentations, and half to working group discussions and report backs. After discussion, the output of these working groups was collated by the EAN co-ordinators, to produce seven formal recommendations to international organizations (IAEA, International Labour Organisation, European Commission), to EAN itself and to national authorities. These recommendations deal with justification of practices, holistic approach, ALARA culture, ALARA training, especially in the medical sector, ALARA focus through inspection and control, and stakeholder involvement. Individual presentations (papers and slides) are available to download from the EAN website (http://www.eu-alara.ne

Emergency and rehabilitation preparedness at a community level: the Montbéliard experience

The Montbéliard Community of Municipalities (CAPM), located in the Eastern part of France, is facing different types of natural and technological risks that could affect its territory: flooding, chemical and radiological accidents, etc. In 2006, as part of its Radiation Protection Pilot Project, the CAPM decided to engage a specific collaboration with CEPN and KIT within the EURANOS Project to explore the preparedness process associated with potential nuclear or radiological emergencies and recovery situations. For this purpose, the RODOS Decision Support System for emergency and rehabilitation preparedness was used at a community level. After customisation of the tool with local data, different accident scenarios were simulated. As a result, the territory has engaged concrete actions (inventorying buildings that could accommodate populations in case of evacuation, assessing iodine tablets stocks available on the territory)

Synthèse des visites d’intercomparaison de l’organisation et des pratiques de radioprotection dans des centrales nucléaires

Depuis le début des années 90, EDF a fait des efforts importants en matière d’optimisation de la radioprotection des travailleurs dans les centres nucléaires de production d’électricité (CNPE) ce qui s’est traduit par une forte réduction de la dose individuelle (581 intervenants au dessus de 20 mSv en 1996 ; aucun au dessus de 20 mSv et seulement 17 au dessus de 16 mSv en 2006) et de la dose collective moyenne par tranche (réduction de plus d’un facteur deux en dix ans). EDF souhaite poursuivre ses efforts pour améliorer la radioprotection dans les centrales françaises. Une des voies d’amélioration est l’analyse du retour d’expérience de la pratique des centrales étrangères ayant de très bons résultats dosimétriques ou ayant connu une amélioration récente significative de la dosimétrie. Dans cette perspective, entre 2003 et 2006, le CEPN a organisé pour EDF huit visites d’intercomparaison de l’organisation et des pratiques de radioprotection dans des centrales nucléaires à l’étranger. Lors de chaque visite, une équipe de quatre personnes, composée de deux représentants d’EDF et de deux représentants du CEPN, se rend sur place pendant une semaine et rencontre des représentants de la plupart des services impliqués dans la mise en œuvre des thèmes retenus. Plusieurs bonnes pratiques de radioprotection ont été mises en avant lors de ces visites : une bonne intégration de la radioprotection dans le management de la centrale ; les efforts de réduction du terme source ; l’impact fondamental de la réduction des volumes de travail exposé par l’optimisation des programmes de maintenance et par des modifications entraînant une réduction de la nécessité de maintenance ; une radioprotection de proximité expérimentée ; de nouveaux outils au service de la radioprotection du 21e siècle, en particulier la télésurveillance et la télédosimétrie

The management of contaminated goods in Japan since the Fukushima accident

Feedback analyses from Chernobyl and Fukushima post-accident situations have clearly emphasized the importance of management strategies for contaminated goods during the days, months and years after the accident. For instance, following the accident, the management of contaminated goods generally focuses on the implementation of protective actions, radiological countermeasures and the control of radioactivity in foodstuffs, in order to ensure the quality and sales of the food products. Then, issues concerning the loss of image of local products can appear, and subsequent strategies have to be taken to restore the consumer confidence. Based on a literature review and interviews performed between 2016 and 2018 with Japanese stakeholders involved in the Fukushima accident recovery, this paper analyses the strategies for the management of contaminated goods which have been implemented in Japan. Divided into three main parts, this paper highlights how producers/livestock breeders, agricultural cooperatives, consumers and even distributors gradually committed themselves to (i) ensure the radiological quality of products by implementing countermeasures and monitoring systems, (ii) maintain sustainable economic activity by encouraging the resumption of agricultural activities and by deploying various sales strategies and try to (iii) restore consumer confidence by initiating producer/consumer dialogues and promotional actions for local products