IAEA Calls for Global Harmonization of Radiation Protection at IRPA16 Congress

IAEA experts took on significant roles, engaging in panel discussions, and delivering keynote speeches and presentations on various aspects of radiation protection for workers, patients, the public, and the environment.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has emphasized the need for greater collaboration among international organizations and professional bodies to harmonize radiation protection and safety worldwide. This call was made at the 16th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA16) held last week in Orlando, Florida, USA.

"Main challenges, faced especially by low- and middle-income countries, are related to implementation of the radiation protection standards," said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety and IRPA panellist. "IRPA16 was an opportunity to exchange positive experiences and achieve greater consistency in application of the standards, while respecting national and geographical specificities."

Harmonization in Radiation Protection

The weeklong conference saw participation from more than 1000 international radiation protection professionals from 67 countries. IAEA experts took on significant roles, engaging in panel discussions, and delivering keynote speeches and presentations on various aspects of radiation protection for workers, patients, the public, and the environment.

"As the current worldwide system is extensively interconnected, it is important that the major messages on radiation safety from different organizations and professional bodies are harmonized," emphasized Miroslav Pinak, Head of the IAEA Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section, during his keynote on IAEA Safety Standards.

Under the theme "Radiation Harmonization: Standing United for Protection," IAEA experts showcased a variety of educational and training courses, tools, databases, and communities of practices. These resources are designed to support countries in sharing knowledge, data, and lessons learned to enhance radiation safety measures in alignment with international standards.

Key Tools and Initiatives

The IAEA highlighted several key tools and initiatives:

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) module of the Information System on Occupational Exposure in Medicine, Industry and Research (ISEMIR): This module helps industrial operators exchange occupational exposure data, understand industry trends, establish benchmarks, and measure compliance with international safety standards.

Safety in Radiation Oncology (SAFRON): A voluntary reporting system used by professionals in radiotherapy and radionuclide therapy to learn from incidents at medical facilities and hospitals, aiming to improve radiation protection in healthcare.

Enhancing Radiation Safety Culture

Bernard Le Guen, Outgoing President of IRPA, stressed the importance of a positive safety culture in radiation protection across all fields. He noted the release of new comprehensive guidance on "Enhancing radiation safety culture in health care," a publication jointly developed by the IAEA, World Health Organization, International Organization for Medical Physics, and International Radiation Protection Association. This publication provides a framework to strengthen and align safety culture in the international health sector.

Addressing New Operational Quantities

A significant point of discussion was the new operational quantities recommended for assessing external exposure to ionizing radiation, published in 2020 by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The IAEA encouraged stakeholders to document and discuss the potential implications of these new quantities to build trust in the global radiation protection system.

Supporting Global Participation

Over 20 participants received IAEA financial support to attend the event, facilitating a broad exchange of knowledge and best practices. Participants from countries including Madagascar, Malaysia, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tanzania were supported through extrabudgetary funds provided by the USA, while others from Member States in the Africa and Latin American and Caribbean regions were supported through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme.

IRPA President Christopher Clement emphasized the commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the field, noting that the IAEA's support helped address participation gaps by including young professionals from various regions. IRPA is also working to attract more young professionals and scientists to the field of radiation protection.

Radiation safety for workers, patients, the public, and the environment remains fundamental to the IAEA's activities. Read more about the IAEA's efforts to enhance radiation protection.