Radiation protection

Radiation protection is meant to protect human health and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation ( from natural and artificial sources of radiation ).

Radiation protection is particularly important for the staff of nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants and in the field of medicine, particularly in radiology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. In addition, however, electromagnetic radiation (such as near radio transmitters or lasers ) is included.

The ten principles of radiation protection

To achieve the goals of radiation protection, the IAEA has ten Fundamental Safety Principles summarized and presented in 2006. This document has been classified by the EURATOM with Directive 2009/71/EURATOM for all EU member states as binding.

Radiation protection of human

Here, the radiation protection is divided into three basic precautions:

  • Protection against external radiation
  • Protection against contamination
  • Protection against incorporation, these are divided into Inhalation ( respiratory tract)
  • Ingestion (food consumption)
  • Absorption through the skin (eg, open sores )

Legal foundations

EURATOM

This European contract governs the handling of radioactive materials and is the international basis for all national legal regulations ( see also: European Atomic Energy Community ). On its basis, the European Commission specific radiation protection guidelines that are binding after being consulted by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers for determination by all Member States and must be transposed into national law developed. In these guidelines a go especially the recommendations and findings of international organizations (see below).

Germany

Atomic Energy Act ( Atomic Energy Act)

The Atomic Energy Act is in Germany the national legal basis for the handling of radioactive materials (especially nuclear fuels ). On it the Radiation Protection Ordinance ( Radiation Protection Ordinance ) and the X-ray Ordinance build (RöV ).

Purpose of the Act (§ 1 of the Atomic Energy ) is

  • Ordered to stop the use of nuclear energy for the commercial generation of electricity and ensure the operation up until the date of termination,
  • To protect life, health and property against the hazards of nuclear energy and the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and to compensate for damage caused by nuclear or ionizing radiation,
  • To prevent the internal or external security of the Federal Republic of Germany is threatened by application or release of nuclear energy,
  • To ensure the fulfillment of international obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of nuclear energy and radiation protection.

Precautionary Radiation Protection Act ( StrVG )

The StrVG adopted by the German Bundestag on 11 December 1986 serves the purpose to protect the public to monitor the radioactivity in the environment and to keep the radiation exposure of people and the radioactive contamination of the environment in the event of radioactive accidents or incidents as low as possible ( § 1 No. 1 and 2 StrVG ). It is divided between tasks for the federal government and the states. On the basis of Article 87 of the Basic Law c the countries to perform their duties on behalf of the Federal Government from (§ 10 StrVG - federal commission within the meaning of Article 85 of the Basic Law ). It was written after the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986, in December of the same year.

X-ray Ordinance (RöV )

The X-ray Ordinance regulated in Germany protection against damage caused by X-rays in the use of X-ray equipment and spurious radiation in which X-rays can be generated with a boundary energy between five kilo electron volts and a megaelectronvolt by accelerated electrons. These are generally X-ray equipment for medical diagnosis. In the practice of medicine or dentistry only licensed physicians ( or persons to whom the exercise of the medical profession is allowed) may apply with the appropriate expertise ray radiation in humans ( patients). The acquired expertise needs to be updated every 5 years.

Radiation Protection Regulation ( Radiation Protection Ordinance )

The Radiation Protection Ordinance ( Radiation Protection Ordinance ) regulates in Germany the principles and requirements for prevention and protection measures in the implementation and use of radioactive material, the radiation exposure of civilization and natural origin and operation of accelerators. This also includes the medical use of radioactive substances ( nuclear medicine, brachytherapy ), and radiation therapy. In a radiation protection instructions are employees in institutions where ionizing radiation is dealt to instruct on the content and interpretation of the Radiation Protection Ordinance. The instruction is performed typically by a so-called radiation protection officer (SSB ). This must have an appropriate technical instruction and ordered from a radiation protection supervisor. The expertise must be updated every 5 years.

Austria

In Austria since January 1, 2004, if an amended Radiation Protection Act ( StrSchG ), the radiation protection EU adaptation law implemented EU law with the and the old has been replaced by 1969.

Note: in Austria is considered to be the Radiation Protection Act of 1969 as ordinary law. It has only been adapted by various novels. A basic adjustment was made by the EU Radiation Protection Amendment Act 2004.

The main components of the Act are:

  • The General Provisions
  • The grant requirements and reporting requirements
  • The Policy concerning radioactive waste
  • Concerning natural radiation sources at work

Based on this, there is, since July 2006, a General Radiation Protection Ordinance - AllgStrSchV ( Federal Law Gazette II No. 191 /2006), which has replaced the old 1972 Radiation Protection Ordinance, and - new - a " Medical Radiation Protection Ordinance - MedStrSchV ". Both were necessary due to the adjustments to EU law. In the general regulation, the limits for occupationally exposed persons as well as for the civilian population generally be defined. The reporting or licensing duties on the possession, operation and management of sources are regulated by the Radiation Protection Act.

No validity, the Radiation Protection Ordinance, where rules on traffic in the ADR, RID or IATA apply.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the protection against ionizing radiation is an order of constitutional rank (Art. 118). Was implemented this order in a radiation protection law with accompanying Regulation. The protection against non-ionizing radiation (eg, mobile) is a special legislation without constitutional status reserved, namely the Environmental Protection Act and the foot of it Decreet on protection against non-ionizing radiation.

International organizations

In Europe, the European Atomic Energy Community ( EURATOM), the most important organization in terms of radiation protection. The guidelines adopted pursuant to it shall be binding on all members of the European Community and must be transposed into national law. The EURATOM guidelines go back mainly to the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection ( ICRP). This globally recognized organization based its findings primarily on studies of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

There are also a number of other organizations whose direct influence on national legislation but is rather low:

  • Scientific Committee of the United Nations to Investigate the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ) in Vienna
  • International Radiation Protection Association ( IRPA ), an umbrella organization of 48 world national radiation protection associations.
  • International Labour Organization ( ILO ) of the UN in Geneva
  • International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) in Vienna
  • World Health Organization ( WHO)
  • German - Swiss Association for Radiation Protection

Radiation Protection

The information received from a source of radiation dose given type depends

  • The activity of the source,
  • Distance from the radiation source ( except for very extended sources )
  • Of the shielding by matter between the source and person.

Measures to keep the inevitable burdens when dealing with radiation sources as low as possible, are therefore:

  • Selection of conditions that achieved the desired result with the least possible exposure of personnel,
  • Forward-looking organization and planning of the operation to keep the exposure time short,
  • Greatest possible distance of irradiation, for example, by long use Tongs,
  • Use of appropriate shielding.

As a mnemonic is often spoken of the "A- rules" that demonstrate the safe use of radiation sources: limit activity, minimize length of stay, keep your distance, use shield, avoid recording.

Ionizing radiation has in comparison to other workplace hazards (such as airborne toxins or microorganisms ) has the advantage that it is easy to measure with small, very versatile devices ( dosimeters, dose rate measurement devices).

Particle accelerator Human Interference Task Force
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