Summaries of topical sessions Friday 18 June. Third European IRPA Congress 2010, Helsinki, Finland2 Thank you for active participation ! 850 participants

Summaries of topical sessions

Friday 18 June

Third European IRPA Congress 2010, Helsinki, Finland2

Thank you for active participation !

850 participants and 50 accompanying persons

44 countries 550 participants in refresher couses

Satellite events Technical visit to Olkiluoto: 67 NOTE workshop: 130 Radon excursion: 39 Specialist workshop 1 (medical): 90 Specialist workshop 2 (nuclear industry): 109


Summaries of topical sessions

157 oral contributions and 351 posters

Chairs and co-chairs of each 19 sessions provided 1-2 slides on current issues and key conclusions

Health-related issues - Sisko Salomaa

Environmental issues and protection of public - Mikhail Balonov

Analytics and dosimetry - Sigurdur Emil Palsson

Radiation practises and regulation - Tua Rahola

Summary of health related sessions

Sisko SalomaaPatrick SmeestersStelios ChristofidesMika KortesniemiAndrey Busmanov

Wendla PaileYuri FrankenKari Jokela


S01: Biological and health effects of ionising radiation

Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease: Cohort of Mayak PA nuclear workers (about 12000 W.):

Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases: ↑ incidence with cumulative dose (ext + liver Pu dose)

Plausible mechanism at low or fractionated dose: linearly dose-related monocyte death resulting in increase of MCP-1 (chemo-attractant); to be tested

Review of epidemiological evidence at low and moderate doses: ↑ ERR but large variability

Radiation-induced cataracts: further evidence at low doses (lenticular opacities in

radiologists:STUK) and ongoing epidemiological research (int. cardiol.)


S01: Biological and health effects of ionising radiation

New evidence on old issues reinforces the need of ALARA approach: Genetic risk:

new data on RI trangenerational instability CNS of fœtus:

low doses impair neurite outgrowth RI thyroid cancer in adults:

↑ Risk of thyroid cancer among Chernobyl liquidators (mean age: 37 y)

A lot of research, particularly in molecular biology, are in progress and try to complete the puzzle

04/10/23Tekijä7

S02: Medical use of Radiation

Special attention is given to patient dose optimisation from high dose modalities and procedures (MSCT, PET, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, etc), Interventional Radiology and Cardiology, with emphasis on paediatric and recurrent examinations.

Also dose optimisation tools have been improved, and focus has expanded increasingly on the minimisation of radiation dose.

There is a trend in estimating the Life Attributable Risk (LAR) for cancer induction from the high dose procedures, especially for paediatrics.

S02: Medical use of Radiaiton

04/10/23Tekijä8

Miss-justification is becoming a major concern. There is a need for enhanced education and training for the Healthcare Professionals to facilitate evidence based decisions for examination practices.

The setting up of National Derived Reference levels (DRLs) especially for high dose modalities, interventional procedures and for peadiatrics is considered as a tool for optimisation.

In Radiotherapy the estimation of the out-of-target dose in estimating the risk of induction of secondary cancers is becoming important for high dose rate procedures (gamma-knife, IMRT, IGRT).


S13: Medical response in radiation accidents

General trend of session – modern treatment of radiation victims.

Russian and French scientists and medical doctors reported about new therapeutic approach for the treatment of radiation burns combining surgery and mesenchymal stem cell treatment. They showed new clinical cases of local radiation injuries treated by the new method.

French scientists demonstrated the result of experiments with new medicine Calixarene nanoemulsion in successful treatment for uranium contaminated skin.


S13: Medical response in radiation accidents Biodosimetric area. The study confirmed that

the PCC ring assay is suitable for use as a good biodosimeter following whole-body exposure to high (above 8 Gy) doses of radiation.


S14: Non-ionising radiation protection

INTERPHONE meta-analysis on brain cancers and mobile telephone use: Overall no increase of meningioma and glioma. Indication of small increase of tumors in the highest exposure group. Biases and other error sources prevent detecting of small risk. More epidemiologic studies is needed for effects of heavy use of mobile phones more than 10 years (Cardis).

Gliomas are not located in those parts of brain with the highest exposure to the RF-field of a mobile phone (Larjavaara et al.)

Hyperthermia-induced proliferation of cancer cells in vitro

is depressed by 2.2 GHz pulsed EMF (Trillo et al.).


S14: Non-ionising radiation protection

Scattering and diverging of a laser beam by microlens formation is a novel idea for laser eye protectors (Branca and Dejan).

The UV-A induced melanoma metastasis may be due to UV-A induced immunosuppression and to a lesser extent due to alteration of the adhesive properties of melanoma cells (Pastila et al.)

The use of sunbeds by young people in Iceland: 20 % of 12-15 and 52 % of 16-19 years old use sunbeds (Sigurdsson et al.)

Summary of environmental sessions

and exposure of publicMikhail BalonovSeppo Klemola

James McLaughlinHannu Arvela

Augustin JanssensMika Markkanen

Mark DowdallTarja K. IkäheimonenFranz Josef Maringer

Päivi KurttioTed Lazo

Iisa Outola


Radiation protection of the public Sessions 03, 06, 15, 16 and 17

Public exposure: Exposure incurred by members of the public from radiation sources, excluding any occupational or medical exposure and the normal local natural background radiation.

ICRP-103: The component of public exposure due to natural sources is by far the largest, but this provides no justification for reducing the attention paid to smaller, but more readily controllable, exposures to man-made sources.

Public exposure situations: planned, existing (and emergency)


Radiation protection of the public (continued)

Planned Exposure Situations – radiation and radioactive discharges from operating facilities (industry, medicine, etc):

Nuclear industry: Discharges of tritium and other r/nuclides – monitoring,

modeling New regulation for clearance materials Physical shielding of major medical facilities Air-borne releases Environmental monitoring for radiation protection purposes

and for model improvement Waste management Emerging issue of biota protection

Less need for regulation, well developed area

Radiation protection of the public (continued)

NORM industries: Awareness of NORM is increasing:

More surveys and site specific assessments are being done

New types of industries and situations involving NORM are being identified (Gas and oil mining, fertiliser production, construction industry, geothermal industry, etc)

Regulatory requirements and controls are under development To which extent the requirements for planned exposure

situations should be applied? Application of a graded approach to regulation

Operators lack expertise and experience in NORM management Need for specific education and training Need for further guidelines on NORM management

Determination and quantification of NORM methods suitable for monitoring large volumes with

varying concentrations should be developed


Radiation protection of the public (continued)Existing Exposure Situations - elevated radiation levels in the human or natural environments, including nuclear legacy (PUNE sites, etc): Dwellings and public buildings

Rn in air Continued interest in risk assessment based on new data Trends to reduce reference levels in many countries National and regional monitoring programs (geochemical and indoor) Remediation programs in some countries

Radiation from building materials – regulation, monitoring and control, mostly at construction stage

Environments with elevated radiation levels – monitoring and remediation (if justified)

Former uranium mining and milling sites (Central Asia etc) Areas of past nuclear practices or accidents External radiation – monitoring, modeling and control Radionuclides in foods - inspection of some kinds Radionuclides in drinking water - monitoring and mitigation of wells (if

justified) International guidance on regulation still needed


S09: Radiation protection of the biota

Can NTE biology change the general approach? International activities are going on (ICRP, IAEA, etc.) More effects detected in areas with elevated radiation levels Dose assessments are topical What is the significance of NORM in the protection of the

environment? Lack of transfer coefficients and concentration factors Radiation and biological monitoring in progress:

Finnish Lakes (S09-03) Chernobyl-affected zones, Radioactive waste storage areas,

Nuclear weapons test sites (S09-04) NPP Ecological Risk Assessment studies (P09-05)

Development of internationally recognized system of biota protection and its harmonization with human protection is crucial


Summary of sessions related to analytics and dosimetry

Sigurdur Emil PalssonHannele AaltonenHerwig ParetzkeHannu JärvinenHarri Toivonen

Inger Margarethe EikelmanIrena MalatovaRoy Pöllänen


S04: Dosimetry 1/2

Innovations and trends in internal dosimetry Use of new ICRU/ICRP reference phantoms Biokinetic models are being improved by human data ”Look-up” tables (TMT handbook) are useful but users

should be aware of their limitations A detailed exposure assessments for miners illustrated

the need for taking the main relevant factors into conideration.

Early life: Techa river: improved assessment of in utero and postnatal doses were developed to evaluate risks from chronic exposures

Internal dosimetry for 241Am has been improved by MC simulations

A clear trend can be recognized that uncertainty asssesments are gaining high importance now (GUM recommendations)


S04 Dosimetry 2/2Innovations and trends in external dosimetry Refurbishing of graphite calorimeter standards developed

for 60Co gamma beams. Novel materials are being used for active and passive

radiation detectors Recombination chambers providing information on radiation

quality besides the ambient dose rate Guidelines are available for optimum use of active personal

dosemeters (APDs) – problems at high dose rates LiF fading and the difference between low temperature

peaks in personal dosimetry can be used to develope a powerful tool to estimate exposure conditions

Innovations and trends in radioecology and other applications

Location-specific parameter changes in European level should be considered for the ECOSYS model to improve the basis of the ARGOS and RODOS decision support systems in preparedness against nuclear accidents


S10: Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies and Incidents

Observation:No major nuclear or radiological emergency reported

Challenge:Maintaining and developing this high standard of safety

culture, e.g. by increased international co-operation and cross disiplinary work.

1. Sharing experience reports on lessons learned during abnormal

events networking and cooperation between relevant

organisations in different countries


S10 (continued)

2. Sharing knowledge monitoring techniques results of development of modelling tools for

prediction exposure or transportation of radioactive substances in air and in aquatic environment

3. Sharing information results of assessments new guidance and documentation information on national arrangements and

data handling


S11: Nuclear Security and Malevolent Use of Radiation (1/2)

Nuclear Security was addressed for the first time in IRPA meetings Malevolent use of radiation is a serious threat to the society Safety and security are the two sides of the same coin Security measures have to be adopted by the radiation

protection community

Novel in-field detection techniques Modelling, dispersion calculus, consequence management Portal monitoring - resolving alarms and response Measurement and analysis methods for alpha radiation Novel algorithms for new type of data Experiences at Major Public Events (Copenhagen, Vancouver)


S11: Nuclear Security and Malevolent Use of Radiation (2/2)

A scientific breakthrough was presented: Optical remote detection of alpha radiation, Tampere Technical University, Finland

Safety, Security and Safeguards have similarities from technological point of view, and they benefit from the science in the different disciplines.


S12: Radiation Detection Technologies and Radionuclide Analytics

Use of new detection methods such as- OSL (optical stimulated luminiscence) in NaCl for retrospective

dosimetry,- Remote detection of alpha particles through UV radiation- LaBr3 scintillation detectors in monitoring network- Tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) for precise

measurement of neutrons and photons in unknown mixed radiation areas

Determination of alpha particles emitting radionuclides in the environment, in radioactive waste, for nuclear safeguards, for forensic and security purposes

- AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) for sensitive actinides isotopic ratio measurement

- Sophisticated software enabling spectrometry without radiochemical separation


S12: Radiation Detection Technologies and Radionuclide Analytics

New applications/areas – current trends• Enhancement of nuclear/radiation security &

forensic analyses• Development of coincidence methods• application of Monte Carlo methods in

different fields• use of instrumentation from hospitals

(clinical gamma camera) for emergency preparedness

• minimizing activity and dose with enhanced image quality in medical exposure

Summary of sessions related to radiation practises and regulation

Tua RaholaJack Valentin

Eduardo GallegoRitva Havukainen

Pedro Carboneras MartinezRisto PaltemaaKlaus HenrichsVeli Riihiluoma


S05 Waste & decommissioning: Final HLW disposal now close to licensing in some

countries Waste from decomm. of nuclear installations now a reality

S07 Education & training: Roles of different experts to be specified Emerging tools, platforms, and networks promise future

improvements

S08 Protection of workers: Challenges: difficult radiation environments, imprecise

dose models, training needs Prospects: ALARA programmes, peer comparisons (also

between sectors), ORAMED – ISOE - ISEMIR


S18 Recommendations, standards, regulations

Platforms: ICRP P103, risk comparisons, QMS Challenges: Differing perceptions between countries, medical

radiological protection, TENORMObservations and conclusions:

ICRP P103 broadly accepted as basis for new standards (but some ’practice/intervention’ problems still unsolved)

Can satisfactory conditions at a site be specified objectively?

Risk remains a useful yardstick to set regulatory levels

(Quality) Management systems are worth the effort

Justification of diagnostic examinations should be improved using, e.g., stakeholder involvement

Multimodal medical imaging requires special consideration

TENORM discharges need attention

S19 Radiation and society

Resources and associations presented, case studies of stakeholder involvement described

Practical experience of stakeholder involvement now available, can be used in new situations


Documents

Summaries of topical sessions Friday 18 June. Third European IRPA Congress 2010, Helsinki, Finland2 Thank you for active participation ! 850 participants