Fundamental Principles of Radiological Protection

The System of Radiological Protection is anchored in three fundamental principles:

Justification

“Any decision that alters the radiation exposure situation should do more good than harm”

(Publication 103 paragraph 203)

Optimisation of Protection

“Doses should all be kept as low as reasonably achievable, taking into account economic and societal factors”

(Publication 103 paragraph 203)

Dose Limitation

“The total dose to any individual … should not exceed the appropriate limits”

(Publication 103 paragraph 203)

Quotes from ICRP Publications

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Publication 103 paragraphs 203 The principle of justification: Any decision that alters the radiation exposure situation should do more good than harm. This means that, by introducing a new radiation source, by reducing existing exposure, or by reducing the risk of potential exposure, one should achieve sufficient individual or societal benefit to offset the detriment it causes. Publication 103 paragraph 205 The Commission recommends that, when activities involving an increased or decreased level of radiation exposure, or a risk of potential exposure, are being considered, the expected change in radiation detriment should be explicitly included in the decision-making process. The consequences to be considered are not confined to those associated with the radiation – they include other risks and the costs and benefits of the activity. Sometimes, the radiation detriment will be a small part of the total. Justification thus goes far beyond the scope of radiological protection. It is for these reasons that the Commission only recommends that justification require that the net benefit be positive. To search for the best of all the available alternatives is a task beyond the responsibility of radiological protection authorities.

Publication 103 paragraph 203 The principle of optimisation of protection: The likelihood of incurring exposures, the number of people exposed, and the magnitude of their individual doses should all be kept as low as reasonably achievable, taking into account economic and societal factors. This means that the level of protection should be the best under the prevailing circumstances, maximising the margin of benefit over harm. In order to avoid severely inequitable outcomes of this optimisation procedure, there should be restrictions on the doses or risks to individuals from a particular source (dose or risk constraints and reference levels). Publication 103 paragraph 211 The process of optimisation of protection is intended for application to those situations that have been deemed to be justified. The principle of optimisation of protection, with restriction on the magnitude of individual dose or risk, is central to the system of protection and applies to all three exposure situations: planned exposure situations, emergency exposure situations, and existing exposure situations. Publication 103 paragraph 212 The principle of optimisation is defined by the Commission as the source related process to keep the likelihood of incurring exposures (where these are not certain to be received), the number of people exposed, and the magnitude of individual doses as low as reasonably achievable, taking economic and societal factors into account.

Publication 103 paragraph 203 The principle of application of dose limits: The total dose to any individual from regulated sources in planned exposure situations other than medical exposure of patients should not exceed the appropriate limits recommended by the Commission. Publication 103 paragraph 204 Regulatory dose limits are determined by the regulatory authority, taking account of international recommendations, and apply to workers and to members of the public in planned exposure situations. Publication 103 paragraph 243 Dose limits apply only in planned exposure situations but not to medical exposures of patients ... Within a category of exposure, occupational or public, dose limits apply to the sum of exposures from sources related to practices that are already justified.

Read on to learn about Exposure Categories and Situations

See Also

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  ICRPædia Guide to the System of Radiological Protection
• 

  ICRP Publication 103 The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection