Justification

The process of determining whether: (i) a planned activity involving radiation is beneficial overall (i.e. whether the benefits to individuals and to society from introducing or continuing the activity outweigh the harm resulting from the activity); or (ii) a proposed action, or set of actions, in an emergency or existing exposure situation is likely to be beneficial overall (i.e. whether the benefits to individuals and society outweigh its cost and any harm or damage it causes). (ICRP Publication 132, 2016)

ICRP Glossary entry - May 2019

Previous Description

The process of determining whether either: (1) a planned activity involving radiation is, overall, beneficial, i.e. whether the benefits to individuals and to society from introducing or continuing the activity outweigh the harm (including radiation detriment) resulting from the activity; or (2) a proposed remedial action in an emergency or existing exposure situation is likely, overall, to be beneficial, i.e., whether the benefits to individuals and to society (including the reduction in radiation detriment) from introducing or continuing the remedial action outweigh its cost and any harm or damage it causes. (From ICRP Publication 103, 2007)

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