Report on Decisions at the 1959 Meeting of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)

Abstract

The period since the Commission's last regular meeting in 1956 has been the most active in its history. Because of rapid developments in the field of nuclear energy and the more widespread use of radiation sources of all types, the scope of the work has increased beyond the field of medical radiology into all fields of radiation protection, including industrial uses as well as the exposure of the general public. In 1955 the United Nations established a Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to collect and evaluate information on radiation exposure and radiation effects. In addition, bodies such as the World Health Organization, the International Labour Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Atomic Energy Agency are actively interested in radiation protection problems and look to the International Commission on Radiological Protection for guidance. Although the primary responsibility of the Commission has been to the radiological profession, it has had to widen its scope and has accordingly been active not only during the last two international Congresses of Radiology but also in the intervening period. Amendments to the 1953 (1) Recommendations were reported to the Mexico Congress and published in 1957 (2). Revised Recommendations of the Main Commission were adopted in 1958 and printed early in 1959 (3). Reports of the various Committees exist at present in various stages of preparation. The Report of Committee II on internal radioactive substances is already in press (4). A revised version of the Committee III Report, which is essentially a code of practice for the radiological profession, was approved during the 1959 meeting and will be published in the near future (5). The Report of Committee IV on high energy and heavy particle radiation is undergoing a final revision. Committee V has prepared a report on the disposal of radioactive waste from hospitals and laboratories and is proceeding as rapidly as possible to prepare a further report on the disposal of waste from atomic energy establishments. The Commission has an official relationship with the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency. There has been close cooperation with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and the Commission, jointly with the International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements, has on two occasions accepted its invitation to perform special studies. The results of the first study on the evaluation of gonad dose from medical procedures were published in 1957 (6). The second study, on the evaluation of exposure relevant to somatic damage, has been initiated, and a report is to be prepared before the end of 1960. The Commission also co-operates with the International Labour Office and the Food and Agriculture Organization and has invited them to send observers to future meetings.