The impact of the 2007 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in medical applications

Abstract

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an independent registered charity established in 1928 to advance for the public benefit the science of radiological protection, in particular by providing recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against ionizing radiation. Its system of protection is used by governments, practitioners, and other experts worldwide. Recently, ICRP produced a new set of fundamental recommendations, The 2007 Recommendations of ICRP, ICRP Publication 103, replacing those of 1990. ICRP Publication 105, Radiological Protection in Medicine, soon followed, to underpin the 2007 Recommendations with regard to the medical exposure of patients, including their comforters and carers, and volunteers in biomedical research. It addresses the proper application of the fundamental principles (justification, optimization of protection, and application of dose limits) of the 2007 Recommendations to these individuals. With regard to medical exposure of patients, it is not appropriate to apply dose limits or dose constraints, because such limits would often do more harm than good. Often, there are concurrent chronic, severe, or even life-threatening medical conditions that are more critical than the radiation exposure. The emphasis is then on justification of the medical procedures and on the optimization of radiological protection. In diagnostic and interventional procedures, justification of procedures (for a defined purpose and for an individual patient), and management of the patient dose commensurate with the medical task, are the appropriate mechanisms to avoid unnecessary or unproductive radiation exposure. Equipment features that facilitate patient dose management, and diagnostic reference levels de-rived at the appropriate national, regional, or local level, are likely to be the most effective approaches. In radiation therapy, the avoidance of accidents is a predominant issue. With regard to comforters and carers, and volunteers in biomedical research, dose constraints are appropriate. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.