11 January 2024
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) expert Ken Karipidis has been elected incoming International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Vice Chair.
A/Prof Karipidis, ARPANSA's Health Impact Assessment Assistant Director, notes that ICNIRP is regarded as the leading health authority on non-ionising radiation protection.
‘This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the international effort to further understand non-ionising radiation exposure and protection,’ A/Prof Karipidis said.
‘Where countries don't have their own guidelines or regulations they rely on ICNIRP.
‘In Australia, we also use ICNIRP’s guidelines to inform the development of our own exposure standards.
‘I look forward to working with ICNIRP and bringing this experience to my role at ARPANSA undertaking research, developing safety standards, and providing public health advice related to non-ionising radiation exposure and protection.’
Working with international health authorities, like ICNIRP, allows ARPANSA to ensure that international best practice is applied to the protection of people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation in Australia.
A/Prof Karipidis’ appointment will commence July 2024. He first joined ICNIRP in 2015 as a member of the scientific expert group. Prior to being elected Vice Chair, he served as chair of the non-ionising radiation for cosmetic purposes project group from 2018 to 2019 and joined the main commission in May 2020. He is currently chairing the low frequency guidelines project group which is related to the safety of power lines and other electrical equipment and infrastructure.
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