The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) published its Principles for non-ionizing radiation protection in April this year. ARPANSA has endorsed the application of these principles as the foundation of protection against adverse health effects from non-ionising radiation.
‘The ICNIRP principles are based on the ICRP [International Commission for Radiological Protection] principles for protection from ionising radiation,’ said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, CEO of ARPANSA.
‘ARPANSA supports this consistent approach and looks forward to continuing our work with both ICRP and ICNIRP to promote radiation protection on an international level’.
The ICNIRP principles consider all types of non-ionising radiation, including low frequency electromagnetic fields from electrical sources, radiofrequency radiation used in telecommunications, ultraviolet radiation from the sun and ultrasound used in medicine. The ICNIRP principles establish a system of protection for occupational exposure, medical exposure and public exposure including strong protection for children and vulnerable people of all ages.
ARPANSA is committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. Non-ionising radiation, at high exposure levels, can have a range of health impacts and with a wide range of applications across industry, health and cosmetics, it is important to protect workers, patients, members of the public and the environment.
‘Our engagement with ICNIRP and development of guidance and standards for use of non-ionising radiation is vital to our support of world-class health and safety practices in radiation’, said Dr Larsson.
