The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is proud to announce a $350,000 contribution to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) research into the health impacts of radio waves, including those used in mobile telecommunications. 

The contribution is ARPANSA’s first research commitment under the Federal Government’s enhanced Electromagnetic Energy (EME) program. 

‘As Australia’s national radiation protection and nuclear safety authority, ARPANSA is proud to support this gold-standard research project that will evaluate scientific evidence relating to radio wave safety,’ said ARPANSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson.  

‘The project is an important input into ARPANSA’s EME Action Plan, and will ensure that ARPANSA continues to deliver on its vision for a safe radiation environment for the Australian community,’ said Dr Larsson.  

The three-year WHO project has four key objectives:  

• systemically review the scientific literature on the potential adverse health effects from radio waves 
• perform a health risk assessment of all studied endpoints as far as evidence can offer 
• provide good practice actions and compile a summary of national radio wave policies around the world  
• identify gaps in knowledge  

‘On behalf of the World Health Organization, I would like to thank ARPANSA for their financial contribution to this project, and I look forward to sharing the valuable insights we gain from the research to better support radiation-related health protection globally,’ said Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO. 

The project will also assist WHO in providing independent, science-based information on radio wave safety to all 194 member states, supporting the development of best-practice governance and legislation. 

For more information on public health and radio waves, please visit the WHO website. 

Updated 19 November 2020

As a Federal Government Agency working under the Department of Health, ARPANSA is committed to supporting the health and safety of all Australians. During this period, as the Government works to protect the community from the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are working to support our staff and all stakeholders as we do our part to reduce the spread.

For up-to-date information and advice on COVID-19, please refer to the Department of Health website.  

Our offices in Sydney (Miranda) and Melbourne (Yallambie) are currently closed to the public. ARPANSA maintains a reduced on-site workforce and adjustments have been made at both sites to maintain a COVID Safe workplace.

Regulatory activities are continuing, with a combination of remote and on-site inspections.

Our Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) has returned to more regular on-site auditing and, using remote support where practicable, continues to support the radiation oncology community to ensure clinical obligations are met.

Other laboratories and services that were temporarily unavailable during the earlier period of our response are now operational, however we anticipate some delays.

All other activities, including our Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty radionuclide monitoring system, medical permits, UV monitoring network and other radiation monitoring programs continue to operate as normal.

We will provide further updates to this advice as required.

Nuclear medicines and technologies are used widely in Australia to support cancer treatment and medical diagnosis as well as in scientific and industrial applications.

Waste products from the production and use of radioactive materials require careful management to ensure safe transport, storage and disposal of radioactive waste.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has released its updated Guide for Classification of Radioactive Waste (2020).

While the classifications themselves have not changed, key updates in this version of the guide include simplification of the document structure and alignment of terminology with international standards.

‘The updated Guide continues to provide a clear and consistent guidance for classification of Australia’s radioactive waste’, said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, ARPANSA CEO.

This Guide supports best-practice classification of radioactive waste and is part of Australia’s strong regulatory framework to ensure the safe use of radiation. It also supports implementation of the safety requirements outlined in the Code for Disposal Facilities for Solid Radioactive Waste (2018).

These regulatory documents are important to all industry sectors that deal with radioactive material and to the Commonwealth government as it works towards establishing a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF).

ARPANSA does not have a formal role in the Government’s NRWMF until such time as a licence application is received.

Read more: Guide for Classification of Radioactive Waste

For more information on the NRWMF, visit the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency website.

The Australian Radiation and Nuclear Protection Agency (ARPANSA) is proud to welcome Dr Sarah Loughran as the inaugural Director of ARPANSA’s activities under the government’s enhanced Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Program.

In this role, Dr Loughran will lead the work outlined in ARPANSA’s EME Action Plan 2020-2024, which will contribute to the Federal Government’s Program by helping build public confidence in the safety of telecommunications networks, address misinformation about EME emissions and continue robust scientific research in the EME field. 

Prior to joining ARPANSA, Dr Loughran held positions as an Associate Professor for the University of Wollongong, and Director of the Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR).  

‘Electromagnetic energy research and safety has shaped a large part of my professional and academic career, and I’m very excited to bring this expertise to ARPANSA,’ said Dr Sarah Loughran. 

‘ARPANSA’s work under the broader EME program will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of electromagnetic energy research, and will provide the Australian public with independent, safe and evidenced-based information,’ said Dr Loughran. 

'We’re very excited to have Dr Loughran on board and look forward to utilising her many years of experience and expertise to deliver on ARPANSA’s Vision for a safe radiation environment for the Australian community,' said Dr Gillian Hirth, ARPANSA's Chief Radiation Health Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.  

Dr Loughran has commenced her role from 12 October 2020.  

About Dr Sarah Loughran 

Dr Sarah Loughran is a current member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Radio Frequency Environmental Health Criterion Evaluation Committee and is an elected member of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection's (ICNIRP) Scientific Expert Group. 

Dr Loughran also holds degrees in physiology and psychology from Deakin University, and completed her PhD in cognitive neuroscience and psychophysiology at Swinburne University in Melbourne. She has also spent several years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Her research has focused on a wide range of bioelectromagnetic health issues including the effects on sleep, human brain function, and the mechanisms associated with these effects, as well as risk communication related to EME and health. 

The annual report of the CEO of ARPANSA 2019-2020 was tabled in parliament on Wednesday 14 October 2020 and is now available in the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal.

The annual report is an important tool for transparency and accountability, serving as an overview of ARPANSA’s performance against our financial and strategic objectives. The report also captures information on staffing statistics, the agency’s structure, committees and our activities as a regulator. 

Report highlights include:

• our radionuclide monitoring obligations and responsibilities under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 
• our development of a new specialised audit technique for magnetic resonance linear accelerators (MR-Linacs) used in radiotherapy treatments
• our review of ARPANSA’s safety culture through our Safety Culture Assessment 
• our work informing the Australian public about 5G telecommunications and health through our Talk to a Scientist program and social media channels.

‘Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ARPANSA staff have demonstrated great resilience and commitment, which is evidenced through the achievements outlined in this annual report,’ said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, ARPANSA CEO.

‘While some international engagement and onsite audits and inspections were interrupted by travel restrictions, we have found new ways to collaborate and connect online. We look forward to taking these learnings onboard to further improve organisational resilience and service delivery.’

The report also includes a new section outlining areas for improvement relating to licence holder safety performance (page 130). 

‘As a regulator of Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation, we are committed to continuous improvement in safety for all licence holders’, said Dr Larsson.

Read the full ARPANSA annual report 2019-20 on the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal or on the ARPANSA website.

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role in the direction and coordination of international health systems and public health policy.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is proud to be continuing our 35-year partnership with WHO as a collaborating centre for radiation protection.

‘In the current global health crisis, it is important that the work of the WHO continues to be supported internationally’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director, Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘We’re pleased to be redesignated as a collaborating centre for a further four years’. 

The redesignation continues ARPANSA’s long-standing relationship with WHO in supporting radiation protection activities since 1985. 

Highlights of ARPANSA’s involvement include contributions to WHO’s guidelines for managing radioactivity in drinking water and technical support for a public health intervention on artificial tanning devices.

‘We’re proud of what we’ve been able to deliver in our role as a WHO collaborating centre over the past 35 years,’ said Dr Tinker. 

‘WHO works towards a world in which everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. We’re glad to be contributing to this important work and to achieve health objectives and support international strategies relevant to radiation protection.’

WHO collaborating centres support the delivery of WHO’s international programs across a range of areas including radiation protection, nursing, communicable diseases, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies. 

WHO has established more than 800 collaborating centres globally, leveraging health expertise from more than 80 of its Member States.

ARPANSA’s redesignation as a WHO collaborating centre is in place until June 2024. 

31 March 2020

On 27 March 2020, the CEO of ARPANSA, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, removed a licence condition from the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine (ANM) facility, allowing it to return to routine operation.

Following a contamination event on 21 June 2019, ANSTO suspended production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).  

On 5 July 2019, the CEO of ARPANSA granted approval to resume operation subject to a licence condition restricting the production level of Mo-99. The licence condition required ANSTO to provide evidence of safe operation, satisfactory training records, evidence of appropriate management of conflicting production and safety imperatives, satisfactory staffing levels and rectification of safety significant issues resulting from the June 2019 contamination event.

On 28 November 2019, ARPANSA received an application from ANSTO requesting removal of the restriction on production.

ARPANSA has assessed the application and on 27 March 2020, the CEO decided to remove the licence condition related to limited production of Mo-99. At the same time, a replacement licence condition was imposed, requiring a staged approach to the return to full production.

Under the new condition, ANSTO must notify ARPANSA prior to increase in production at key points and provide justification including consideration of safety factors and risk mitigation measures.

Read more: 

ARPANSA is currently seeking nominations for members of both the Radiation Health Committee and the Nuclear Safety Committee. 

The Committees provide advice to the CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) on a range of radiation protection and nuclear safety matters.

Nominations are sought from suitably qualified people with an understanding of radiation and nuclear issues. Current membership is comprised of experts from a range of fields relevant to radiation protection including medicine, mining, regulation, and health research.

All appointees are required to attend committee meetings (usually three times per year) and nominations are now open for the triennium (2021-2023).

If you are interested in joining one of these committees, you are encouraged to learn more about the functions and current membership:

• Radiation Health Committee
• Nuclear Safety Committee

If you have experience and knowledge of radiation protection and nuclear issues, or a background in related high-hazard areas, we encourage you to submit your nomination as soon as possible.

Nominations close Monday 31 August 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our everyday lives and presented significant challenges on a global scale.

From the provision of supplies to hospitals, including Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) monitors, which allow for the continuance of medical imaging and radiation therapies, to ensuring that Australia’s radiation safety isn’t compromised, ARPANSA has been playing a part in helping to maintain essential services during the pandemic.

We’ve also been contributing to research in characterisation of airborne particles. This research is helping hospitals and engineers develop additional controls to stop the spread of coronavirus in medical settings.

Hospitals are facing an enormous challenge, particularly where staff are performing procedures that generate airborne particles on patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Working with a team of doctors, engineers and scientists from Western Health, The University of Melbourne and CSIRO, ARPANSA has assisted in characterising the aerosols generated by COVID-19 patients.

Dr Gillian Hirth, ARPANSA’s Chief Radiation Health Officer and Deputy CEO, described how ARPANSA’s radon laboratory has been used to characterise airborne particles.

‘We’ve been able to deploy the advanced nanoparticle measurement capacity of our radon laboratory to measure particle sizes and behaviour. This information is valuable in helping protect doctors and nurses from COVID-19.’ 

‘Through monitoring the nature of these small particles, we’ve been able to work with engineers to develop a robust additional control to keep airborne particles away from healthcare workers,’ said Dr Hirth.

While the research is ongoing, the data collected from the program is assisting in designing better ventilation systems for hospitals and allowing for more effective and targeted use of protective equipment.

ARPANSA has released an action plan outlining activities that will be undertaken as part of the Australian Government’s Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Program.

The EME Program is an initiative of Government aimed at providing information and assurance to the Australian public as well as continued research into the safety of EME sources such as telecommunications infrastructure.

With emerging public concern in response to the roll-out of the fifth generation of mobile phone technology (5G), the enhanced program provides a greater focus on dissemination of accurate and reputable information within the community.

Public education and communication activities under this program will be overseen by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

ARPANSA’s role in this program is to continue scientific research, international engagement and provision of expert scientific advice. Planned activities are outlined in the newly published ARPANSA EME Program Action Plan 2020-2024.

‘ARPANSA is pleased to be contributing to the Government’s work in supporting community assurance and understanding of EME from various sources including new telecommunications like the 5G network’ said Dr Gillian Hirth, Chief Radiation Health Scientist and Deputy CEO of ARPANSA.

‘Our role in conducting, evaluating and contributing to research on this topic is vital to Australia’s reputation as a leader in radiation science and core to our role in protecting the public and environment from the harmful effects of radiation’.

ARPANSA’s scientific assessment of research into health impacts of EME at various frequencies and power levels forms the basis of the Australian EME Safety Standard. The Standard is enforced by regulators including the Australian Communications and Media Authority to ensure that all sources of EME exposure are operated within the safety limits.