Do you use, or are you exposed to radiation as part of your work? Our new suite of occupational exposure factsheets have been designed to keep you informed about the type of radiation you may be exposed to, any possible health effects and how to adequately protect yourself. 

The use of radiation in the workplace is a normal and required part of many occupations. For example, radiation is used widely in the health sector to diagnose or treat patients, the mining industry in the processing of minerals and ores and in technology used to power our homes and devices.

ARPANSA has developed a new suite of occupational exposure factsheets that have been designed to keep workers informed about the type of radiation they may be exposed to, any possible health effects and how to adequately protect themselves. The factsheets are broken down by industry to help you easily find information that’s relevant to you. 

We’ve also included specific advice for occupations undertaken outdoors, resulting in exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, as well as pregnant workers who may be exposed to radiation as part of their job. 

ARPANSA also contributed to the Cancer Council’s resource for people who work outdoors and their employers. This health and safety guide provides workers with information and strategies on identifying and managing ultraviolet radiation as a workplace hazard.

Our suite of occupational exposure factsheets are available here.

To monitor potential ionising radiation exposure to workers in fields such as medical, dental, chiropractic, industrial and mining, ARPANSA has a Personal Radiation Monitoring Service (PRMS). Accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), ARPANSA uses state-of-the-art technology to assess and report doses at our in-house facility, ensuring users comply with their radiation licence requirements of all Commonwealth, State and Territory regulations.

In addition, ARPANSA hosts the Australian National Radiation Dose Register (ANRDR). This is a database designed to store and maintain radiation dose records for occupationally exposed workers. 

If you work with, or are exposed to radiation, we encourage you to request a personal radiation dose report periodically. You can do this by completing an online form.

Earlier this year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) measured the level of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy (RF EME) the public is exposed to at 59 small cell sites across Australia.

Small cells, generally located on infrastructure such as light and power poles, are low-powered base stations that provide greater capacity for the mobile network in densely populated areas and strengthen coverage in regional and rural areas.

The purpose of the measurement program was to assess regulatory compliance by telecommunications carriers, and to ensure that the level of RF EME that the community is exposed to is below the limits referenced in the ARPANSA Safety Standard (the Standard). 

The measurement program found: 

• For all small cell sites measured, the exposure levels were hundreds of times below the limits outlined in the Standard.
• All measurements were recorded at well below 1 per cent of the Standard’s limits.
• All measurements were taken in publicly accessible areas, demonstrating that the public is exposed to extremely low RF EME from small cells. 

The Standard has been developed by ARPANSA to protect humans of all ages and health status from adverse health effects of RF EME emissions. It limits human exposure to RF EME well below the level at which harm to people may occur. 

‘This study is an important contribution to providing information on public exposure to RF EME. It’s also an important tool for ACMA as the regulator to assess compliance with the ARPANSA Standard’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA. 

‘The results of ACMA’s measurement program provide assurance that exposure levels from small cell sites are extremely low and in line with exposure levels from traditional mobile phone towers.’

The summary of results is available at https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2020-06/report/eme-measurements-near-small-cell-base-stations

Water can include naturally-occurring radioactive material leached from rocks and soil, and it’s important that guidelines are in place to ensure the safe management of our water supply. 

Through its program of rolling reviews, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is in the process of updating the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) to reflect international best practice in management of the radiological quality of drinking water. 

These guidelines provide the water supply industry and relevant health authorities a framework for managing the quality of water supplied to communities throughout Australia.  

Feedback is now being sought from the public on these updates, which includes updated terminology to ensure alignment with international guidance and information to better reflect the Australian context for consideration of radionuclides in drinking water.

ARPANSA provided scientific input and advice throughout the review of these guidelines and is confident that the draft continues to provide a solid framework for public safety.

‘We’re pleased to have contributed to this review to ensure that the guidelines remain up to date with international best practice in radiation protection’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘The guidelines are an important tool in maintaining Australia’s strong record in management of radiological risk.’

All feedback from the consultation will be addressed by the Water Quality Advisory Committee (WQAC), and jurisdictional water experts on the Environmental Health (enHealth) Radiation Health and Water Quality Expert Reference Panels will be consulted prior to implementing the updates.

Public consultation is available via the public consultation website and is open until Wednesday 12 August 2020, 4pm (AEST).

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.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has issued a product warning to advise consumers of the dangers of portable devices that emit ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some companies and individuals are promoting UVR devices to treat or prevent the spread of coronavirus. These devices emit short-wave UVR known as UVC and have been marketed for use in personal or home sterilisation as a means of killing the virus responsible for COVID-19.

‘ARPANSA and our colleagues at the World Health Organization [WHO] are concerned about the dangers of home use of UVC lamps’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director, Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘Using these small commercially-available lamps in the home is not recommended and can be very dangerous.’

Concerns include the variability of effectiveness of lamps and the potential to provide a false impression of safety if the intensity or duration of exposure is not sufficient to kill the virus. In addition to varying reliability, there are also serious health risks if skin or eyes are exposed to UVC light.

‘UVC exposure to the skin or eyes can cause both short term injury and long term health effects’, said Dr Tinker, ‘Possible health impacts include burns, eye injuries and an increased risk of skin cancer or cataracts’.

UVC lamps are not proven to effectively kill the virus responsible for COVID-19 on the body, personal living spaces or handheld objects such as mobile phones and shopping bags. They present serious health risks and are considered an unjustified radiation exposure.

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to practice good hygiene, wash hands and surfaces thoroughly and comply with social-distancing measures. For further information on how to stop the spread of coronavirus, visit the Department of Health website.

Read more:

• Statement from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
• Statement from the International Commission on Illumination (CIE)

The new 5G mobile phone network, earlier mobile networks and other wireless telecommunications sources emit low-level radiofrequency electromagnetic energy, which are also called radio waves.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has provided advice on 5G and health. ARPANSA has also published advice on misinformation about Australia’s 5G network.

After many decades of research, it is well established that exposure to radio waves at very high power levels can cause excessive heating of the human body. This can lead to a variety of serious health effects.

In order to protect people from the harmful effects of high power radio waves, ARPANSA has developed a safety standard that sets limits for exposure to radio waves for the public and workers. These limits are set well below the level at which harm may occur.

The operating frequencies of the 5G network are included within the limits set by the ARPANSA safety standard. 5G infrastructure and devices emitting radio waves are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and emissions must comply with the ARPANSA safety standard.

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some members of the public are concerned about the human immune system and whether it can be compromised by wireless telecommunications sources such as 5G.

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that helps the human body fight infectious disease caused by invading microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria.

A number of studies have investigated whether exposure to radio waves can affect the immune system. Some studies have shown that exposure to high power radio waves, much greater than the limits of the ARPANSA safety standard, increases the core body temperature, which can cause temporary effects on the immune system.

Studies have also investigated whether low level radio wave exposure from telecommunications sources like 5G can impact the immune system. Such studies, including those that have investigated effects on antigens, antibodies and oxidative stress, have not provided evidence of changes in immune function.

There is no established evidence that low level radio wave exposure from 5G and other wireless telecommunications can affect the immune system or cause any other long term or short term health effects.

For up-to-date information and advice on COVID-19, including how you can protect yourself and others, please refer to the Department of Health website.

Read more:

• World Health Organization information on COVID-19 and telecommunications
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation advice

ARPANSA’s Dr Ken Karipidis chaired a committee of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) to develop a statement on exposure to non-ionising radiation for cosmetic purposes.

The new statement includes guidance on the use of non-ionising radiation for cosmetic purposes, including laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and body sculpting.

‘The new ICNIRP statement provides an important analysis of the safety and regulation of cosmetic use of non-ionising radiation’, said Dr Karipidis, Assistant Director, Assessment and Advice.

The statement was prepared by an international committee of eminent scientists working in the field of radiation protection with representatives from organisations in Australia, the US, UK and other European countries.

‘Cosmetic devices that use non-ionising radiation are becoming increasingly popular and safety is an important factor’ said Dr Karipidis, ‘misuse can result in burns, skin damage or pigmentation and even long term eye damage in some cases’.

ARPANSA released guidance on the use of lasers, light-emitting diodes (LED) and intense pulsed light (IPL) for cosmetic purposes last year and the ICNIRP statement supports an international approach to radiation protection in this field.

The statement describes the various techniques and technologies used in cosmetic applications of non-ionising radiation and analyses findings from a diverse body of scientific research. The statement also addresses the use of ultrasound for cosmetic purposes, home-use devices and occupational exposure considerations.

‘The statement provides important evidence-based guidance to service providers and customers around the world to improve the safety of cosmetic use of non-ionising radiation’, said Dr Karipidis.

ARPANSA’s Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) has carried out audits on a new Elekta Unity MRI-Linac in Townsville, Queensland before the treatment of the first patient.

The new technology is a magnetic resonance radiation therapy (MR/RT) system that allows for precision delivery of radiation doses through improved visualisation during treatment. 

Currently in Australia, there is just one MRI-linac in clinical operation. Collaborating with local and international institutions, the audit process was carried out by ARPANSA after the completion of a year-long development program.

ARPANSA’s ACDS conducted Level 1b and Level III audits on the new machine. The Level 1b audit saw ACDS staff visiting the facility in Townsville to perform on-site measurements using ACDS dosimetry equipment. 

The Level III audit involved an end-to-end test using a human-like manikin simulating a real-life patient undergoing all steps in the radiotherapy treatment chain. 

Conducting the audit prior to any patient treatment provided strong quality assurance for the radiation oncology facility in Townsville and confidence in the dose received for all future patients. 

Jessica Lye, Director of ACDS, stated, “Our input assists in providing assurance and confidence that the correct radiation dose is being delivered to Australian patients. We are proud of this important step in ensuring patient safety with the newest radiotherapy technology.” 

ARPANSA maintains the safety standard for radiofrequency electromagnetic energy – also known as radio waves. Radio waves are produced from various sources including mobile telecommunications, radio, television and Wi-Fi.

Our safety standard is based on guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and relied on by the World Health Organization (WHO).

ICNIRP has recently released a revision of its guidelines for radiofrequency radiation protection.

The 2020 ICNIRP guidelines are an update of the previous 1998 guidelines and include a detailed explanation of how exposure limits have been set, along with a review of current research into radio waves and health.

The exposure limits set in the updated guidelines are similar to those in the 1998 guidelines, with some refinements. These refinements take into account modern measurement practices and advances in modelling based on relevant research.

‘The level of protection provided by our current standard is comparable to that provided by the new ICNIRP guidelines’, said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, ARPANSA CEO.

‘It is reassuring to see the scientific consensus continues to support current standards, which provide strong public protection’.

The refined ICNIRP guidelines have triggered a review and update of ARPANSA’s radiofrequency standard.

The volume of research and scientific evidence underpinning these new guidelines has increased substantially since the previous edition. It is important that this evidence, along with advances in measurement and modelling is addressed in our revised standard.

ARPANSA’s standard for radio waves: Radiation Protection Standard for Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields - 3 kHz to 300 GHz (2002) will be updated during 2020 to ensure alignment with the new ICNIRP guidelines.

‘We look forward to sharing our new draft for public consultation later in the year’, said Dr Larsson.

View the updated ICNIRP guidelines: https://www.icnirp.org/en/activities/news/news-article/rf-guidelines-2020-published.html

Recently, ARPANSA co-authored a new study which found that modern airline pilots registered in Australia, appear not to be at higher risk of developing invasive melanoma than the rest of the population.

The study, led by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, has been published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

This study is significant because it is a change from previous findings that focused on pilots in the northern hemisphere.

For decades, previous research showed much higher risks of melanoma in European and North American pilots, compared to the general population. 

The Australian study was also conducted in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). QIMR Berghofer researcher and lead author, Associate Professor Catherine Olsen, said this study examined health information from more than 20,000 Australian licensed pilots.

‘We looked at de-identified medical records from 2011 to 2016 held by the CASA, and found pilots in this country were not at a higher risk of developing invasive melanoma than the general population,’ Associate Professor Olsen said.

‘These new findings may reflect that conditions on airliner flights have changed,’ added Dr. Rick Tinker, co-author of the study and Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘Factors such as levels of short-wave solar ultraviolet radiation, which are the kind associated with melanoma, are mostly extremely low on today’s airliner flight decks.’

‘Other reasons why melanoma risk for pilots may have lowered, may be because pilots these days have different lifestyles and work practices. For example, they are expected to fly more and therefore have less layovers, especially in sunny destinations.’

Researchers hope this study will be built on further, using contemporary data gathered from around the world, in order to confirm whether commercial pilots in other countries are also no longer at increased melanoma risk.

The study was funded by the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine.

For more details on the study, visit QIMR Berghofer.

For media inquiries, reach out to QIMR Berghofer’s media contact.

A further study was published in March 2020: