ARPANSA is pleased to host, in conjunction with the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS), the 5th International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection on 17-21 November 2019 in Adelaide, South Australia.

The ICRP Symposium offers the opportunity for around 400 professionals, experts and researchers from around the world to gather and discuss concerns and challenges faced in all areas of radiological protection, including ways forward through new research, behavioural changes and improved engagement with stakeholders.

With a Symposium theme of Mines, Medicine and Mars, the topical areas to be explored include radiological protection in mining, cutting-edge technologies and techniques in medicine, plus the protection of passengers and crew in modern aviation and space travel. 

‘It is an honour to welcome the international radiation protection community to Australia for this important event,’ said Dr Gillian Hirth, ARPANSA Chief Radiation Health Scientist and ICRP committee member.

‘This is a unique opportunity to bring together experts from diverse fields of practice to share knowledge and experience and improve the global understanding of radiation safety issues and advances.’

ARPANSA staff will present on a range of topics including:   

• Validation of an effective dosimeter for radon decay products
• NORM: A planned or existing exposure situation?
• Learning from the Australian Radiation Incident Register
• ARPANSA’s national diagnostic reference level service – providing guidance on typical doses in medical imaging
• Australian actions to reduce health risks from radon
• Advantages for a Primary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory in having a Medical Linear Accelerator

Further research and expertise will be showcased via the poster sessions and ARPS forum held during the week.

‘It will be great to hear from so many ARPANSA scientists and other Australian and international experts throughout the four-day event’, said Dr Hirth.

For further detail on the symposium program, including world class keynote speakers and social events, visit: https://icrp2019.com/program/

The Annual Report of the CEO of ARPANSA 2018-19 was tabled in parliament on Tuesday 15 October 2019 and is now available online.

ARPANSA’s annual report informs parliament, stakeholders and the wider public about our priorities, achievements and activities during the previous financial year.

This year marks the first time that our annual report is released in the new Commonwealth government transparency portal, allowing easy access to relevant data and clear comparison of metrics across agencies and departments.

Highlights from this year’s annual report include:

• installing a new, state-of-the-art linear accelerator to respond to changes in the medical oncology environment
• receiving an international team of experts to perform a peer review of Australia’s regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety for the Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission (IRRS)
• publishing the mobile phone and brain cancer study in the British Medical Journal Open
• publishing our emergency exposure guide and advice on lasers, IPL devices and LED phototherapy for cosmetic treatments and beauty therapy
• celebrating 20 years of excellence, building on the success of ARPANSA’s predecessors from the previous 90 years.

'This year’s annual report showcases our commitment to serving as Australia’s leading authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. With the installation of the new linear accelerator and hosting of an international peer review to benchmark ourselves against international best practice, both highlighted in this year’s report, ARPANSA has been able to strengthen our role as service provider, independent regulator, and health advisor to the Australian Government and community. ARPANSA is well placed to work towards our 2019-2020 priorities'

- Carl-Magnus Larsson, CEO of ARPANSA

Read the full ARPANSA annual report 2018-19 on the new Commonwealth government transparency portal.

When we think about exposure to radiation in our everyday lives, food might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but naturally-occurring radiation can be found in our homes, the air we breathe and the food we eat.

In the first study of its kind in Australia, ARPANSA produced a report on radiation present in foods that make up a typical Australian diet.

ARPANSA’s new report looks at radiation dose from food taking into consideration both natural and artificial sources of radiation. The results showed levels are very low and would not present any health concerns.

‘This study gave us a great insight into the everyday diet of Australians and the level of exposure from radionuclides in food,’ said Dr Rick Tinker, Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘We screen many food samples in our radiochemistry lab, for artificial radionuclides, but this program of work was unique as it gives us a picture of the average baseline level of radiation exposure Australians receive from food in a year.’

The study found that there were small traces of one artificial radionuclide detected in some foods. More importantly, there was a range of naturally occurring radionuclides detected in most foods at varying concentrations.

‘Based on the analysis of this typical Australian diet – as expected, we saw some very low levels of natural and artificial radionuclides but at these very low levels there are no health implications due to radiation exposure’, Dr Tinker noted.

While ARPANSA conducted the food testing and dose estimations for the report, Food Standards Australia New Zealand played an integral role in developing a model of the typical Australian diet.

This study provides Australia with a valuable reference to normal radiation levels in our diet.

‘It’s great to have that data on levels of radionuclides in a range of food products so we can monitor any change over time or in the case of any future nuclear events,’ said Dr Tinker.

You can view the full report here: Radiation Doses from the Average Australian Diet.

Earlier this month ARPANSA and Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) met to formalise our partnership to promote sun safety and support skin cancer prevention.

CCV is a non-profit organisation involved in cancer research, support, prevention and advocacy. Our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CCV reaffirms our effective working relationship as we collaborate on local and national initiatives.

ARPANSA CEO, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson acknowledged ARPANSA’s longstanding relationship with the Cancer Council and both national and state levels. 

‘This MOU outlines how ARPANSA and CCV will work together to improve health outcomes related to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Together we are focussing on reducing the risk of skin cancer to the public and the associated burden on our health system.‘ 

‘I look forward to continuing to collaborate and support CCV’s research and advocacy to positively influence cancer prevention in Victoria and Australia,’ Dr Larsson said.

The relationship opens up improved opportunities to exchange information and direct future research and project initiatives across the two organisations, including through development of annual work plans.

‘We’re proud of the work we have undertaken with the Cancer Council and SunSmart to provide evidence-based advice on the effects of UV exposure. We look forward to collaborating further during November as we promote UV awareness and skin cancer action week’, said Dr Larsson.

ARPANSA and CCV are both designated World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centres on UV and encourage action to reduce UV-induced health risks, provide guidance and develop effective sun awareness programs.

ARPANSA and CCV are represented on Cancer Council Australia's National Skin Cancer Committee, relevant Committees of Standards Australia and the UV Working Group. 

A series of animal studies on mobile phone radiofrequency (RF) radiation and health have been conducted over two years by the United States Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program (NTP).

The animal studies were to investigate whether exposure to RF radiation from mobile phones causes any health effects, including cancer.

The studies exposed rats and mice to RF radiation at the same frequencies used by mobile phones. The rats and mice were exposed to levels of 0, 3, 6 or 9 W/kg for up to 9 hours at a time.

Australian mobile phone exposure level limits are set at 2 W/kg, however most mobile phones have lower exposure levels.

Partial findings from the NTP studies were published in May 2016 and ARPANSA reported on those results in the May 2016 Radiation Literature Survey.

Two draft technical reports have been published by the NTP on the full results of the study, and will undergo external peer review by an expert panel during March 2018.

ARPANSA will assess the NTP results and provide advice following the expert panel review.

We publish information about mobile phones and health. A large number of studies have been performed to investigate whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. It is the assessment of ARPANSA and other national and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), that there is no established scientific evidence that the use of mobile phones causes any health effects. However the possibility of harm cannot be completely ruled out.

Read more: ARPANSA reviews animal study on radiofrequency exposure and health

3 June 2019

ARPANSA is aware that there is a lot of concerning misinformation circulating throughout the community about the possible impacts of Australia’s planned roll-out of the 5G mobile network.

Contrary to some claims, there are no established health effects from the radio waves that the 5G network uses.

This network currently runs on radio waves similar to those used in the current 4G network, and in the future will use radio waves with higher frequencies. It is important to note that higher frequencies does not mean higher or more intense exposure. Higher frequency radio waves are already used in security screening units at airports, police radar guns to check speed, remote sensors and in medicine and these uses have been thoroughly tested and found to have no negative impacts on human health.

ARPANSA is an agency of the Commonwealth Government tasked with protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. Our scientists conduct research and work with the international radiation science community to set standards and guidelines on radiation in Australia. We work independently from other parts of government and are not funded by industry.

The regulator for the roll-out of 5G is the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). ACMA refers to the safety standards and guidelines published by ARPANSA when considering applications for licencing and implementation of new technology.

You may be aware of individuals who have experienced health problems that they believe may be attributed to exposure to radio waves.

ARPANSA and the World Health Organization (WHO) are not aware of any well-conducted scientific investigations where health symptoms were confirmed as a result of radio wave exposure in the everyday environment.

While ARPANSA acknowledges that the health symptoms experienced by the affected individuals are real and can be a disabling problem, the established science is that there is no clear diagnostic criteria and there is a lack of evidence that exposure to radio waves is the cause. ARPANSA advises those affected to seek individual medical advice on their symptoms from a qualified medical professional.

We urge you to be cautious of claims from anti-5G campaigns. These campaigns are generating unfounded fear and concern within the community. We have seen increasing misinformation about health effects, our role, and 5G or radio waves generally.

Read more: 5G: the new generation of the mobile phone network and health

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19 March 2019

Mobile phone networks and other wireless telecommunications sources emit low-level radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy (EME) and some members of the public have some concerns of adverse health effects. Of particular concern is the new generation of the mobile phone network called ‘5G’.

Although the 5G mobile phone network is new, limits set in safety standards, our understanding of the evidence of health effects and the need for more research have not changed. Why?

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) safety standard sets limits for exposure to RF EME. These limits are set well below levels at which harm to people 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 RF EME are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and emissions are required to comply with the limits of the ARPANSA safety standard. 

At exposure levels below the limits set within the ARPANSA safety standard, it is the assessment of ARPANSA and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP) that there is no established scientific evidence to support any adverse health effects from very low RF EME exposures to populations or individuals. 

Dr Ken Karipidis, Assistant Director of ARPANSA’s Assessment and Advice Section is an expert on how radiation affects the human body. He explains that: ‘5G is the 5th generation of telecommunication infrastructure which provides connectivity over a wide range of frequencies to mobile phones and other devices on the wireless network.’

Dr Karipidis details that the 5G network will ‘initially use frequencies in the current mobile phone network, then move to higher frequencies where the depth of RF EME penetration into human tissue is short.’
 
‘Consequently, this energy is absorbed mostly within the skin where surface heating is the predominant effect. At these higher 5G frequencies, the limits in the ARPANSA safety standard are set to prevent excessive heating at the surface of the skin and the eye.’

‘In our community today there are a range of devices and applications that utilise higher frequencies, for example security screening units at airports, police radar guns to check speed, remote sensors and in medicine.’ 

Dr Karipidis mentions that no health effects are expected from radio frequency exposures below the limits set in the ARPANSA standard. ‘However it is important to continue the research in order to reassure the Australian population. ARPANSA therefore has made recommendations for areas where we can build on the body of knowledge. The recommendations include research for frequencies above 6 GHz and for emerging technologies that use them like 5G.'

‘ARPANSA will continue to review the available research on 5G and other upcoming technologies in order to provide advice to the Australian people,’ Dr Karipidis says.

Read more: Misinformation about Australia’s 5G network

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Part of ARPANSA’s role is the regulation of all Commonwealth entities that use radiation. Regulation ensures compliance with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and associated Regulations (2018) and is supported by a series of regulatory guides.

Our new Radiation Incident Site Preservation guide sets out the regulatory expectations for preserving a site following a radiation safety or security incident.

The document provides guidance for licence holders, on and off-site first responders, local authorities, and others who may have a role in the event of a radiation or work health and safety incident.

The new guide outlines expectations for incident management to ensure safe, secure, effective and efficient operations where radiation exposure or contamination is known or suspected to be present.

Effective incident management is important to effective regulation as collection and preservation of information is integral to post-incident investigation, site clean-up and ensuring learnings from past incidents are understood to avoid future occurrences.

This new guide sets expectations and best practice for site preservation only and does not attempt to inform on recovery or response procedures. Those aspects of incident management are expected to be developed at the local level and be unique to the licence holder’s conduct or dealings.

The new guide is part of our collection of Regulatory guides.

In December 2018, the British Medical Journal Open published a scientific study led by ARPANSA investigating the relationship between brain cancer and mobile phone use.

The study was conducted in partnership with the University of Auckland, Monash University and the University of Wollongong, and looked at brain cancer diagnoses in Australians aged 20-59 between 1982 and 2013. The study found that the wide use of mobile phones in Australia has not increased the rate of brain cancer.

We published a summary of the findings from this study in December 2018.

Since the publication of the original study, the authors have conducted further analysis to assess whether there has been an increase in the rate of brain cancer in Australians aged 60 and over during the same time periods.

‘Our analysis shows that the rate of brain cancer in people in the 60 plus age group follows a similar pattern as the other age groups we looked at’, said author Dr Ken Karipidis.

‘It shows that there has been no increase in brain cancer rates in Australia that can be attributed to mobile phone use’.

The British Medical Journal Open has published a letter outlining the findings from this additional analysis.

This study provides further evidence that there is no link between mobile phone use and brain cancer and makes an important contribution to the body of knowledge on this topic.

Read more: New Australian study finds no link between mobile phone use and brain cancers

We’re pleased to be partnering with the Central Highlands Regional Council to establish Queensland’s fourth location for collection of real time ultraviolet (UV) data.

The planned installation of a UV sensor in Emerald, Queensland adds to our existing network of UV monitoring equipment in 16 locations across Australia and Antarctica.

Real-time monitoring is a vital resource in protecting Australians from the harmful effects of UV radiation. With an increase in the prevalence of deadly skin cancers such as melanoma, it’s important to know when UV reaches dangerous levels.

ARPANSA Scientist Dr Stuart Henderson visited Emerald last week to conduct a site inspection at the council building.

‘We were approached by the Central Highlands Regional Council. They were very keen to become involved in the UV network,’ Dr Henderson said.

‘There are a lot of outdoor workers in the Emerald region and it’s valuable to have real time information about when sun protection is required.’

The sensor to be installed in Emerald detects UV radiation similarly to human skin, producing a UV Index. Sun protection is recommended when the UV Index reaches 3 or above.

The project provides our researchers, and the Bureau of Meteorology, with another dataset on UV radiation to contribute to improvements in UV forecasts as well as providing the public with real-time data for their region.

The sensor will be installed in Emerald in the coming months and we look forward to sharing UV data from the Central Highlands as we work to expand our network.

Access UV levels by the minute through our website and other tools like the SunSmart app.

Read more: New ultraviolet radiation sensor now online