Newsflashes

14^th European ALARA Network Workshop, Ireland 4-6 September 2012

"ALARA IN EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATIONS"

  Download the 2nd announcement

The concept of “existing exposure situations” was introduced by ICRP in Publication No. 103 (2007), and is included in the revised European Basic Safety Standards Directive. It is defined as exposure situations that already exist when a decision on control has to be taken, such as those caused by natural background radiation and radioactive residues from past practices or events.  Examples include radon in dwellings and buildings with public access, building materials and management of contaminated areas from past practices and post-accidents. Other situations such as exposure from cosmic rays and NORMs may also be included.

Optimisation is the key radiation protection principle for existing exposure situations, although it is not always clear how to apply this in practice.  Consequently, the aim of the 14^th EAN workshop is to focus on how the ALARA principle can be applied to the whole range of existing exposure situations.  The Workshop will consider the wider principles and strategies that might be adopted, as well as the specific methods for implementing ALARA in practice. 

This workshop will consist of presentations intended to highlight the main issues, and a significant part of the programme will be devoted to discussions within working groups.  From these discussions, participants will be expected to produce recommendations on ALARA in existing exposure situations addressed to relevant local, national and international stakeholders.

Working Group Topics

• ALARA challenges and practicalities at the national and regional levels

• Considerations in choosing reference levels

• Economical, technical factors and endpoints of optimisation

• Societal factors and stakeholders engagement

The 30^th issue of the EAN Newsletter has now been published and can be read in the Newsletter section. You can also download it as a PDF document  ALARA Newsletter 30

The 29^th issue of the EAN Newsletter has now been published and can be read in the Newsletter section. You can also download it as a PDF document  ALARA Newsletter 29.

The 28^th issue of the EAN Newsletter has now been published and can be read in the Newsletter section. You can also download it as a PDF document.

The 3^rd International MELODI (Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative) Workshop was held from 2^nd to 4^th of November 2011 in Rome (Italy). The workshop in particular offered to the attendants the great opportunity to be informed about the latest updates on the low dose research issues, and to participate in the MELODI Low Dose Research Platform.

Presentations, given during the third workshop are now available at: http://melodi-online.eu/melodi_3ws.html

ARPA FVG (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia) is organizing from 21 to 23 June 2011 in Udine (Italy) the conference "25 years after the Chernobyl accident: studies, remarks and recent findings".

This conference addresses the latest scientific findings on the health and environmental impacts of the Chernobyl accident, to develop a common view within the international scientific community regarding the consequences of the disaster and its ecological, health and social implication 25 years after the event.

For more information, you can download the first announcement (pdf).

For 1.5 years, the EAN Steering Group has worked on a 2010-2015 Strategic Plan for the network. This document describes the expected work of EAN during this period taking into account the future challenges for ALARA in Europe.

For more information you can consult the webpage dedicated to the EAN Strategic Plan.
You can also download the EAN Strategic Plan as a pdf document.

The 13^th EAN Workshop, dedicated to "ALARA and the medical sector" will be held from 7^th to 10^th of June 2011 at the Oscarborg Fortress in the Oslofjord (Norway).

The Preliminary Programme is available and can be downloaded here.

Read more: 13th EAN Workshop - "ALARA and the Medical Sector" - Preliminary Program and Pre-registration

EUTERP (European Training and Education in Radiation Protection Foundation) is organizing a Workshop on "Radiation protection training in Europe - the next steps". It will be held in Cyprus from 28th to 30th of March 2011.

Information on the preliminary programme, registration procedures and the call for contribution can be found in the following website: www.sckcen.be/euterp_workshop.