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The ICRP and EMN for Radiation Protection prepare for close collaboration

Dosimeter and radiation warning sign

Across the world, people are regularly exposed to ionising radiation.

Ionising radiation is a natural phenomenon, present everywhere on earth. In addition, we use ionising radiation in medical and technical applications to improve health care and to implement advanced technologies. 

As a result, more than 23 million people around the world are exposed to ionising radiation in the workplace alone. To better protect European citizens, the EU’s radiation protection regulations are regularly updated to reflect changes in radiation practices, as well as to take into account new risk assessments and emergency preparedness.

EURAMET’s European Metrology Network (EMN) for Radiation Protection is helping to improve knowledge exchange surrounding radiation measurements and it is also supporting compliance with existing regulations in this field.

To help achieve this goal, the EMN is working to maintain a constructive dialogue and liaison between National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes (NMI/DIs), calibration and test laboratories, proficiency testing, research platforms and stakeholders of radiation protection regulation.

Last year, the network began to initiate contact with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) - a central stakeholder for the EMN (see more about the EMN and the ICRP below).

Annette Röttger, Chair of the EMN for Radiation Protection, comments:

“The ICRP was established to protect the public by advancing the science of radiological protection. Now, our EMN is working to improve European competence in metrology related to radiation protection, through discussions of capabilities and needs with the ICRP. This is a strategic and very important collaboration for both organisations.”

Collaboration and knowledge-exchange will be of significant mutual benefit for both parties. The EMN will be able to provide guidance about state-of-the-art measurements, including primary and secondary standards, available reference fields and calibrations, and uncertainty assessments. Meanwhile, the ICRP will be able to support other metrological needs, to facilitate progress across the radiation protection field in its entirety, and to also address any newly-developed gaps in knowledge caused by medical or technological advancements.

Christopher Clement, Scientific Secretary of the ICRP, states:

“This newly formalised collaboration between EURAMET’s European Metrology Network (EMN) for Radiation Protection and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is very welcome. We look forward to working together, particularly in the domains of metrology and dosimetry to support the protection of people and the environment world-wide.”

To formalise the liaison of the stakeholder to the EMN, via EURAMET, a letter of intent was signed on 25 February 2022 - by Christopher Clement on behalf of the ICRP, and Jörn Stenger on behalf of EURAMET. Importantly, this step also signifies the start of the ICRP’s relationship with metrology institutes as a whole.

The EMN looks forward to a future of fruitful collaboration between the two organisations, to support public protection against harmful forms of ionising radiation.

 

More about the EMN

The European Metrology Network for Radiation Protection has been established to act as a single point of contact for all metrological requirements related to this field.

At present, the network is working to develop a harmonised, sustainable and smartly specialised infrastructure that will be capable of addressing specific needs expressed by its stakeholders. The network is taking steps to encourage smart specialisation and the sharing of key facilities across metrology institutes, to enable quality assurance in the field and ensure the EMN’s active contribution to standards for radiation protection.

 

More about the ICRP

The ICRP is an independent Registered Charity, set up with the key focus to advance the science of radiological protection for the health & safety of the general public. Made up of more than 250 experts in radiological protection science and policy, the ICRP provides essential guidance on all aspects of protection against ionising radiation.

As a widely-renowned and highly important global organisation, the ICRP is built similarly to the structure of EURAMET’s European Metrology Networks, in that it is able to provide a forum for experts to discuss joint ideas, connecting members across the world. Indeed, there are more than 100 member states involved in this commission.

 


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