#IRPA14 Half a century of making radiation safer

A new tradition - the IRPA Presidential Medal was presented to Renate Czarwinski

Marking its 50th anniversary, day three of the 14th Congress, aka IRPA14 –– was dedicated to a celebratory programme.

A day to reflect

The day also allowed the congress to reflect on the most significant scientific achievements in radiation protection, using the 11 previous Sievert lectures – with which each congress since 1973 has been opened – as signposts.

Decline in young people entering the professional

One of the biggest challenges today is the dearth of young professionals entering the system, said Dr John Boice, recipient of the 2016 Sievert Award.

“It’s possibly the single most important issue. In the United States, there is a serious decline in the number of radiation professionals – in all areas – that we need,” he noted.

Better listeners

Communicating to the public about radiation remains a concern for the industry. Some fresh new approaches may have to be taken, urged Dr Richard Toohey of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) in the US.

“[The public] want us to hear what they have to say. What we have to do is become better listeners. We have to become empathisers,” he said.

Radiation and the risk of cancer

There’s still a lot to be learnt about the role of radiation – particularly low doses of ionising radiation – in causing cancer, shared Dr Christian Streffer, winner of IRPA’s 2008 Sievert Award and emeritus member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

This would provide more insight into the dose-response curve, which plots the relationship between radiation exposure and the risk for cancer. “We need to know the mechanisms of cancer to get a better answer,” Streffer said.

His experience has shown that young people and mothers of young babies are particularly concerned about the hereditary risks for cancer after exposure to radiation, said Michiaki Kai, professor of environmental health science at the Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Japan.

There is comforting evidence – studies have found that children born to those exposed to radiation in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, for instance, have no increased risk of cancer.

“We need to share more scientific information with the public to help them improve their understanding,” said Kai.

Repairing the environment

And remediation of the environment after exposure to high levels of radiation remains “the biggest problem that we have noy solved”, said Dr Abel Gonzalez , former vice-chairman of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and winner of the 2004 Sievert Award.

That said, added Gonzalez, there has been impressive progress in recent years in areas like occupational protection and the transport of radioactive materials.

The day’s celebrations were concluded with a lavish gala dinner at the CTICC.

The congress brings together close on 900 delegates from 72 countries at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) from 9 to 13 May..