Where do we stand with the International Commission on Radiological Protection Report 60?
We have examined the implications of ICRP60 for nuclear medicine. Radiation doses to staff are currently low and reduction of the dose limits will have little impact. However, the proposed figures for the fetus may have implications for pregnant women where the workloads are high. With nursing staff on the ward, laboratory staff or indeed departmental porters there seems little problem. Radiation dose to the fingers is, however, a key factor, and ensuring that no further restrictions are placed on the proposed dose limits is important. The concept of constraints is becoming clearer but will need further thought, particularly with regard to exposure of the general public. The previous basis for declaring controlled and supervised areas has been abandoned, and the situation is now less clear. A most important area of debate will be the patient who is a controlled area, and great care will have to be taken to ensure that the number of patients in this category is not increased so that many more patients need to be kept in hospital. Exposure of the general public is also an issue and expanding the concept of medical exposure to include carers is an important development. This should prevent a number of unnecessary restrictions and adds weight to the point that two waiting rooms are not justified in nuclear medicine departments. ICRP recommendations will soon be incorporated into the legislation of member states and it is import for everyone to ensure that drafts are read carefully and that national proposals are not too restrictive.
Harding
L K
LK
Physics and Nuclear Medicine Department, Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Thomson
W H
WH
D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D009684:Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*