In this report, the Commission provides updated guidance on radiological protection against radon exposure. The report has been developed considering the latest ICRP recommendations for the system of radiological protection, all available scientific knowledge about the risks of radon, and the experience gained by many organisations and countries in the control of radon exposure. The report describes the characteristics of radon exposure, covering sources and transfer mechanisms, the health risks associated with radon, and the challenges of managing radon exposure. The Commission recommends an integrated approach for controlling radon exposure, relying as far as possible on the management of buildings or locations in which radon exposure occurs, whatever the use of the building. This approach is based on the optimisation principle, and is graded reflecting the responsibilities of key stakeholders, notably in workplaces, and the intent of the national authorities to control radon exposure. The report also provides recommendations on managing radon exposure when workers’ exposures are considered as occupational, and the appropriate requirements of the Commission should be applied.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recognises three types of exposure situations: planned, existing, and emergency. In all three situations, the release of radionuclides into the natural environment leads to exposures of non-human biota, as well as the potential for exposures of the public. This paper describes how the key principles of the ICRP system of radiological protection apply to non-human biota and members of the public in each of these exposure situations. Current work in this area within ICRP Task Group 105 is highlighted. For example, how simplified numeric criteria may be used in planned exposure situations that are protective of both the public and non-human biota. In emergency exposure situations, the initial response will always be focused on human protection; however, understanding the potential impacts of radionuclide releases on non-human biota will likely become important in terms of communication as governments and the public seek to understand the exposures that are occurring. For existing exposure situations, there is a need to better understand the potential impacts of radionuclides on animals and plants, especially when deciding on protective actions. Understanding the comparative impacts from radiological, non-radiological, and physical aspects is often important in managing the remediation of legacy sites. Task Group 105 is making use of case studies of how exposure situations have been managed in the past to provide additional guidance and advice for the protection of non-human biota.

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This paper describes an internal dosimetry program developed for Canadian uranium processing facilities. The recently adopted recommendations of ICRP Publication 60 have made it extremely difficult to detect intakes of insoluble forms of natural uranium by in vivo methods (lung counting). A type S intake of UO2 corresponding to a 20 mSv effective dose has a lung burden that is a factor of 2-3 lower than the MDA, 6 months after the intake occurred. A new methodology, approved in principle by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, has been designed to overcome this problem by summing sequential, but separate, lung counts for an individual, or summing lung counts from a group of workers performing similar tasks. This summing technique effectively increases the counting time and, therefore, reduces the MDA to a value below the dose limit. Doses will be assigned to the individual or work group based on the average lung burden.

This special issue of JRP includes a selection of research papers and review articles presented at the 15th Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA15) as chosen by the scientific committee. All invited journal contributions are suitably expanded beyond the initial conference presentations to meet the criteria for a full journal article and include (a) presentation within a comprehensive radiological protection context and (b) additional data/interpretation. Published contributions address a wide spectrum of scientific topics and concepts to further develop the radiation protection (RP) system. They are based on scientific evidence and available experience in a wide spectrum of applications of the protection system. The IRPA is the international voice of the RP profession. It promotes excellence in RP by providing benchmarks of good practice, enhancing professional competence, and encourages the application of the highest standards of professional conduct, skills and knowledge for the benefit of individuals and society. Within the overarching theme of the conference ‘Bridging RP Culture and Science—Widening Public Empathy’ IRPA15 provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss and strengthen the relations between RP culture and science, and share developing scientific knowledge and related experience in RP among members of the scientific community, between representatives of key international organizations, including ICRP, IAEA, WHO, and NEA but also with the public. Some discussions focused on the rationale of available RP programmes and priorities, with an opportunity to identify and further develop key scientific issues of the current RP system as well as key processes for the interaction between members of the scientific community and society. The scientific programme of IRPA15 included eight topics and four thematic areas. The topical areas were: Underpinning Science; Dosimetry and Measurement; the System of Protection; Standards and Regulation; Practical Implementation—Medical Sector, as well as Industry and Research; Emergency Preparedness and Response; Existing Exposures and Non-ionizing Radiation. The thematic areas addressed were: Ethics; Communication and Public Understanding; RP Culture; Human Capital and Competency.