ICRP Main Commission Meeting
1956 April 3-7,9-10 Geneva, Switzerland
Following the opening of the meeting, the Commission invited members to stand in one minute’s silence to the memory of Dr. A.J Cipriani.
The Chairman announced several changes regarding the structure and memberships of the Sub-Committees.
The Chairman began a discussion related to the overall structure of ICRP and its status as a member of the ICR. Potential options for the future were raised regarding possible status as a non-governmental body, increasing the number of members and Sub-Committees of ICRP, and need for funding to finance projects. Other topics discussed involved increasing the frequency of meetings, allowing Sub-Committees the power to meet more often on their own, and increasing the relevance of ICRP to become an independent world leading body. No binding decisions were made on these topics.
A proposal to prepare statements to the public via the Geneva Press was carried.
A proposal created by Professor Sievert went into great detail regarding the future of ICRP and the Commission spent much time discussing the implications and making suggestions to the future plan. It was decided that ICRP and ICRU should continue to function as separate entities under the ICR.
It was approved that Professor Sievert should approach the Ford Foundation for funding.
Professor Sievert was elected unanimously as Chairman of ICRP. Sir Ernest was invited to continue as Emeritus member. Mr. Binks was elected as Secretary. Dr. Eddy and Watkinson were decided as future members of the Commission. The memberships and structure of the Sub-Committees were established and listed in the minutes.
It was decided that the glossary of radiological terms and measurement and instrumentation would require no separate Sub-Committee and could be handled between ICRP/ICRU.
The possibility of establishing a secretary for each Sub-Committee was discussed but only Sub-Committee III was a definite appointment made.
It was agreed to henceforth refer to Sub-Committees as Committees.
The Commission called upon the chairmen of the Committees to provide work updates and made the following decisions:
C1 – The Committee presented drafts of their current work with questions related to establishing desired wording in their work. A concern was raised that due to wording in past recommendations (specifically the 1954 ICRP report), ICRP was not concerning itself with whole populations. It was decided to include a statement in the report that an ICRP Committee was giving further consideration to genetic aspects of radiation exposure. In a report related to recommendations of maximum dose, the Commission decided upon limit doses to 50 rems before age of 30, and 50 afterwards, 50 rems per decade.
C2 – The maximum possible levels proposed in the C2 report were accepted by the Commission.
C3 – No action taken by the Commission in response to progress report provided.
C4 – Professor Mayneord proposed to redefine RBE.
C5 – No action taken by the Commission.
Extensive discussion was held regarding information presented in the reports, mostly to do with definitions, standards, and limits presented in the reports. Recommendations were made by various members of the Commission to the members of the Committees but no definite decisions were made by the Commission as a whole.