The Main Commission of the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP) and its Committees met in Chilton UK, June 23-25 2003.
The Main Commission heard updates from several reports related to dose limits and radiation protection practices in nuclear medicine. The following reports were subject to extensive discussion and review by the Commission:
• Dose management in digital radiology
• Release of patients after therapy with unsealed radionuclides
• Human alimentary tract
• Dosimetric quantities used in radiological protection
• Current judgements on the risk of health effects from ionising radiation
• Draft 2005 Recommendations
The Main Commission decided to post phone public consultation for the 2005 Draft until after its April 2004 meeting.
The report Further discussion and consultation process, 2005 public consultation was postponed until after the ICRP’s April 2004 meeting.
The Main Commission discussed the requirement to replace 3-5 members of the Commission in a by-election. A decision as how to proceed was not reached at this meeting. A strategic document was requested to be put into circulation and for potential nominees to the Main Commission to be submitted to the MC for approval.
The Main Commission met with representatives of Task Groups to discuss issues and consider request for research opportunities with outside organisations. TG 49 further discussed research opportunities with NASA regarding dose limits in space. The Commission noted that the UN Space Committee wishes to endorse ICRP recommendations with respect to spacecrafts carrying radioactive material. In addition, the Main Commission approved Task Group 59 to begin developing a report on radiation exposure in case of detonation of small nuclear devices or Radiation Dispersal Devices (RDD).
The MC was presented findings by the publisher (Elsevier) that loss of subscribers were correlated to delayed publication and reduced readerships. The MC responded that it is difficult for a charity to apply pressure on scientific groups but acknowledged the proposal to release abstracts and advertisements on upcoming articles.
The Main Commission confirmed the location and dates of the next Commission meetings.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina November 2-6 2003
• Vienna, Austria October 10-14 2004
• Geneva, Switzerland September 16-19 2005