ICRP Publication 153
Radiological Protection in Veterinary Practice
Recommended citation
ICRP, 2022. Radiological protection in veterinary practice. ICRP Publication 153. Ann. ICRP 51(4).
Authors on behalf of ICRP
N. Martinez, L. Van Bladel, Å. Søvik, L. Balogh, J. Benoit, A. Davila, S. Dorling, J. Gambino, M. Natsuhori, R.J. Pentreath, K. Peremans, E. Randall, C. Roy, I. Tanaka
Abstract - Veterinary use of radiation in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease has expanded and diversified, as have the corresponding radiological protection concerns. Radiological exposure of personnel involved in veterinary procedures and, where applicable, members of the public providing assistance (e.g. owners or handlers) has always been included within the system of radiological protection. Veterinary practice is now addressed explicitly as the modern complexities associated with this practice warrant dedicated consideration, and there is a need to clarify and strengthen the application of radiological protection principles in this area. The Commission recommends that the system of radiological protection should be applied in veterinary practice principally for the protection of humans, but with explicit attention to the protection of exposed animals. Additionally, consideration should be given to the risk of potential contamination of the environment associated with applications of nuclear medicine in veterinary practice. This publication focuses primarily on justification and optimisation in veterinary practice, and sets the scene for more detailed guidance to follow in future Recommendations. It is intended for a wide-ranging audience, including radiological protection professionals, veterinary staff, students, education and training providers, and members of the public, as an introduction to radiological protection in veterinary practice.
© 2022 ICRP. Published by SAGE.
Keywords: Veterinary practice; Animal patient; Justification; Optimisation; Ethics.
Key Points
The objective of this publication is to provide an initial set of relevant observations, considerations, and general recommendations related to radiological protection in veterinary practice, intended for a wide-ranging audience.
Radiological protection challenges specific to veterinary practice arise from the different combinations of personnel and members of the public who may be involved, and from operational environments required when dealing with animals.
The priority of radiological protection in veterinary practice is that of the humans involved, but the exposure of animals should also be the object of explicit attention because, like humans, animals are subject to potential tissue reactions or stochastic effects resulting from exposure to radiation.
In veterinary practice, the core and procedural ethical values of the system of radiological protection are elaborated on with discussion of additional interpretations of these values, including animal welfare, sustainable development, solidarity, reverence for life, stewardship, respect for autonomy, and empathy.
Veterinary applications of ionising radiation, and their ensuing protection challenges, are, to a large extent, comparable to situations in human medical applications, and could benefit from similar approaches, such as the three levels of justification, and optimisation as a process to ensure that the likelihood and magnitude of exposures and the number of individuals exposed are reasonable and appropriate for the situation at hand, considering economic, societal, and environmental factors.
Executive Summary: Not included in this publication
ICRP, 2022. Radiological protection in veterinary practice. ICRP Publication 153. Ann. ICRP 51(4).
Authors on behalf of ICRP
N. Martinez, L. Van Bladel, Å. Søvik, L. Balogh, J. Benoit, A. Davila, S. Dorling, J. Gambino, M. Natsuhori, R.J. Pentreath, K. Peremans, E. Randall, C. Roy, I. Tanaka
Abstract - Veterinary use of radiation in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease has expanded and diversified, as have the corresponding radiological protection concerns. Radiological exposure of personnel involved in veterinary procedures and, where applicable, members of the public providing assistance (e.g. owners or handlers) has always been included within the system of radiological protection. Veterinary practice is now addressed explicitly as the modern complexities associated with this practice warrant dedicated consideration, and there is a need to clarify and strengthen the application of radiological protection principles in this area. The Commission recommends that the system of radiological protection should be applied in veterinary practice principally for the protection of humans, but with explicit attention to the protection of exposed animals. Additionally, consideration should be given to the risk of potential contamination of the environment associated with applications of nuclear medicine in veterinary practice. This publication focuses primarily on justification and optimisation in veterinary practice, and sets the scene for more detailed guidance to follow in future Recommendations. It is intended for a wide-ranging audience, including radiological protection professionals, veterinary staff, students, education and training providers, and members of the public, as an introduction to radiological protection in veterinary practice.
© 2022 ICRP. Published by SAGE.
Keywords: Veterinary practice; Animal patient; Justification; Optimisation; Ethics.
Key Points
The objective of this publication is to provide an initial set of relevant observations, considerations, and general recommendations related to radiological protection in veterinary practice, intended for a wide-ranging audience.
Radiological protection challenges specific to veterinary practice arise from the different combinations of personnel and members of the public who may be involved, and from operational environments required when dealing with animals.
The priority of radiological protection in veterinary practice is that of the humans involved, but the exposure of animals should also be the object of explicit attention because, like humans, animals are subject to potential tissue reactions or stochastic effects resulting from exposure to radiation.
In veterinary practice, the core and procedural ethical values of the system of radiological protection are elaborated on with discussion of additional interpretations of these values, including animal welfare, sustainable development, solidarity, reverence for life, stewardship, respect for autonomy, and empathy.
Veterinary applications of ionising radiation, and their ensuing protection challenges, are, to a large extent, comparable to situations in human medical applications, and could benefit from similar approaches, such as the three levels of justification, and optimisation as a process to ensure that the likelihood and magnitude of exposures and the number of individuals exposed are reasonable and appropriate for the situation at hand, considering economic, societal, and environmental factors.
Executive Summary: Not included in this publication
