ICRP and NORM Exposure: A Report in Preparation (Summary)

Task Group 76 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), dealing with protection against NORM exposure to individuals or contamination of the environment, was initially launched in 2007 and was relaunched in 2013. The Task Group aims to develop a report on substances with NORM that are used for other than their radioactive properties (if using for such properties then it would be considered a planned exposure situation), in industrial processes that can significantly enhance the concentration of radionuclides in products, by-products, discharges, residues and waste. Other task groups are focussing on related aspects such as contaminated sites (Task Group 98). There is also a series of reports that focus on existing exposure situations, including those involving NORM, that have been produced by ICRP Committee 4 (e.g. ICRP Publications 111, 126 and 132). NORM arises as a result of a diverse range of practices, including mining and extractive industries, the production of coal, oil and gas, production and use of metals (such as thorium, niobium etc.), the phosphate industry and water treatment, among others. The characteristics of NORM industries are that they are already ongoing within a number of industrial sectors and tend to be large industries that are of economic importance. Furthermore, these industries tend to be subject to authorization as a result of being associated with risks from multiple hazards, but for which the radiological risk is rarely dominant and, hence, authorizations tend not to relate to radiological protection and the radiological protection culture within these industries is often poor. However, radiation doses are often higher than those associated with the classic nuclear industry, but doses are capped — there is almost no real prospect of emergency exposure situations occurring. With the culture of risk management being largely focused on non-radiological hazards, there is a need to introduce greater radiological protection to these industries, within an integrated and graded approach, ensuring that controls are commensurate with risk.