The implications of the 1990 recommendations of ICRP for occupational exposure

In November 1990 the International Commission on Radiological Protection agreed to a new set of recommendations. In this Paper those aspects of the recommendations which are relevant to occupational exposure are described and their implications examined. First the new estimates of carcinogenic risk are presented and the way in which they are used to provide a measure of detriment is explained. The Paper then shows how the attributes of radiation detriment are used to set dose limits. Finally, the practical implementation of the recommendations is considered. (Author)