Radiation protection standards: Their development and current status

This chapter discusses basic standards for radiological protection, the practical application of standards, current issues, and future developments. The last few years have seen a major review of the basic standards for radiation protection as well as the introduction in many countries of new legislation laying down standards with regard to practices giving rise to radiation exposure, particularly that of electricity production from nuclear power. Topics covered include the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), radiation effects and risk estimates, dose limits for occupational exposure, dose limits for individual members of the public, cost-benefit analysis, exposure of populations, the control of internal exposure, monitoring of exposures, the role of international bodies other than ICRP, and national standards. A glossary of dosimetric quantities and units is provided