Adaptation of international radiation protection recommendations for national regulations of the German Democratic Republic

In 1984, new basic radiation protection regulations were put into force in the German Democratic Republic. The new international recommendations on radiation protection, particularly the Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection issued by the IAEA, were adopted because a continued internationally uniform approach to radiation protection is of major importance, and there were no inconsistencies with national experience. In a few cases specification of international recommendations was necessary. Some of these specifications are outlined in the paper: (i) the system of dose limitation was adopted, the limits taking precedence over the optimization principle; (ii) a rough national risk assessment confines the annual limit for the effective dose equivalent to 50 mSv. For females an additional limit of 13 mSv for the dose equivalent of the uterus in three months is applied; (iii) the secondary limits for external radiation are based on measurable quantities instead of the dose equivalent indices; (iv) authorized derived limits for surface contamination are rather strict but their applicability is flexible and practicable; (v) planned special exposures in non-urgent cases require prior approval by the competent authority; (vi) the classification of radiation workers of categories A and B and of operators is well defined. The potential exposures used in determining working conditions and radiation protection areas are different. Recommendations on classification of workers and areas are introduced in detail by the competent authority in order to make classification practicable; (vii) responsibilities of staff members are clearly separated. The radiation protection training prescribed in the regulations is adapted to the relevant requirements. All specifications are consistent with the international recommendations and have proved successful. (author). 19 refs, 7 tabs