REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF STANDARDS The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) The ICRP originated in the Second International Congress of Radiology in 1928. It has been looked to as the appropriate body to give general guidance on widespread use of radiation sources caused by rapid developments in the field of nuclear energy. ICRP recommendations deal with the basic principles of radiation protection. red cote To the various national protection (ounciis) is left the responsibility for intro- ducing the detailed technical regulations, recommendations, or codes of practice best suited to their countries, Recommendations are in- tended to guide the experts responsible for radiation protection practice. ICRP states thac the objectives of radiation protection are to prevent acute radiation effects and to limit the risks of late effects to an acceptable level. It holds that it is unknown whether a threshold exists, and it is assumal that even the smallest doses involve a proportionately small risk. No practical alternative was found to assuming a linear relationship between dose and effect. This implies that there is no wholly "safe" dose of radiation. Exposure to natural background radiation carries a probability of causing some somatic or hereditary injury. However, the Commission believes that the risk resulting from exposures received from natural background should uot affect the juscificacion of an additional risk PP “ pote an RR eC ER . a . ‘ . eh te Soe . toed Ca gu Seton ae poor at oy OE was * fr , te Mane ty. i a vs My aan . bey i . .