Радиационная гигиена (Oct 2023)
Topical issues of sanitary and epidemiological requirements when using technogenic sources of ionizing radiation
Abstract
The current system of regulatory requirements in the Russian Federation for the handling of products containing or being man-made sources of ionizing radiation does not sufficiently take into account differences in the radiation hazard of various types of radiation equipment. For radiation objects of different categories of potential radiation hazard, it is largely the same. In all cases, it is required to issue a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion on the compliance of working conditions with ionizing radiation sources with sanitary rules and licenses, which in this case practically duplicate each other. As one of the possible ways to ensure greater differentiation of regulatory requirements taking into account the real danger of various sources, the formation of a three-level system of sanitary and epidemiological regulation of the use of technogenic sources of ionizing radiation is proposed. The first level is radiation equipment products, the radiation doses of people due to the use of which cannot exceed the established hygienic standards for the population under any conditions of the use for which these products are designed. Their handling is exempt from regulatory control and should be carried out as with products that do not pose a radiation hazard. The second level is radiation technology products that do not pose a serious potential radiation hazard to people, but require certain regulation of their handling to ensure a socially acceptable level of radiation safety. Handling of them is allowed in the presence of sanitary and epidemiological conclusion, and a simplified radiation monitoring system may be allowed. The third level is the products of radiation technology that pose a significant potential radiation hazard to humans. A serious harm to human health is possible in case of violations of the rules for handling such products and in the event of a radiation accident. Handling them is allowed if there is a sanitary and epi- demiological conclusion and a license. Such an approach, while maintaining the achieved level of radiation safety, will significantly simplify the regulatory system and eliminate unreasonable obstacles to the expanded use of radiation technology. It is also necessary to consider the possibility of developing special standards to ensure sanitary and epidemiological requirements of the use of mobile and mobile medical diagnostics using sources of ionizing radiation. The absence of such standards hinders the implementation of modern methods of X-ray diagnostics.
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