It has been over 20 years since the radiological accident in Goiania, Brazil. Lessons drawn from the 1987 accident are still helping shape actions on radiation safety and security decades later. It was the worst accident involving a radioactive source that the world has seen. Cesium chloride from a dumped source that had ended up in a scrap yard spread undetected for over two weeks. Some 250 people were contaminated and four died in the first month. The event focused international attention on the issue of safety standards for radioactive sources.

"Before the 1987 accident the regulations were weak when it came to controlling radiation used in medicine and industry worldwide," says Eliana Amaral, IAEA Director of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety. "There was no awareness that sources must be controlled from "cradle to grave"; and to prevent the public accessing them. After the accident these concepts were fostered," Ms. Amaral says.

The IAEA introduced rigorous safety standards for radioactive sources, namely the International Basic Safety Standards No. 115, co-sponsored by several international organizations.

Brazil's request that the IAEA draw "lessons learned" from Goiania paved the way for more open, transparent reporting of radiological accidents. Since the accident, the gradual replacement of sealed sources containing the soluble, powdery form of cesium chloride has been considered. In the USA, a 2008 report from the National Research Council has recommended that the US Government take steps to promote the replacement of cesium chloride radiation sources, used in some medical and research equipment, with lower-risk alternatives.

Goiania's legacy of a handful of cesium chloride is 3,000 cubic metres of contaminated waste. It is now buried in a near surface repository on the outskirts of the city, where it must be isolated for the next 300 years.

More information is provided on the IAEA Web Site, and the detailed 1988 accident report is available to the IAEA Publicationspage.

The Society of U.K. scientists working to ensure the health and safety of all from exposure to radiation have celebrated a landmark achievement. In a ceremony in The Queen's Robing Room of the House of Lords on 11th December 2007, the Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) received a Royal Charter of Incorporation. The Charter was accepted from Ian Denyer, Head of the Crown Office and Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery by SRP President Sheila Liddle.

"This achievement has come to fruition after several years of intensive effort by many of the Society's members" said Mrs Liddle, "and I am delighted that I have been able to contribute during my Presidential year. Radiation Protection is a multi-discipline science; physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers and statisticians all contribute in different ways to the management of the risks from working with radiation. Until now however there has been no general title that identifies radiation safety practitioners from all these fields to employers and the public as expert specialists. The Royal Charter remedies this. A corporate member of the Society who can demonstrate appropriate qualifications, professional competence and effective work will now be titled Chartered Radiation Protection Professional (CRadP)."

Welcoming the opportunity to present formally the Royal Charter, Mr Denyer said "The Society for Radiological Protection has long been at the forefront of promoting health and safety. Its membership represents all areas involving the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation. In recent years members of the SRP have contributed to resolving issues of national and international importance. Society members are making significant contributions to the management of the nuclear legacy and the debate on new nuclear build. Throughout academia, hospitals and regulatory bodies the SRP plays a key role in promoting high scientific and professional standards. Society members are prominent in the work of the International Commission on Radiation Protection. The award of a Royal Charter is a fitting recognition of one of the UK's leading learned societies."

Further information can be found at the Society’s website www.srp-uk.org or within the pages of this IRPA website.

The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) is seeking nominations for the fourteenth award of the ICRU Gray Medal. The Gray Medal was established by the ICRU in 1967. It is awarded for outstanding contributions to basic or applied radiation science of interest to the ICRU and honors the late Louis Harold Gray, former member and Vice-Chairman of the Commission. The first award of the medal was made to Dr. Lewis V. Spencer in 1969. Subsequent recipients have been Dr. John W. Boag, Dr. Mortimer M. Elkind, Professor Maurice Tubiana, Dr. Harald H. Rossi, Dr. Dietrich Schulte-Frohlinde, Dr. H. Rodney Withers, Dr. Paul Lauterbur, Dr. Herman Suit, Dr. R. Michael Fry, Dr. Martin Berger and Dr. Charles Metz. The thirteenth award was presented to Dr. Eric J. Hall at the 13th ICRR Meeting in San Francisco, California on July 11, 2007.

For the fourteenth Gray Medal award, the Commission will give preference to individuals who have made major contributions to basic science.

Nominations for the medal may be made by any person or organization. They must include a complete biographical sketch (curriculum vitae) of the nominee, selected reprints or records which show the significant contributions made by the nominee, and letters of support evaluating the importance of the contributions. Nominations should be directed to the Chairman of the ICRU, Suite 400, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, USA 20814 and must be received by the ICRU no later than June 1, 2008.

Information: Patricia Russell, Executive Secretary, ICRU Suite 400, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, USA 20814. Fax: (301) 907-8678 Email: icru@icru.org

The 2007 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection are now available as follows:

• Printed copies - These can be ordered through the ICRP publishers.
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• User's Edition - This lower-cost version includes the full text of the actual Recommendations (pp. 1 - 135) but not the scientific Annexes with background data (pp. 137 - 332); it also can be ordered through the ICRP publishers.
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• Special discount options and translations
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