**5. System and legislative framework for radiation protection**

The present system of radiation protection used across Europe and worldwide relies on the basic recommendations of the International Commission for Radiation Protection (ICRP). The basic conceptual framework of these fundamental materials has been constantly updated and modified, taking into account the recent development in the field.

The latest general recommendations of the ICRP were published in 2007 as *ICRP Publication 103.* At present, the ICRP is about to be reviewed and revised its last recommendations [16].

The structure and relations among the most important international committees, commissions, associations, agencies, and other related organizations are outlined in **Figure 14**. In addition to the ICRP, the most influential expert bodies among them are especially UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). Other abbreviations used in **Figure 14** have the following meanings: BEIR – Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation, IRPA – International Radiation Protection Association, ISR – International Society of Radiology, PAHO – Pan American Health Organization, NEA – Nuclear Energy Agency, WHO – World Health Organization, FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization, BSS – Basic Safety Standards, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, IEC International Electrotechnical Commission.

The ICRP developed three main principles of radiation protection based on justification, optimization, and dose limitation.

The principle of *justification* requires that every activity related to the use of radiation sources be fully justified by a benefit that outweighs the possible risks arising from its use.

When carrying out activities leading to the exposure, it is necessary to set and maintain such a level of radiation protection that the risks arising from the use of

#### **Figure 14.**

*The most important international expert and scientific bodies engaged in developing radiation protection recommendations and standards.*


#### **Table 5.**

*Dose limits on occupational and public exposure (based on [17, 18]).*

radiation are as low as can reasonably be achieved with regard to economic and social aspects. This is the main concept of *optimization* in radiation protection.

The *dose limitation* principle of radiation protection requires that the dose to persons should not exceed the limits introduced by the national and international standards.

Under normal or planned circumstances, the doses are not supposed to exceed the limits recommended by the ICRP (**Table 5**). The majority of countries transposed these limits for occupational and public exposure into their respective national regulations. The exposure of patients and rescue workers is controlled by specific reference doses.
