The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the elimination of the "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) philosophy from its directives and regulations for global radiation protection.
- This represents a shift to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- It risks increasing worker exposure by removing the mandate to minimize doses below statutory limits.
Foundations of Radiation Protection
The global framework for radiation safety has historically rested on two primary pillars:
- ALARA: A core safety principle dictating that radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable, balancing social and economic factors.
- LNT (Linear No-Threshold): The scientific model behind ALARA, which assumes that any radiation dose, no matter how small, carries some cancer risk.
Global Radiation Safety Rules
- ICRP: International bodies like the IAEA and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommend optimization principles similar to ALARA as part of global safety frameworks.
- IAEA Updates: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans to update its 2014 Basic Safety Standards based on the new ICRP inputs to ensure universal acceptance of radiation protection practices.
- Most countries use dose limits plus optimization to protect workers and the public.
Indian Radiation Safety Rules
- The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) strictly enforces the ALARA principle across all nuclear facilities, aligning fully with ICRP recommendations.
- Indian regulations set dose limits (e.g., 20 mSv/year for workers) but mandate ALARA to keep actual doses far lower.
