13 April 2023

Australian government research scientist Associate Professor Sarah Loughran has been appointed to the World Health Organization (WHO) Task Group on Radiofrequency Fields and Health Risks.

She joins experts from 14 other countries who will collect and analyse the available evidence on the effects of radio wave exposure on health.  

The task group will support WHO by independently drawing scientific conclusions, assessing health risks , compiling best practice guidelines, and identifying research gaps. 

A/Prof Loughran says her involvement in the task group will complement her role as Director of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s (ARPANSA) electromagnetic energy (EME) program. 

'The task group will consider all the scientific literature on health effects of radio waves and perform a health risk assessment, which will then be published as a monograph,’ A/Prof Loughran said.  

‘I’m looking forward to working with experts from around the world to consider the science on the health effects from radio wave exposure.’  

The task group’s work is expected to be completed by December 2023. 

To learn more, visit the WHO website. 

About Sarah Loughran

Sarah is currently Director of Radiation Research and Advice, and the Principal Researcher and Director of the Electromagnetic Energy Program at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

She is also a Chief Investigator for the Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR), an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), and an adjunct researcher at the University of Wollongong.

She received degrees in physiology and psychology from Deakin University before completing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and psychophysiology in 2007 at Swinburne University of Technology.

She subsequently spent several years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, specialising in bioelectromagnetics, sleep, and EEG signal analysis research. During this time she was also accepted as an experienced research fellow in the Marie Curie Training in Sleep and Sleep Medicine initiative.

Her research focuses on a wide range of bioelectromagnetic and non-ionising radiation health issues including the effects on sleep, human brain function, and the mechanisms associated with these effects, as well as sleep, cognitive neuroscience, and risk communication research more generally.

She is a member of the current World Health Organisation (WHO) RF Environmental Health Criterion evaluation committee and is an elected member of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection's (ICNIRP) Scientific Expert Group.

28 April 2023

Scientists at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) have published a paper that shows the average exposure to radio waves from wireless technology in Melbourne is more than 700 times below the safety limit.

ARPANSA’s Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure Assistant Director Dr Stuart Henderson led the research.

He says that the reason they undertook the study was to find out what the public’s typical exposure to radio waves was in public places like local parks or residential streets.

‘In March and April 2022, we collected measurements at 50 sites across Melbourne,’ Dr Henderson said.

‘While environmental exposure from wireless technology like Wi-Fi, broadcast media, and mobile phones was different in each location, in every case this exposure was still well below the Australian safety limit.’

Dr Henderson said the last time the agency conducted a large-scale survey like this was in 2013.

‘It’s interesting to see the different radio wave exposures over time. Back in 2013, 4G had only just been introduced and analogue TV had recently been replaced by digital TV transmissions,’ he said.

‘The 2022 measurements were ARPANSA’s first study measuring radio waves used in the 5G network. So, it is interesting to see how that fifth generation of mobile phone technology contributes to environmental exposure.

‘In future studies we would like to assess radio wave exposure at other Australian cities and regional towns.’

The article was published in peer-reviewed journal Radiation Protection Dosimetry in March 2023.

You can read the journal article here: survey of the radiofrequency electromagnetic energy environment in Melbourne, Australia | Radiation Protection Dosimetry | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

There is a summary of the findings on our website. 

28 March 2023

Medical physicists have developed a technique to accurately measure radiation dose using new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) linac machines.

Coupling MRI machines with a linac accelerator allows clinicians to see the tumour or target area in real-time during treatment, and therefore deliver radiation more precisely to the active tumour.

But magnetic fields from the MRI component of the linac can affect the radiation distribution within patients says the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s (ARPANSA) Chief Medical Radiation Scientist Dr Ivan Williams.

‘The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine position paper, which scientists at ARPANSA have co-authored, recommends how to measure radiation dose by accounting for interference from magnetic fields,’ Dr Williams said.

‘Being able to calculate and plan appropriate dose using this new technology is critical to the high-quality patient care.’

Each year, around 70,000 Australians will be treated with radiotherapy for cancer. ARPANSA seeks to ensure that all use of radiation in medical procedures is justified and safe.

‘This work leads on from ARPANSA’s development of a successful dose audit protocol for MRI linacs and is important to the promotion of dose accuracy’, said Dr Williams.

‘Patient safety is at the heart of this work which will help ensure accurate dose across the country and internationally.’

The paper was published 20 February in Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine.

You can read it here: ACPSEM position paper: dosimetry for magnetic resonance imaging linear accelerators

9 March 2023

Investigating the health impact of non-ionising radiation used in cosmetic procedures is the focus of a PhD which is being supervised by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Monash University Accident Research Centre and Monash Law School.

While there are reports of injuries such as burns from popular cosmetic radiation procedures, the actual injury incidence is unknown.

Zoe Thomas says her PhD will look at media, legal and healthcare data to understand the risk from cosmetic radiation procedures like laser hair removal and IPL skin rejuvenation.

‘Consumers assume that because something is available it’s safe – but that’s not always the case,’ Ms Thomas said.

‘With the evidence from my PhD, we can recommend what the right level of protection or regulation should be to avoid injury.’

ARPANSA’s Health Impact Assessment Assistant Director, Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, will be co-supervising the project.

He says there is no national approach to regulation of devices or services that use non-ionising radiation for cosmetic purposes, except for the ban on solariums.

‘Further understanding of the injury burden will assist us in knowing what the right regulatory option should be,’ A/Prof Karipidis said.

At a state level, only Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia have regulatory controls. But even then, it is only for certain optical cosmetic applications.

‘A review we published in 2022 highlighted the need to develop uniform training requirements for operators to provide these services and use these devices,’ A/Prof Karipidis said.

‘Zoe's PhD will help us form further evidence-based health advice to protect the public from radiation.’

ARPANSA has published national advice for consumers and treatment providers.

2 March 2023

Popping up a beach cabana when the ultraviolet (UV) radiation index creeps to 3 or above is a popular way to protect ourselves and loved ones from the sun. But – just like the clothes we wear – not all shade fabrics are created equal when it comes to UV protection.

To make it easier for consumers, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has launched Ultraviolet Effectiveness (UVE) 95+% swing tags for shadecloth products such as umbrellas, tents, cabanas, shade sails and awnings.

Lydia Tjong, Assistant Director, Ultraviolet Radiation Services at ARPANSA, said, ‘The 95+% swing tag rating is the highest protection category available for these types of fabrics. As the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection, we believe this is the minimum protection that all shade fabrics should offer consumers.’

The swing tags can only be used by manufacturers under licence for products that have been tested and approved by ARPANSA’s NATA-accredited laboratories, and which meet the relevant Australian Standard.     

Ms Tjong said that Australia’s high rates of skin cancer and UV-related skin and eye damage means that clear and simple UVE ratings are more important than ever.

‘With so many shade fabrics available in different materials, colours and UVE ratings, it can be confusing for consumers. Just like our Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) clothing swing tags, ARPANSA’s shadecloth tags aim to help people choose products that offer the highest protective rating against Australia’s harsh sun.

‘Two out of three Australians will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, resulting in about 2,000 deaths every year. The good news is that this disease is almost entirely preventable with effective sun protection.’

Shade is one of the most comfortable forms of personal protection from UV radiation in sunlight. When used effectively, most forms of shade can reduce exposure by up to 50%, especially if used in conjunction with other sun protection measures.

Ms Tjong said that, as well as UV protection, the public should also consider other important factors when using shade.

‘Remember that there is as much scattered solar UV from the sky as there is from the direct sun. This means that UV can enter shade structures from the sides.’

In other words, before you settle into your beach cabana, don’t forget to:

• slip on UPF 50+ sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible
• slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF50+ sunscreen, applied 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards
• slap on a hat – broad brim, bucket or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears
• slide on some quality sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards.

Find out more: Sun protection using shade

Find out more about: Shadecloth product testing

31 January 2023

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is working with the Western Australian Government to support efforts to locate a small radioactive source that was the subject of an emergency press conference last week.

The missing radioactive material was part of a portable radiation gauge used in industries such as mining. The search for the missing radioactive material is being led by the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services with assistance from state and federal government authorities. The Western Australia Radiological Council is the regulator of the missing material.

ARPANSA has sent a deployment team with specialised car-mounted and portable detection equipment to support the search of the transport route between the Pilbara region and Perth. They will be operational from 31 January.

This equipment and expertise forms part of ARPANSA’s national radiation protection and emergency response capability. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have also sent deployment teams of radiation services specialists, and detection and imaging equipment to assist in the search.  

As the Federal Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, ARPANSA is committed to supporting efforts to locate the missing source and protect the community from the harmful effects of radiation.

Fixed and portable radiation gauges are used to measure product characteristics in mining, oil and gas, manufacturing and other industries. They generally contain a sealed radiation source and are regulated by state and territory competent authorities in accordance with national codes set by ARPANSA including the Code for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. 

ARPANSA promotes uniformity of radiation protection and nuclear safety policy and practices across jurisdictions and provides advice on radiation protection, nuclear safety and related issues.  

The Western Australian Department of Health is urging people to keep their distance and contact authorities if they think they have any information on the location of the source. 

ARPANSA will continue to provide any necessary support to WA authorities to assist their work.
 

Sun protection is in Australians’ hands with the SunSmart Global UV app, which provides users with local UV forecasts.

Launched in Melbourne by SunSmart this week, the free app aims to reduce skin cancer rates, as well as UV-related eye and sun damage, by providing users with daily sun protection times and 7-day weather and UV forecasts specific to their location. 

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s (ARPANSA) Assistant Director EMR and UVR Exposure Assessment, Dr Stuart Henderson, said he hopes that checking the app will become a daily habit for users, much like remembering to ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Slide and Shade’.

‘Evidence shows personal habits in relation to sun exposure, including sunscreen use, clothing choice and time spent outdoors, are the most important individual risk factors for UV radiation damage,’ Dr Henderson said.

‘Protecting Australians from the harmful effects of UV radiation is a core part of ARPANSA’s role. The SunSmart Global UV app is an important resource that to inform and empower people to ensure they protect themselves during times of higher UV exposure,’ he said.  

Two out of three Australians will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, which equates to 2,000 deaths every year.

Crucially, this disease is almost entirely preventable with effective sun protection.

‘ARPANSA recommends that sun protection is used whenever the UV Index reaches 3 or above. As the UV Index regularly reaches Very High and Extreme levels through much of the year in Australia, having access to easy-to-use and timely information and alerts through the app will help people better protect themselves and their families from the harmful effects of sun exposure,’ he said.  

App users can also choose to customise alerts for specific times or when sun protection is recommended to take the guesswork out of when to use sun protection.

The app also includes a guide on how best to protect yourself during these times.

Head of Prevention at Cancer Council Victoria, Adjunct Associate Professor Craig Sinclair is urging all Australians to download the SunSmart Global UV app to identify the UV times of the day that puts them at risk of skin damage.

‘We want people to use UV and sun protection times to help guide behaviours, and not rely on the temperature, as you can’t see or feel UV radiation, the damage is often being done before it’s noticed’, Mr Sinclair said.

The app’s development was led by Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) in partnership with ARPANSA, the Bureau of Meteorology and Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (A2I2). The app has also been launched internationally with the support of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environmental Programme, the International Labour Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.

The SunSmart Global UV app also provides hourly UV forecasts for over 2,500 locations across the globe and is available in eight languages including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, German, Italian and Russian.

The SunSmart Global UV app is free to download through the Apple and Google Play app stores.

25 November 2022

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is offering funding to support research that addresses knowledge gaps about health effects from exposure to electromagnetic energy, especially the higher frequencies now being used in wireless technologies like the 5G network.   

ARPANSA’s Radiation Research and Advice Director A/Prof Sarah Loughran says there is currently no established evidence that exposure to radio waves at levels below the safety limits can cause any health effects, but that there are knowledge gaps that require further investigation. 

‘The research we’re supporting helps us to understand the health implications of technologies that use EME,’ A/Prof Loughran said.  

‘One of the projects we are currently supporting is to investigate at what frequency and exposure level changes to biological cells can be observed. 

‘Supporting research in this space means that we can stay at the forefront in Australia and internationally in providing science-based health advice on radio waves.’ 

This funding opportunity is available as part of the Australian government’s enhanced EME program.    

Applications to support major research projects, up to $300,000, are open from 25 November 2022 to 3 February 2023. 

Successful funding applicants will be notified in April 2023.  

In 2022, APRANSA provided over $350,000 worth of funding to support three projects.  

More information about the EME program research framework and the projects we’ve supported can be found on our website.  

21 November 2022

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) officially opened its new $2.35 million anechoic chamber on 17 November 2022.  

ARPANSA’s Radiation Research and Advice Director, Assoc Prof Sarah Loughran, says the new laboratory will allow the agency to undertake health research into the current 5G network and future generations of high-frequency wireless technology. 

‘Our current anechoic chamber can only measure and calibrate equipment up to 8 GHz, and 5G is expected to use radio waves at frequencies well beyond this ' A/Prof Loughran said.  

‘Because of that, it was vitally important that we built a new laboratory to make sure that we are well placed to continue providing science-based health advice to the Australian community on wireless-technology now and into the future.’ 

The new anechoic chamber will be able to calibrate equipment up to 40 GHz and research radio waves up to 100 GHz. 

Upgrading the agency’s EME infrastructure was a key deliverable under its 2020-2024 EME Action Plan.

In late 2020, ARPANSA commenced a tender process and selected a vendor to build its new EME laboratory. 

The new lab replaces ARPANSA’s former anechoic chamber which was built in 1979. 

Subscribe to APRANSA’s EME newsletter to stay up to date with activities and research relating to the action plan. 

ARPANSA Statement of Compliance 2025

The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework) aims to protect children and young people from the risk of harm or abuse. The Framework sets minimum standards for Commonwealth entities to create and maintain behaviours and practices that are safe for children.

Under Requirement 4 of the Framework, Commonwealth entities are required to publish an annual statement of compliance with the Framework including an overview of the entity’s child safety risk assessment.

ARPANSA’s Commitment to Child Safety

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has a zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation or abuse and we are committed to promoting and maintaining a culture that provides a safe environment for all. The agency is committed to protecting and safeguarding children from abuse, neglect and exploitation. We recognise that all adults share the responsibility of preventing the exploitation and abuse of children. 

ARPANSA’s Interactions with Children

ARPANSA's purpose is to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation through research, the services we provide and regulation of Commonwealth entities that use radiation. The nature of this work means there is limited interaction with children across the scope of our business activities and functions.

ARPANSA staff will only incidentally interact with children at school presentations, or when attending public events, possibly through procurement processes, when travelling and through our Talk to a Scientist program. ARPANSA no longer accepts requests for work experience placements, other than for university students (above the age of 18 years), recognising that such placements had exclusively arisen in recent years in relation to relatives of staff members. Staff may bring their children into the workplace for short periods of time. In these instances, the child is always accompanied by a parent and is only permitted in common rooms with open doors. 

Annual Child Safety Risk Assessment

ARPANSA has undertaken a risk assessment of our operations and given the nature of the interactions with children, ARPANSA has assessed the risk to child safety as Low. The Office of the General Counsel engaged with ARPANSA’s Risk Management team to ensure that a thorough risk assessment was renewed, including implementing child safe risk assessments into our operational risk assessment process for each business area. Risk assessments evaluating the risk of harm to children and young people from ARPANSA’s operations and functions were incorporated into our business and risk planning process. 

ARPANSA complies with the key requirements of the Framework as it applies to our operations in the context of our risk profile.

Notwithstanding this, ARPANSA has the following measures in place to enhance the protection of children during any interactions with ARPANSA staff, which are considered actions taken to mitigate risks:

• ARPANSA requires all personnel to undergo a pre-employment screening
• agency staff must obtain and maintain a minimum baseline security clearance from the Australian Government Vetting Agency (AGSVA) or similar
• ARPANSA staff are required to adhere to ARPANSA’s policies, procedures and the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values
• the agency has a Child Safe Policy that clearly outlines employee and contractor responsibilities to ensuring child safe practises
• ARPANSA monitors official device use to ensure compliance with its policies
• the Office of the General Counsel regularly presents training online or via our intranet page for awareness of the Framework and how it applies to ARPANSA staff
• ARPANSA staff are required to complete training on the Framework when they commence employment during the induction process
• working with children checks (WWCC) are required where appropriate as per ARPANSA’s Child Safe Policy.

Improving Compliance with the Framework 

During 2024/2025, ARPANSA further strengthened their compliance with the Framework and minimised key risks including by:

• undertaking agency wide training on internal communication channels (including online presentations and intranet articles)
• mandating Framework training for new starters upon induction with Human Resources monitoring staff completion rates
• engaging in Community of Practice sessions
• making information, education and training available for our staff as this creates a child-focused, transparent and safe organisational culture
• improving staff awareness of the agency’s Child Safe Policy and their obligations under the policy by intranet articles and training
• our senior executive continuing to support the application of the policy across ARPANSA by endorsing changes to the policy
• ensuring the agency has a child safe champion who can promote the importance of child safety at the agency
• ensuring relevant staff maintain WWCC where appropriate
• ensuring that this statement is brought to the Executive Group meeting annually to ensure the Executive Group, including the Accountable Authority, are aware of what the agency is doing to comply with the Framework
• commenced monitoring of inappropriate use of equipment and online interactions with children on official devices.

ARPANSA will continue to improve compliance with the Framework including with these future initiatives:

• our senior executive continuing to support the application of the Child Safe Policy across ARPANSA
• ensuring child safe clauses are included in procurement documents where required and staff handling procurement are aware of their responsibilities under the Framework and Policy
• the agency will identify staff that may have contact with children either directly or indirectly and conduct a review of roles to determine whether a WWCC should be obtained by staff
• staff who are identified as having the potential to engage with children either directly or indirectly, will be contacted to ensure they have undertaken the online training
• identify any role/s which must have a WWCC and make it a condition of employment
• the Communications Team and Privacy Team at ARPANSA will draft a new photography consent form and privacy collection notice to provide to children to ensure that the agency has their consent (if above the age of 15), as well as their parent or caregiver’s consent (if under the age of 15)
• Human Resources and Office of the General Counsel to undertake training on child focused complaint handling procedures
• update online safety protocols and procedures (e.g. online communications policy and ICT policy) including responding to a breach of ARPANSA’s relevant policies
• create a process for ensuring the use of child safety third party clauses in all relevant grants, contracts and procurement activities.