ARPANSA has published updated diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for medical imaging.

The Australian National DRLs provide guidance to clinics on the typical radiation doses received by average-sized patients during different types of medical imaging such as computed tomography (CT) scans.

Medical imaging facilities compare the median dose for a sample of their patients to the reference level for each procedure type. This comparison helps ensure radiation exposures are minimised, without sacrificing adequate image quality for effective diagnosis of disease and injury.

The national reference levels for CT were updated in March 2021 based on data from more than 370 medical imaging providers.

The process involved a review of dose data submitted in 2019 and update of reference levels for neck, cervical spine, and kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB) scans. KUB reference levels were previously based on earlier data for general abdominal scans but have now been refined based on data specifically for KUB scans. From 1 October 2021, accreditation assessors will be requiring sites to use the updated reference levels when undertaking comparisons.

‘The new reference levels show that, as expected, the actual doses being received by patients during these types of scans are lower than the reference levels published in 2018’, said Dr Peter Thomas, Director of Medical Imaging at ARPANSA.

‘This data helps the medical imaging community stay up to date with trends in exposure and provides a benchmark for continuous improvement.’

‘We’re thankful to all the clinics and providers who contribute their data to this project to ensure we can monitor radiation exposure and identify any areas of concern’, said Dr Thomas.

The new reference levels show that typical exposures to patients from CT scans are continuing to reduce as more efficient imaging techniques and technologies are developed and implemented.

The typical radiation doses from CT scans remain low.

More information on typical exposure levels for different medical imaging procedures can be found in the Current Australian diagnostic reference levels.

ARPANSA maintains an ongoing program to collect dose data from imaging providers for selected common procedures in CT and image-guided radiology.

A new data collection survey is about to commence for nuclear medicine. This data will contribute to the future update of diagnostic reference levels and help Australia continue to optimise medical radiological procedures and support patient safety.

ARPANSA has launched a new research framework to facilitate research of electromagnetic energy exposures and health. 

The framework is part of ARPANSA’s research activities under the Australian Government’s Enhanced Electromagnetic Energy (EME) program and sets out key research priorities and details how research projects will be funded.

‘The research program is open to proposals that address electromagnetic energy exposure and health,’ said EME Program Director, Sarah Loughran. 

‘This research will help ensure that Australia’s health policies and regulation continue to be based on the most up-to-date information and science,’ said Sarah. 

There are two types of projects considered in the framework: 

• Minor projects
  • Must fall within the scope of the research priorities identified in the framework
  • Funding up to $30,000
  • Applications can be submitted at any time
• Major research projects
  • Must address the research priority identified in the framework
  • Funding up to $300,000
  • Applications must be submitted 5 November 2021

‘I encourage all interested researchers to submit their proposals. EME and health is of high interest to the Australian and international community, and advancements in this area would yield great value for everyone involved,’ said Sarah. 

All applications will be assessed against the EME Program Research Proposals Assessment Criteria. Successful applications for major projects will be announced in January 2022. 

For more information, please visit the ARPANSA website. 
 

Dental imaging methods such as X-rays are routinely used as part of general dental examinations and for diagnostic purposes. Each dental imaging procedure involves exposure to a small amount of ionising radiation. 

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Australian Dental Association (ADA) have joined together to produce a factsheet for patients to explain different types of dental imaging and the associated levels of radiation exposure. 

‘The 2-page resource has been designed with the patient in mind, especially those who might be concerned about the level of radiation exposure from dental X-rays’ said Dr Peter Thomas, Director Medical Imaging at ARPANSA. 

‘Radiation exposure from dental imaging is typically very low level, and the risk of negative health effects is minimal.’ 

The factsheet focuses on the different types of X-rays commonly used in dental treatments, including bitewing, periapical and panoramic X-rays.  

It also provides an infographic comparing the radiation exposure from dental X-rays to other sources of exposure in everyday life, such as the radiation you would be exposed to during a flight from Darwin to Perth.  

‘By comparing the level of exposure from dental X-rays to everyday exposure situations, patients will be able to better understand the low level of radiation exposure from dental imaging,’ said Dr Thomas. 

‘The factsheet is now online and we encourage dental professionals in Australia to make it available to their patients.’ 

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Further dental information is available from the ADA website.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has commenced a review of its System of Radiological Protection. The System provides recommendations for protection of people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.  

A paper co-authored by ARPANSA CEO and former ICRP Main Commission member, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, advances ICRP’s journey to review and revise the System, which informs radiation protection in many countries, including Australia.   

‘While the System of recommendations has performed well, it must adapt to address changes in science and society, ensuring it remains fit-for-purpose,’ said Dr Larsson. 

‘The paper’s aim is to encourage discussion of areas that might gain the greatest benefit from review, and to initiate engagement with experts from around the globe,’ said Dr Larsson.  

Dr Larsson has handed over the reins of ARPANSA’s engagement with ICRP to Deputy CEO, Dr Gillian Hirth, who was appointed a member of ICRP’s Main Commission from 1 July.    

To support this engagement, ICRP will host a digital workshop for radiation professionals. The workshop, titled The Future of Radiological Protection, will be an opportunity for anybody with experience or knowledge of working with ionising radiation to share their views on making the System more fit for purpose. 

‘I encourage all interested members to join this workshop and participate. Making this System more fit-for-purpose will enhance its useability and support a safer radiation environment for Australians, and people all around the world,’ said Dr Hirth.  

The workshop will be held from Tuesday 19 October 2021 to Wednesday, 20 October 2021 and registration is available on the ICRP website. 

In celebration of National Science Week 2021 (14-22 August), ARPANSA will be hosting an online event ‘Mobile phones and health’, with our Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Program Director, Associate Professor Sarah Loughran.

‘With the deployment of the 5G mobile phone network, we’ve seen increased public interest in radio waves, and whether they have any negative health impacts,’ said Assoc Prof Loughran. 
The virtual event will include a presentation covering:

• the science behind mobile phones
• how ARPANSA’s radio wave safety standard protects public health
• mobile phone myth busters
• an update on ARPANSA’s EME Program. 

There will also be an opportunity for questions from attendees.

‘In this presentation I’m aiming to shed some light on how radio wave technologies work, and the strong protective measures ARPANSA recommends to ensure safety. I’m also looking forward to the Q&A session so I can answer any additional questions that people may have,’ said Assoc Prof Loughran.  

The event will take place on Friday 20 August from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Registrations for the event are open until 20 August via the National Science Week website.

This event is part of ARPANSA’s engagement in National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology.

‘We’re excited to be involved in this celebration of science and to share our knowledge of radiation and health with all Australians’, said ARPANSA Chief Radiation Health Scientist Dr Gillian Hirth.

ARPANSA will also be sharing updates and radiation science content on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter throughout Science Week.

Recruitment is currently underway for the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

The CEO will lead the Australian Government’s primary authority of radiation protection and nuclear safety and reports to Federal parliament through the Minister for Regional Health.

The role will commence in 2022, following retirement of current ARPANSA CEO, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson.

‘I am honoured to have undertaken this role since March 2010 and look forward to handing over the reins to a new CEO’, said Dr Larsson.

‘ARPANSA plays a critical role in the protection of the public, workers and the environment through regulation, research, health advice and services. The CEO is supported by a team of highly specialised scientists and professionals to ensure a safe radiation environment for Australia.’

The CEO of ARPANSA is responsible for the regulation of Commonwealth activities involving radiation, for carrying out research in radiation protection, nuclear safety and medical use of radiation, and for exercising health protection and radiation safety obligations and powers set out in legislation.

Engagement with international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and collaboration with State and Territory radiation regulators is also a key component of the role.

Recruitment for this position is being managed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and applications close on Sunday 8 August 2021.

Read more: Chief Executive Officer

ARPANSA is proud to announce that our Chief Radiation Health Scientist and Deputy CEO, Dr Gillian Hirth, has been appointed to the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the term 2021-2025. 

Members of the Main Commission form the governing body of the ICRP, providing policy guidance and direction. The Main Commission works closely with the Scientific Secretariat to oversee ICRP’s committees and task groups that are established to develop recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against ionising radiation. 

‘ICRP is one of the most influential bodies on international frameworks for radiation protection, with around 300 experts contributing to the work of the Main Commission, Committees or Task Groups,’ said Dr Hirth. 

‘I’m excited to help lead ICRP’s operations over the next four years following on from my time as a member of Committee 4 from 2017-2021. Being able to draw on the experiences we have across Australia in radiation protection, and to be able to actively guide the future development of the international framework is a real honour’ said Dr Hirth.  

ARPANSA’s Chief Medical Radiation Scientist, Dr Ivan Williams, has also been appointed as a member of ICRP’s Committee 3, which focuses on radiological protection in medicine. 
These appointments continue ARPANSA’s long history of involvement with the ICRP, with staff represented on a range of committees and CEO Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson retiring from the Main Commission at the end of this month. 

 ‘ARPANSA’s strong representation on ICRP is a significant recognition of the international standing of our staff and Australia’s radiation protection frameworks,’ said ARPANSA CEO, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson.

The appointments come into effect from 1 July 2021.

About the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP)
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an independent, international, not-for-profit organisation that advances for the public benefit the science of radiological protection, in particular by providing recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection for people and the environment against the harmful effects of ionising radiation.  Its recommendations form the basis of radiological protection policy, regulations, guidelines and practice worldwide. For more information, visit www.icrp.org. 

About Dr Gillian Hirth
Dr Gillian Hirth is ARPANSA’s Chief Radiation Health Scientist, Deputy CEO, she has a PhD in environmental radiochemistry and expertise in radioecology.  

Dr Hirth is the current Australian Representative and Chair of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), a member of the Commission on Safety Standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and until 30 June 2021 a member of the ICRP’s Committee 4. 

Recent tests conducted at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in Paris have confirmed that the Australian Primary Standard for ionising radiation, which underpins every radiotherapy treatment for cancer in Australia, remains accurate and in-line with international standards.

The tests were conducted as part of ARPANSA’s ongoing validation of equipment and involved comparison against the most accurate radiation equipment of other countries.

‘ARPANSA sent two ionisation chambers to Paris for testing to ensure radiation measurements, and patient doses administered in Australia, are accurate and align with international standards.’ said ARPANSA’s Chief Medical Radiation Scientist, Dr Ivan Williams.

‘This helps ensure what is being delivered to the patient is ‘what the doctor ordered’

The results of the comparison showed that ARPANSA’s measurement of dose is within half a per cent 0.2 % of the BIPM reference value. This level of accuracy is equal to, or better than peers in other parts of the world.

ARPANSA calibrates every hospital reference instrument against the Primary Standard for all 107 radiotherapy providers in Australia. The BIPM test is thus critical for ensuring that accuracy of medical treatments that use radiation. 

‘Accurate radiation dosage is very important for the thousands of Australians who have radiation treatment for cancer every year. The accuracy means that every patient in Australian is being treated with the prescribed amount of radiation, which is crucial for patients participating in clinical trials across multiple hospitals,’ said Dr Williams.

‘The outstanding results mean we can continue to provide excellent measurement and dosage services for Australian industries and continue to deliver on our vision of a safe radiation environment for the Australian community,’ said Dr Williams.

ARPANSA works with international bodies to share knowledge and develop best practice radiation protection and nuclear safety through regulation.

In November 2018, Australia hosted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulatory review to assess Australia’s national arrangements for radiation protection and nuclear safety. 

ARPANSA has now published Australia’s Action Plan to implement the findings from the review, following endorsement by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) in December 2020.

‘This action plan is the result of extensive engagement with other parts of government at the federal and state and territory level. The implementation of this action plan will help progress uniformity of radiation regulation across jurisdictions and contribute to our work in maintaining a safe radiation environment for all Australians’ said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, CEO of ARPANSA.

The review resulted in 23 recommendations and 12 suggestions and the Action Plan has been developed to address these findings. 

A follow up mission to assess Australia’s progress in responding to the 2018 review is expected to occur in 2023.

You can access Australia’s Action Plan at https://www.arpansa.gov.au/sites/default/files/irrs_action_plan.pdf  

A study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the University of Auckland has found no link between mobile phone use and salivary gland cancers.

Published in the scientific journal, Cancer Epidemiology, the study looked at the number of parotid and other salivary gland cancers occurring in Australia from 1982 to 2016, which coincides with the rise of mobile phone use among the general population. 

‘When using a mobile phone against the head, the salivary glands and especially the parotid gland, which is located in front of the ear, are amongst the most exposed areas of the body,’ said Adjunct Associate Professor, Ken Karipidis. 

‘The 34 years of data analysed in the study does not indicate that mobile phone use has increased the incidence of parotid or other salivary gland cancers,’ said Adj Assoc Prof, Ken Karipidis.

The study did observe an increase in parotid gland cancer in females since 2006, however, due to similar radio wave absorption and mobile usage rates for males and females, other factors specifically related to females may be the cause. 

‘This increase highlights the need for more research into the cause of parotid gland cancer, and any factors that may impact the sexes differently,’ said Adj Assoc Prof, Ken Karipidis. 

The findings of the study remain consistent with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) assessment that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy within international safety limits has no adverse health effects on the human body. 

Australian safety limits were recently updated and are aligned with international limits.

The study is freely available until early July on the Science Direct website.