The annual report of the CEO of ARPANSA 2019-2020 was tabled in parliament on Wednesday 14 October 2020 and is now available in the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal.

The annual report is an important tool for transparency and accountability, serving as an overview of ARPANSA’s performance against our financial and strategic objectives. The report also captures information on staffing statistics, the agency’s structure, committees and our activities as a regulator. 

Report highlights include:

• our radionuclide monitoring obligations and responsibilities under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 
• our development of a new specialised audit technique for magnetic resonance linear accelerators (MR-Linacs) used in radiotherapy treatments
• our review of ARPANSA’s safety culture through our Safety Culture Assessment 
• our work informing the Australian public about 5G telecommunications and health through our Talk to a Scientist program and social media channels.

‘Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ARPANSA staff have demonstrated great resilience and commitment, which is evidenced through the achievements outlined in this annual report,’ said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, ARPANSA CEO.

‘While some international engagement and onsite audits and inspections were interrupted by travel restrictions, we have found new ways to collaborate and connect online. We look forward to taking these learnings onboard to further improve organisational resilience and service delivery.’

The report also includes a new section outlining areas for improvement relating to licence holder safety performance (page 130). 

‘As a regulator of Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation, we are committed to continuous improvement in safety for all licence holders’, said Dr Larsson.

Read the full ARPANSA annual report 2019-20 on the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal or on the ARPANSA website.

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role in the direction and coordination of international health systems and public health policy.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is proud to be continuing our 35-year partnership with WHO as a collaborating centre for radiation protection.

‘In the current global health crisis, it is important that the work of the WHO continues to be supported internationally’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director, Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘We’re pleased to be redesignated as a collaborating centre for a further four years’. 

The redesignation continues ARPANSA’s long-standing relationship with WHO in supporting radiation protection activities since 1985. 

Highlights of ARPANSA’s involvement include contributions to WHO’s guidelines for managing radioactivity in drinking water and technical support for a public health intervention on artificial tanning devices.

‘We’re proud of what we’ve been able to deliver in our role as a WHO collaborating centre over the past 35 years,’ said Dr Tinker. 

‘WHO works towards a world in which everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. We’re glad to be contributing to this important work and to achieve health objectives and support international strategies relevant to radiation protection.’

WHO collaborating centres support the delivery of WHO’s international programs across a range of areas including radiation protection, nursing, communicable diseases, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies. 

WHO has established more than 800 collaborating centres globally, leveraging health expertise from more than 80 of its Member States.

ARPANSA’s redesignation as a WHO collaborating centre is in place until June 2024. 

31 March 2020

On 27 March 2020, the CEO of ARPANSA, Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, removed a licence condition from the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine (ANM) facility, allowing it to return to routine operation.

Following a contamination event on 21 June 2019, ANSTO suspended production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).  

On 5 July 2019, the CEO of ARPANSA granted approval to resume operation subject to a licence condition restricting the production level of Mo-99. The licence condition required ANSTO to provide evidence of safe operation, satisfactory training records, evidence of appropriate management of conflicting production and safety imperatives, satisfactory staffing levels and rectification of safety significant issues resulting from the June 2019 contamination event.

On 28 November 2019, ARPANSA received an application from ANSTO requesting removal of the restriction on production.

ARPANSA has assessed the application and on 27 March 2020, the CEO decided to remove the licence condition related to limited production of Mo-99. At the same time, a replacement licence condition was imposed, requiring a staged approach to the return to full production.

Under the new condition, ANSTO must notify ARPANSA prior to increase in production at key points and provide justification including consideration of safety factors and risk mitigation measures.

Read more: 

ARPANSA is currently seeking nominations for members of both the Radiation Health Committee and the Nuclear Safety Committee. 

The Committees provide advice to the CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) on a range of radiation protection and nuclear safety matters.

Nominations are sought from suitably qualified people with an understanding of radiation and nuclear issues. Current membership is comprised of experts from a range of fields relevant to radiation protection including medicine, mining, regulation, and health research.

All appointees are required to attend committee meetings (usually three times per year) and nominations are now open for the triennium (2021-2023).

If you are interested in joining one of these committees, you are encouraged to learn more about the functions and current membership:

• Radiation Health Committee
• Nuclear Safety Committee

If you have experience and knowledge of radiation protection and nuclear issues, or a background in related high-hazard areas, we encourage you to submit your nomination as soon as possible.

Nominations close Monday 31 August 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our everyday lives and presented significant challenges on a global scale.

From the provision of supplies to hospitals, including Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) monitors, which allow for the continuance of medical imaging and radiation therapies, to ensuring that Australia’s radiation safety isn’t compromised, ARPANSA has been playing a part in helping to maintain essential services during the pandemic.

We’ve also been contributing to research in characterisation of airborne particles. This research is helping hospitals and engineers develop additional controls to stop the spread of coronavirus in medical settings.

Hospitals are facing an enormous challenge, particularly where staff are performing procedures that generate airborne particles on patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Working with a team of doctors, engineers and scientists from Western Health, The University of Melbourne and CSIRO, ARPANSA has assisted in characterising the aerosols generated by COVID-19 patients.

Dr Gillian Hirth, ARPANSA’s Chief Radiation Health Officer and Deputy CEO, described how ARPANSA’s radon laboratory has been used to characterise airborne particles.

‘We’ve been able to deploy the advanced nanoparticle measurement capacity of our radon laboratory to measure particle sizes and behaviour. This information is valuable in helping protect doctors and nurses from COVID-19.’ 

‘Through monitoring the nature of these small particles, we’ve been able to work with engineers to develop a robust additional control to keep airborne particles away from healthcare workers,’ said Dr Hirth.

While the research is ongoing, the data collected from the program is assisting in designing better ventilation systems for hospitals and allowing for more effective and targeted use of protective equipment.

ARPANSA has released an action plan outlining activities that will be undertaken as part of the Australian Government’s Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Program.

The EME Program is an initiative of Government aimed at providing information and assurance to the Australian public as well as continued research into the safety of EME sources such as telecommunications infrastructure.

With emerging public concern in response to the roll-out of the fifth generation of mobile phone technology (5G), the enhanced program provides a greater focus on dissemination of accurate and reputable information within the community.

Public education and communication activities under this program will be overseen by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

ARPANSA’s role in this program is to continue scientific research, international engagement and provision of expert scientific advice. Planned activities are outlined in the newly published ARPANSA EME Program Action Plan 2020-2024.

‘ARPANSA is pleased to be contributing to the Government’s work in supporting community assurance and understanding of EME from various sources including new telecommunications like the 5G network’ said Dr Gillian Hirth, Chief Radiation Health Scientist and Deputy CEO of ARPANSA.

‘Our role in conducting, evaluating and contributing to research on this topic is vital to Australia’s reputation as a leader in radiation science and core to our role in protecting the public and environment from the harmful effects of radiation’.

ARPANSA’s scientific assessment of research into health impacts of EME at various frequencies and power levels forms the basis of the Australian EME Safety Standard. The Standard is enforced by regulators including the Australian Communications and Media Authority to ensure that all sources of EME exposure are operated within the safety limits.

Do you use, or are you exposed to radiation as part of your work? Our new suite of occupational exposure factsheets have been designed to keep you informed about the type of radiation you may be exposed to, any possible health effects and how to adequately protect yourself. 

The use of radiation in the workplace is a normal and required part of many occupations. For example, radiation is used widely in the health sector to diagnose or treat patients, the mining industry in the processing of minerals and ores and in technology used to power our homes and devices.

ARPANSA has developed a new suite of occupational exposure factsheets that have been designed to keep workers informed about the type of radiation they may be exposed to, any possible health effects and how to adequately protect themselves. The factsheets are broken down by industry to help you easily find information that’s relevant to you. 

We’ve also included specific advice for occupations undertaken outdoors, resulting in exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, as well as pregnant workers who may be exposed to radiation as part of their job. 

ARPANSA also contributed to the Cancer Council’s resource for people who work outdoors and their employers. This health and safety guide provides workers with information and strategies on identifying and managing ultraviolet radiation as a workplace hazard.

Our suite of occupational exposure factsheets are available here.

To monitor potential ionising radiation exposure to workers in fields such as medical, dental, chiropractic, industrial and mining, ARPANSA has a Personal Radiation Monitoring Service (PRMS). Accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), ARPANSA uses state-of-the-art technology to assess and report doses at our in-house facility, ensuring users comply with their radiation licence requirements of all Commonwealth, State and Territory regulations.

In addition, ARPANSA hosts the Australian National Radiation Dose Register (ANRDR). This is a database designed to store and maintain radiation dose records for occupationally exposed workers. 

If you work with, or are exposed to radiation, we encourage you to request a personal radiation dose report periodically. You can do this by completing an online form.

Earlier this year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) measured the level of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy (RF EME) the public is exposed to at 59 small cell sites across Australia.

Small cells, generally located on infrastructure such as light and power poles, are low-powered base stations that provide greater capacity for the mobile network in densely populated areas and strengthen coverage in regional and rural areas.

The purpose of the measurement program was to assess regulatory compliance by telecommunications carriers, and to ensure that the level of RF EME that the community is exposed to is below the limits referenced in the ARPANSA Safety Standard (the Standard). 

The measurement program found: 

• For all small cell sites measured, the exposure levels were hundreds of times below the limits outlined in the Standard.
• All measurements were recorded at well below 1 per cent of the Standard’s limits.
• All measurements were taken in publicly accessible areas, demonstrating that the public is exposed to extremely low RF EME from small cells. 

The Standard has been developed by ARPANSA to protect humans of all ages and health status from adverse health effects of RF EME emissions. It limits human exposure to RF EME well below the level at which harm to people may occur. 

‘This study is an important contribution to providing information on public exposure to RF EME. It’s also an important tool for ACMA as the regulator to assess compliance with the ARPANSA Standard’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA. 

‘The results of ACMA’s measurement program provide assurance that exposure levels from small cell sites are extremely low and in line with exposure levels from traditional mobile phone towers.’

The summary of results is available at https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2020-06/report/eme-measurements-near-small-cell-base-stations

Water can include naturally-occurring radioactive material leached from rocks and soil, and it’s important that guidelines are in place to ensure the safe management of our water supply. 

Through its program of rolling reviews, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is in the process of updating the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) to reflect international best practice in management of the radiological quality of drinking water. 

These guidelines provide the water supply industry and relevant health authorities a framework for managing the quality of water supplied to communities throughout Australia.  

Feedback is now being sought from the public on these updates, which includes updated terminology to ensure alignment with international guidance and information to better reflect the Australian context for consideration of radionuclides in drinking water.

ARPANSA provided scientific input and advice throughout the review of these guidelines and is confident that the draft continues to provide a solid framework for public safety.

‘We’re pleased to have contributed to this review to ensure that the guidelines remain up to date with international best practice in radiation protection’, said Dr Rick Tinker, Director of Assessment and Advice at ARPANSA.

‘The guidelines are an important tool in maintaining Australia’s strong record in management of radiological risk.’

All feedback from the consultation will be addressed by the Water Quality Advisory Committee (WQAC), and jurisdictional water experts on the Environmental Health (enHealth) Radiation Health and Water Quality Expert Reference Panels will be consulted prior to implementing the updates.

Public consultation is available via the public consultation website and is open until Wednesday 12 August 2020, 4pm (AEST).

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) published its Principles for non-ionizing radiation protection in April this year. ARPANSA has endorsed the application of these principles as the foundation of protection against adverse health effects from non-ionising radiation.

‘The ICNIRP principles are based on the ICRP [International Commission for Radiological Protection] principles for protection from ionising radiation,’ said Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, CEO of ARPANSA.

‘ARPANSA supports this consistent approach and looks forward to continuing our work with both ICRP and ICNIRP to promote radiation protection on an international level’.

The ICNIRP principles consider all types of non-ionising radiation, including low frequency electromagnetic fields from electrical sources, radiofrequency radiation used in telecommunications, ultraviolet radiation from the sun and ultrasound used in medicine. The ICNIRP principles establish a system of protection for occupational exposure, medical exposure and public exposure including strong protection for children and vulnerable people of all ages.

ARPANSA is committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. Non-ionising radiation, at high exposure levels, can have a range of health impacts and with a wide range of applications across industry, health and cosmetics, it is important to protect workers, patients, members of the public and the environment.

‘Our engagement with ICNIRP and development of guidance and standards for use of non-ionising radiation is vital to our support of world-class health and safety practices in radiation’, said Dr Larsson.