[en] The potential health effects of the exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation are a source of increasing interest on the part of the public and the authorities. This article summarizes the theoretical-experimental basis supporting the safety levels proposed by international committees, and reviews the recent scientific literature on non-ionizing radiation's bioeffects that are relevant to the validation or modification of the present exposure limits. Because of its social interest, special consideration is given to power frequency fields (50-60Hz) and to the radio communication signals of mobile telephony. The paper also describes how interpretations of the scientific evidence, other than those of the international committees, have generated some controversy and have provided a basis for more restrictive limits, like those adopted in Europe by Switzerland and Italy. The article also identifies some gaps in the present scientific knowledge on the bioelectromagnetics discipline and proposes that additional research is needed to complete our present knowledge on the biological responses to non-ionizing radiation. (Author) 80 refs

[en] Today a series of problematic issues have ben raised on the biological effects of non-ionizing radiation (NIR); specially that in the low frequency range. As a consequence, the international Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRO) was recently created by the IRPA. This article summarizes the arguments justifying such a decision, which rests on the results of a number of epidemiological as well as experimental studies. At present, it is widely accepted that NIR can induce biological responses under particular conditions. The data have to be seriously considered, in spite of the fact that the present lack of an unified theory on the biological interactions of low frequency NIR leads to a controversy on the putative health effects caused by the exposure to these fields. In the present situation, the need of a substantial effort to deepen the research in this area becomes obvious, due to the fact that the increasing use of NIR is necessary for a proper technological development, and because of the rapidly expanding therapeutical and diagnostic applications of NIR. 59 refs

[en] It has been proposed that chronic exposure to power frequency (PF) magnetic fields (MF) in occupational environments could represent a risk factor for a number of disorders including cancer and neuro degenerative diseases. Data have been issued indicating that medical and technical staffs working in hospitals could be exposed to relatively intense PF fields. However, such indications are mostly based on small numbers of ambient measurements taken in few, selected workstations. The present work constitutes an attempt to efficiency characterize occupational exposures to PFMF in large hospitals. The study was conducted in different working environments of a hospital with about 4000 employees, many of them working in two or more different workstations and consequently, exposed to PFMF levels that are expected to be unevenly distributed in the space and time. The results indicate that: 1) The best description of the field exposure conditions for a worker is obtained from his/her personal monitoring. 2) The description of the occupational MF ambient as a weighted average of the values registered in the workstations and in the room ambient, thought coherent with the data from personal monitoring, presents limitations when used to estimate PFMF exposure in some professional categories. 3) Individuals involved in different working activities were found to be exposed to different MF levels, even if they belong to the same professional category. 4) The raw, discrete values measured were all found to be 1 to 4 orders of magnitude below the reference levels proposed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for occupational exposures to power frequencies fields (500μ for 50 Hz MF). Thus, and according to the ICNIRP 1998 criteria, the PF magnetic ambient in working environments of hospitals can be considered safe. (Author) 16 refs

[en] One of the strategic lines of the Spanish Society of Radiological Protection (SEPR) is dedicated to relations with society. Within it, it seeks to “bring SEPR closer to society, promoting the existing media and implementing new media outlets‖, for which it is proposed (1) to develop and maintain products of dissemination to the general public and media; (2) perform a detailed analysis on the ways of promoting diffusion of the SEPR through the Internet, new technologies and social networks and (3) develop an action plan to establish channels of communication with the media (press, radio and television) to broadcast articles or news related to current issues prepared by the SEPR, which contribute to the dissemination of the SEPR as a scientific and independent society. Within this objective, on the page web https://sepr.es started in 2013 the section called “Ask the SEPR” through which It seeks to answer the doubts and concerns of those who visit the page. In it the queries are answered by volunteer experts, having classified them according to topics including also Small introductory documents to each subject area. The topics considered include general information on radiation and its effects, radiation of natural origin, the use of radiation in medicine, considering both the radiological protection of patients in diagnosis and therapy, such as that of health workers. Radiation protection is also addressed in the nuclear energy, radiation protection of the public and the environment, as well as questions about other radioactive sources and radioactive waste management. Non-ionizing radiation have also its space, classified essentially in mobile telephony and antennas, household appliances such as microwave, induction, etc., as well as uses in medicine and other fields. With this initiative, it has placed at the service of the Spanish-speaking community an interactive service through which to respond to public doubts about our profession.

[en] The present study summarizes preliminary data addressed to complete the present knowledge on the microwave (M.V.)-exposure doses and conditions in workers exposed chronically to relatively high, though nonthermal, levels of that non ionizing radiations (N.I.R.). The obtained data are of direct application to radiation protection in occupational media provided that: 1) help to detect and eradicate practices and situations that result in overexposure; 2) they constitute a basis for the design and development of strategies for exposure control and minimization, and 3) they represent a dosimetric support necessary to properly interpret past and future epidemiologic and experimental data on potential health effects of chronic exposures to M.W. radiation at work. The described results will be extended through additional dosimetric recordings in other hospitals. The dosimetric data will be compared to the results of questionnaires among the electro-therapists working at the units studied. The objective is to identify potential relationships between exposure doses and specific diseases or level of risk perception among the investigated professional group. (authors)

[en] Life prediction is critical for safe operation of plant within the creep regime. This study investigates the influence differences in specific composition and fabrication routes have on creep degradation for components with compositions within the design specification. Four ex-service AISI 316H austenitic stainless steel components exhibiting different manufacturing techniques and a range of compositions were used in the study. The boiler header component was found to contain localized chromium-rich regions arising from the original cast microstructure which result in a wide range of phases and show enhanced creep cavitation. Chi-phase precipitates contribute a significant role in creep damage accumulation via phosphorus segregation to the chi-austenite inter-phase boundaries. Tubular components with a homogenous microstructure and similar composition to the header showed limited secondary phase evolution. In one tubular specimen, creep cavitation was linked to phosphorus segregation at M₂₃C₆—austenite inter-phase boundaries. The remaining two tubular components, with a higher (but within specification) silicon content, showed homogeneous microstructures with limited creep cavitation and no phosphorus segregation was observed.