[en] The OECD Nuclear energy Agency, has, since 1957, been addressing issues in radiological protection through its Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH). The Committee is made up of regulators and radiation protection experts, with the broad mission to provide timely identification of new and emerging issues, to analyse their possible implications and to recommend or take action to address these issues to further enhance radiation protection regulation and implementation. The regulatory and operational consensus developed by the CRPPH on these emerging issues supports policy and regulation development in Member countries, and disseminates good practice. To best serve the needs of its Member countries, the CRPPH has been focusing its work in recent years on a few key topic areas. These induce the evolution of the system of radiological protection, the advancement of preparedness for nuclear emergency accidents, and the improvement of occupational exposure management at nuclear power plants. With the International Commission on Radiological Protection about to issue new recommendations, due out in 2005, the CRPPH will take advantage of the radiological protection community's recent focus on emerging policy and strategic issues to develop a new CRPPH Collective Opinion. This document, to be published in 2005, will serve the Committee as a guide for its programme of work for the coming 5 to 10 years. (Author) 13 refs

[en] Radiological Protection (RP) in a health care setting is an activity intended to protect the professionals involved in Radiodiagnostic, Nuclear Medicine or Radiotherapeutic Oncology procedures, and also the population, against the risks resulting from the use of ionizing radiation because of the impact it could have on them, In our country, application of new regulations to these practices has not involved structural changes in the facilities. Both the technological innovations and the use of new techniques in these types of procedures create a need to reassess the associated risks and to establish specific training programs for these professionals. In our country, great efforts have been made to draw up and enact regulations that assure the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using ionizing radiation, including their justification. (Author)

[en] The present IAEA radiation protection programmes are described: the resources allocated to those contained within the Principal Programme on Technological Safety and on Physical Security amount to 105.429.000 US dollars for the biannual 2004-2005 period: that is: a specific radiological safety programme (radiological protection and safety of radiation sources) combined with a programme on radioactive materials transport safety, and another programme on the safe management of radioactive waste. The Programme on Radiological and Transport Safety contains sub-programmes on: improvements on radiological and transport safety infrastructures at national and global levels, information and communication networks on radiological safety, application of safety standards on IAEA's operations, occupational radiation protection, radiological protection of the patient, safety on the transport of radioactive materials and preparation and response to nuclear or radiological emergency situations. The Programme on Radioactive Waste also includes sub-programmes on: the improvement of radioactive waste infrastructures at national and global levels, networks of information and communication on radioactive waste management, safety policies and approaches for the final disposal of radioactive waste, technologies for the final disposal of radioactive waste, releases of radioactive materials to the environment under safe conditions, safe management of residual radioactive materials, technologies for the safe closure of installations and rehabilitation of sites and the safe management of sealed out-of-use sources. Finally, there are described the consultations with experts from IAEA Member States conducted during a great number of international Conferences, and the conversion of the received recommendations into Action plans, that approach the IAEA programmes to the changing needs of the world and to the scientific discoveries which are been produced. (Author)

[en] The Spanish radiation protection model is consistent with the recommendations established in the ICRP-60, and it is strongly implemented in all practices and related activities of the country. the practical implementation of that model is assuring a high level of protection of workers, public and environment. The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), as Spanish regulator, is currently involved in the implementation of a new Strategic Plan, which contains, among others, strategic and operational objectives to improve the national system of radiation protection, so they will drive the activities of the CSN in this field during the coming years. A summary of those objectives and the related action plan are described. (Author)

[en] The Radiological Protection (RP) educational system in Spain is extensive and well defined. Two factors should be considered: on one hand, the need to guarantee basic training of a collective of workers exposed to ionizing radiation and the public when necessary; on the other hand, specialized activities in the areas of RP and safety should be developed. This paper thoroughly analyzes the situation of radiological protection training programs implemented in our country on a more or less regular basis. As regards the sectors involved in implementation, this paper considers the areas of health, research, industry, the nuclear sector, and university programs related to the training of professionals from these areas. (Author)

[en] This article contains a general description of radioactive waste management in Spain. It begins with an explanation of the administrative organization for undertaking this function, with special emphasis on the characteristics and mission of ENRESA, the waste management firm. An inventory of the waste generated in Spain is then provided, in the scenario considered in the 5th General Radioactive Waste Plan, followed by a description of the strategies used to treat low-and intermediate-level and high-level radwaste, as well as the work being developed to dismantle the Vandellos-I NPP. Finally, there is a brief description of the established financing system

[en] The use of computerized tomography in paediatrics is rapidly increasing and with that the dose received by the patients. Recent publications show that the new technique is overused and therefore the cancer risk is increasing in paediatric patients. The article discusses the strategies in use ro reduce the radiation doses without losing the advantages of the new technique. Paediatric doses can be reduced adjusting the photon beam to the density and dimensions of the paediatric patient, in new equipment modulating automatically the current and the tension in the cathodic tube to the optimum values without impairing the quality of the image. Dose can also be reduce increasing the rotation velocity and the pitch of the gantry, limiting the exploration to the region of interest and using shielding to protect the most sensitive tissues. Nevertheless, the article defends the prudent use of computerised tomography and recommends, whenever possible, the use of complementary non ionizing radiation techniques. (Author) 26 refs

[en] A clinical study with 100 patients with acute radiodermatitis is presented. They received treatment with Cryptomphalus Aspersa secretion (n=50) or its excipients (n=50) for three months. They were evaluated after first week, and at one, two, three and six months after initiation of therapy. In the group treated with Cryptomphalus Aspersa, a statistically significant clinical improvement in erythema, itching and burning pain was noted, both at first week and one month after starling therapy. These results open a new way in the future treatment of acute radiodermatitis. Cryptomphalus Aspersa is an alternative therapy for many patients diagnosed of malignant tumors which require radiotherapy, with specially good results in breast and neck radiodermatitis. (Author) 10 refs

[en] Cardiac Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) is mainly used for the quantification of coronary artery calcification and for minimally invasive coronary angiography. Many physicians are not aware of the radiation doses delivered to the patient in these exams. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the radiation doses that are delivered to the patient during specific cardiac MSCT examinations in two different hospitals in Madrid. The volume computed tomographic dose index (CTDI vol), the dose length product (DLP), and the effective dose (E) are the most useful parameters to describe and compare radiation doses received from cardiac MSCT examinations. To calculate effective doses the spreadsheet developed by ImPACT was used. Computed tomography dose index (CTDIn) in air was measured with an ionization chamber model 20x5-2CT and dose-length product (DLP) values were obtained from the scanner consol for each examination. Results and conclusions: Effective dose values of 18,2 mSv and 24 mSv for coronary angiography were found in the two hospitals. The difference in dose is mainly due to the different mode of acquisition in the applied protocols rather than to the type of scanner used. (Author)

[en] To achieve an optimal tumoral control to prostate cancer in early and locally advanced stages, it is necessary to increase the dose with a low mobility probability at the vesicle an rectal level. This is achieved through conformal radiotherapy. The Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia uses this technique, but two questions arise from the medical-physicists and medical radio-oncologist: In accordance with clinical protocols, the conformal radiotherapy delivers a low dose to the adjacent healthy tissues. What experimental method exists that can prove with certainly the veracity of this affirmation?. And, Do the dosimetric simulation system calculate suitable the dose for each tissues?. Through thermoluminescent dosimetry and the use of a physical simulator,we measured the absorbed dose at the target volume and the adjacent tissues using conformal and conventional radiotherapy. We proved that organs such as the rectum and bladder, receiver a minor dose in conformal radiotherapy, hence reducing their mobility probability. In addition, the readings from the thermoluminescent dosimeters and the doses calculated by the ECLIPSE dosimetric system were compared, concluding that the patient's prescribed dose is effectively delivered as recommended by the quality control program in radiotherapy. (Author)