Category: Features

In the spirit of “Working Together,” (the theme of the 2023 CRPA conference) Erin Curry (CARST), asks how we can best support organizations and individuals working to raise radon awareness? She says that, as associations that unite professionals with a common interest, both CRPA and CARST know we will get further by forging partnerships, playing to our strengths, and—when it comes to awareness—not giving up! It takes consistent effort over time to see results.

Every year, CRPA’s Student and Young Professionals Committee organizes the Anthony J. MacKay Student Paper Contest. The winner receives the Anthony J. MacKay trophy and a $250 cash prize, and the winning paper is published in the CRPA Bulletin. Last year’s winner, Felix Mathew, presented his paper, Single-Cell DNA Sequencing – A Potential Dosimetric Tool, at ICRP 2021+1.

Among sessions of technical and scientific importance at the recent ICRP 2021+1 conference in Vancouver, one session was strategically aimed at growing the radiation protection field. Specifically, the session explored how we can increase the involvement of young people in radiation protection. Omar, along with his co-chair, Mike Boyd from the US Environmental Protection Agency, set out to invite young professionals from around the world, with experience in different organizations and subfields, who could bring their ideas to the forefront. In this article, Omar shares his key takeaways from the session.

The amended Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Radiation Protection Regulations were published in November of 2020. Following their publication, CNSC adopted a compliance promotion approach with licensees to allow them time to update their radiation safety programs. That period has now ended and all licensees must now meet the new requirements.

The July 2022 issue of the Directorate of Nuclear Substance Regulation (DNSR) Digest highlighted some areas where CNSC inspectors continue to see non-compliance with the updated regulations. We thought this would be a good time to remind Bulletin readers of the regulation changes.

The recent amendments to CNSC’s Radiation Protection Regulations were meant to enhance radiation protection for workers, the public, and the environment based on international standards for radiation protection and CNSC regulatory operational experience. This article from CNSC’s Jessica Milligan-Taylor, a project officer with the Accelerators and Class II Facilities Division, outlines all of the changes and draws special attention to some changes of particular interest.

Last year, Erin Curry, the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) regional director, explored the contribution of various indoor radon levels to annual effective dose in a two-part series in the Bulletin. In a new series that begins in this issue, she shifts her focus to radon in the workplace. She says, while we know general exposure to elevated levels of radon radiation is linked to increased risk of lung cancer, for radiation protection professionals, exposure to radon gas in the workplace may well be a case of the shoemaker’s children going barefoot.