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Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
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Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is a regulatory agency under the Commonwealth of Australia that aims to protect Australian citizens from both ionising and non-ionising radiation. ARPANSA works under the guidance of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act of 1998 as the national regulatory body of radiation in Australia, with independent departments within each state and territory that regulate radiation within each of their jurisdictions.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Bill 1998 was passed by the Australian House of Representatives in May 1998, however Parliament was prorogued for the Federal Election (held 3 October 1998) before the Bill could be considered by the Senate. The Bill was reintroduced into Parliament in November 1998 and passed by both Houses of Parliament on Thursday 10 December 1998.
ARPANSA's responsibilities include:
ARPANSA evaluates research conducted by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and other foundations to set standards founded on extensive research.
Both ionising and non-ionising radiation is present in Australia, and can be found from man-made sources, or in natural sources as background radiation. Ionising radiation is radiation that does not exceed wavelengths over 100 nanometres, whereas non-ionising radiation exceeds wavelengths of 100 nanometres. Some of the common man-made sources of ionising radiation in Australia include x-rays, CT scans and naturally-found radioactive materials. The common sources of non-ionising radiation include mobile phones, power lines and the sun.
The average Australian is exposed annually to radiation at a level of 1,500-2,000 μSv, which is low in comparison to other countries, such as the 7,800 μSv annual level reported in Cornwall, United Kingdom. These amounts are considered to be natural background radiation levels and exposure to this is not harmful, but radiation can also be used for a variety of health-related purposes. Unlike natural background radiation, there are several risks involved with radiation and nuclear services when used for medical purposes, including increased cancer prevalence. Because of these risks, an agency is required to manage and regulate their use to ensure the safety of all Australians.
From 1935–1972, the authorising body governing radiation in Australia was the Commonwealth X-Ray and Radium Laboratory. This was replaced by the Commonwealth Radiation Laboratory (1972–1973), and then the Australian Radiation Laboratory (1973–1999). In 1999, the Australian Radiation Laboratory then merged with the Nuclear Safety Bureau to create one agency that governed radiation and nuclear safety, ARPANSA. Since its establishment, ARPANSA has erected offices both in Sydney, NSW, and Melbourne, Victoria.
ARPANSA sets national radiation standards that must be abided by all Australian businesses. ARPANSA consults other health agencies globally, as well as research from relevant disciplines, and forms the standards based on this evidence. The standards are then founded on the recommendations from the ICNIRP based on their years of research. The IAEA’s standards are also considered when setting ARPANSA’s standards, and are established to assign responsibility of safe methods with use of ionising radiation.
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Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is a regulatory agency under the Commonwealth of Australia that aims to protect Australian citizens from both ionising and non-ionising radiation. ARPANSA works under the guidance of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act of 1998 as the national regulatory body of radiation in Australia, with independent departments within each state and territory that regulate radiation within each of their jurisdictions.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Bill 1998 was passed by the Australian House of Representatives in May 1998, however Parliament was prorogued for the Federal Election (held 3 October 1998) before the Bill could be considered by the Senate. The Bill was reintroduced into Parliament in November 1998 and passed by both Houses of Parliament on Thursday 10 December 1998.
ARPANSA's responsibilities include:
ARPANSA evaluates research conducted by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and other foundations to set standards founded on extensive research.
Both ionising and non-ionising radiation is present in Australia, and can be found from man-made sources, or in natural sources as background radiation. Ionising radiation is radiation that does not exceed wavelengths over 100 nanometres, whereas non-ionising radiation exceeds wavelengths of 100 nanometres. Some of the common man-made sources of ionising radiation in Australia include x-rays, CT scans and naturally-found radioactive materials. The common sources of non-ionising radiation include mobile phones, power lines and the sun.
The average Australian is exposed annually to radiation at a level of 1,500-2,000 μSv, which is low in comparison to other countries, such as the 7,800 μSv annual level reported in Cornwall, United Kingdom. These amounts are considered to be natural background radiation levels and exposure to this is not harmful, but radiation can also be used for a variety of health-related purposes. Unlike natural background radiation, there are several risks involved with radiation and nuclear services when used for medical purposes, including increased cancer prevalence. Because of these risks, an agency is required to manage and regulate their use to ensure the safety of all Australians.
From 1935–1972, the authorising body governing radiation in Australia was the Commonwealth X-Ray and Radium Laboratory. This was replaced by the Commonwealth Radiation Laboratory (1972–1973), and then the Australian Radiation Laboratory (1973–1999). In 1999, the Australian Radiation Laboratory then merged with the Nuclear Safety Bureau to create one agency that governed radiation and nuclear safety, ARPANSA. Since its establishment, ARPANSA has erected offices both in Sydney, NSW, and Melbourne, Victoria.
ARPANSA sets national radiation standards that must be abided by all Australian businesses. ARPANSA consults other health agencies globally, as well as research from relevant disciplines, and forms the standards based on this evidence. The standards are then founded on the recommendations from the ICNIRP based on their years of research. The IAEA’s standards are also considered when setting ARPANSA’s standards, and are established to assign responsibility of safe methods with use of ionising radiation.