| CODE | MPH3012 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Environmental and Industrial Radiation Protection | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Medical Physics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit presents a comprehensive overview of industrial and environmental sources of ionising and non-ionising radiation and radionuclides and the countermeasures for radiation protection of workers and the public. It includes such areas as radionuclide activity in food and drinking water, industrial radiography, protection of the public against exposure indoors due to radon and other natural sources of radiation, environmental and source monitoring, consumer products which include radioactive sources, non-ionising radiation sources such as cellular phone towers, microwave sources. Relevant international, European and national legislation and associated documents will also be presented and discussed. Content will be based on the latest IAEA and ICNIRP documentation to ensure students are at the forefront of developments. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - Survey industrial and environmental sources of ionising and non-ionising radiations; - Explain the countermeasures for the protection of workers and the public from ionising and non-ionising radiations; - Familiarise students with the methods used for measuring radionuclide activity concentrations in food and drinking water; - Survey consumer products which include radioactive material; - Explain protection of the public against exposure indoors due to Radon and other natural sources of radiation; - Familiarise students with relevant international, European and national legislation and associated documents including IAEA and ICNIRP documentation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the various sources of radiation in industry and the environment; - Explain guidance on the monitoring and assessment of worker and public exposure due to external radiation sources and from intakes of radionuclides; - Discuss occupational radiation protection programmes as appropriate for the sources of radiation likely to be encountered in the workplaces in question to fulfil management’s responsibility for protection and safety; - Discuss the various international standards to be applied at the national level for the assessment of levels of radionuclides in food and in drinking water in different circumstances for the purposes of control, other than in a nuclear or radiological emergency; - Explain the meaning of nuclear and radiological emergencies; - Discuss international guidance on the strategy of monitoring in relation to: (a) control of radionuclide discharges under practice conditions, and (b) intervention, such as in cases of nuclear or radiological emergencies or past contamination of areas with long lived radionuclides; - Discuss guidance on assessment of doses to critical groups of the population; and - Discuss the concentration levels of radionuclides in various aquatic and terrestrial environments and the exposure levels of the population. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Use radiation measuring devices to measure and monitor radiation levels in the environment; - Provide guidance on the monitoring and assessment of workers’ exposure due to external radiation sources and from intakes of radionuclides; - Apply the ERICA Integrated Approach and its associated tools and databases to evaluate the likely impact of radioactive discharges on the environment. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main - IAEA. (2018). Radiation protection of the public and the environment. - IAEA. (2018). Occupational Radiation Protection - General Safety Guide. - IAEA. (2016). Criteria for Radionuclide Activity Concentrations for Food and Drinking Water. - IAEA. (2014). Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography. - IAEA. (2014). The Information System on Occupational Exposure in Medicine, Industry and Research (ISEMIR): Industrial Radiography. - IAEA. (2018). Protection of the Public against Exposure Indoors due to Radon and Other Natural Sources of Radiation. - IAEA. (2016). Environmental and Source Monitoring for Purposes of Radiation Protection. - IAEA. (2016). Radiation Safety for Consumer Products - Specific Safety Guide. - ICNIRP. (2013). Guidelines on laser radiation. - ICNIRP. (2017). Statement on diagnostic devices using NIR. - ICNIRP. (2014). Guidelines on induced electric fields. - ICNIRP. (2012). Validity and use of the UV index. - ICNIRP. (2012). Body scanners. - ICNIRP. (2011). Mobile phones and tumours. - ICNIRP. (2010). UV protection of workers. Supplementary - IAEA. (2014). Modelling of Biota Dose Effects. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Carmel J. Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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