ICRP Symposium 2025: Collaboration and Clarity Pave the Way for the Next Revision of the Radiation Protection System

The 2025 ICRP Symposium on Advancing Radiological Protection: Innovation, Integrity, Sustainability brought together experts from across the world in Abu Dhabi to shape the future of radiation protection. Among the highlights was Session 4: Sustainability & the Vancouver Call for Action, featuring feedback from a joint ICRP–World Nuclear Association (WNA) workshop titled “Enabling Sustainable Development Through the System of Protection: Practicality and Alignment.”

Representing World Nuclear Association, Sameh Melhem, Radiation Protection (RP) Programme Lead, and Josip Zic, Vice Chair of the Association’s Radiation Protection Working Group (RPWG), shared key insights and outcomes from the workshop.

A Balanced System for a Sustainable Future

The joint workshop underscored the importance of maintaining a balanced, practical, and sustainable system of radiological protection—one that supports development without imposing unnecessary costs.

Sameh Melhem introduced the Radiation Protection Working Group, which unites 245 member companies across the global nuclear fuel cycle to promote practical, evidence-based radiation protection policies. Over the past three years, the RPWG and ICRP have co-organized a series of workshops and webinars, culminating in the Hamilton, Canada workshop attended by more than 70 participants from the UK, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and the US.

These initiatives aim to align the radiation protection system with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to ensure regulations remain proportional, cost-effective, and trusted by the public.

Tackling Complexity and Communication Challenges

A recurring theme was the need to simplify the radiation protection system and communicate it more effectively.

Sameh Melhem noted that complex and inconsistently applied rules can lead to misinterpretation of Radiation Protection principles—such as the optimisation principle (ALARA)—resulting in disproportionate costs with limited safety gains.

“The nuclear industry spends millions to comply with clearance levels as low as 10 micro-Sieverts,” Melhem explained, “while people routinely receive doses a thousand times higher from natural background radiation, such as during long flights or in areas with high natural radiation.”

This disconnect, he added, fuels public misunderstanding and radiation anxiety.

To address this, Melhem advocated for simpler, clearer dose thresholds, a graded regulatory approach, and stronger emphasis on good governance and proportionality—principles already embedded in ICRP guidance but often under-applied.

He concluded that the next ICRP recommendations should focus on communication clarity, cost–benefit balance, and real-world practicality, ensuring that regulations maintain both public trust and regulatory reasonableness.

Building the Next Generation of Radiation Protection Professionals

Ensuring the sustainability of the radiation protection field requires renewed collaboration between academia and industry.

Josip Zic highlighted that many universities are struggling to sustain health physics programmes due to low student numbers. He urged institutions to share resources and introduce nuclear minors across related disciplines to broaden radiation protection literacy.

He also called for earlier industry engagement in ICRP’s review processes, noting that “waiting until recommendations are published is too late to influence outcomes effectively.”

The workshop’s model of reinvesting event proceeds into supporting young professionals was praised as a tangible step toward sustaining the next generation of experts.

Operational Lessons from Industry

Industry case studies further emphasized the need for practical and proportionate regulation.

A study by Laurentiis Energy Partners found that much of the waste from CANDU reactors was either non-radioactive or could be significantly reduced in volume—highlighting the potential for more efficient waste management and modernized regulatory approaches.

Meanwhile, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) demonstrated the operational complexity of managing eight reactors, 22,000 workers, and 9,000 radiation instruments. OPG warned that changes in operational dose quantities could carry major cost implications without improving safety, underscoring the need for stability and predictability in regulatory requirements.

Towards a Smarter, Sustainable Radiation Protection System

The discussions at the symposium and the joint workshop reinforced the need for collaboration, clarity, and proportionality across all sectors.

Academic institutions, regulators, and industry leaders were urged to work together early and transparently to ensure that future radiation protection system remain scientifically robust, economically practical, and socially trusted.

“A simpler, balanced, and well-communicated system is not just an industry goal—it’s a sustainability imperative,” concluded Melhem.

Join the Conversation

The World Nuclear Association’s Radiation Protection Working Group (RPWG) continues to lead industry engagement with international bodies like the ICRP to ensure that radiation protection evolves in step with modern sustainability and innovation goals. Find out more about the Radiation Protection Working Group and how your organization can contribute to shaping the future of radiological protection.