ICRP Main Commission Meeting

1969 April 11-18 Oxford, UK

During this meeting, the process of electing new members of the Commission and executive positions thereof was undergone. It was decided that Chairmen of Committees should be members of the Main Commission.

The report on Protection of the Patient in Radionuclide Investigations was slated for final approval by mail ballot.

The Commission was presented current updates regarding the work of Committees 1-4:

C1 – The Commission released a statement regarding Quality Factor for Low Energy Betas revising its previous recommendation of 1.7 to 1 regarding the quality factor. Another statement regarding Dose Limit for the Lens of the Eye was released pertaining to establishing a limit of 15 rems for high and low LET radiation. No decision was made regarding the abolition of the modifying factor related to this organ. The Commission approved a proposal of TGs on Epidemiological Surveys of Human Populations and RBE for Neutrons with Respect to Mutagenesis

C2 – The Commission approved of the new name of report from “Reference” to “Standard” Man. The work on Metabolism of Plutonium and Related Elements and their Compounds was approved for continuation. The proposal of TG on Local Retention Functions of Bone Seekers and Respiratory, Absorption, and Elimination Mechanisms was approved. The Commission decided to approve, based on recommendations from C2, that the dose limit for bone tissue should be 15 rems in a year at the surface of bone for beta-emitting nuclides.

C3 – The reports on Revision of ICRP-3,4 and Protection of the Patient were approved in principle by the Commission with final approval slated for mail ballot later in the year. Additional revisions of ICRP/69/0:C3-5,6 were also approved by the Commission.

C4 – The Commission approved the report on Assessment of Internal Contamination Resulting from Recurrent or Prolonged Uptakes in principle, with final approval for publication in ICRP-10 to occur via mail ballot once the report was fully completed. The proposals by C4 to create a TG on Emergency and Accidental Exposures, to begin a report on Dosimetric Evaluations of Planned and Unplanned Releases of Radioactive Material into the Natural Environment, and a working group on Radiation Protection in Uranium mines was approved. The Liaison officer program was given approval to continue.

For all Committees, the Commission approved of the updated memberships.

The ICRP confirmed that the Secretariat would remain in England for at least another year.

The Commission granted Dr. Taylor the status of emeritus member.