Radioactive material is present in the environment and is also generated during the operation and subsequent decommissioning of facilities that have used or produced radioactive material. Particularly during decommissioning, a large amount of material may be generated that is below the activity limits requiring regulatory control. This Safety Report focuses on the development and practical implementation of strategies for demonstrating compliance with the established exemption and clearance levels. It provides valuable information for operators, regulatory bodies and other organizations that are involved in the monitoring of material for its release from regulatory control.

This Safety Report is a compilation of detailed information on the processes and materials involved in the production of rare earths from thorium-containing minerals and on the radiological considerations that need to be taken into account by the regulatory body when determining the nature and extent of radiation protection measures. It has been developed as part of the IAEA’s programme on the application of its safety standards in the field of radiation, transport and waste safety.

This Safety Report provides up to date detailed guidance on actions to be taken in preparation for, and following, an earthquake at a nuclear power plant, taking into account the knowledge gained and the experience of Member States from the occurrence of strong earthquakes that affected nuclear power plants up to 2010. The publication is a compilation of available references based on related standards and proposes a more comprehensive set of criteria than those existing in some national regulations, based on damage and earthquake exceedance levels for dealing with situations related to plant shutdown, plant restart or plant continuing operation following the occurrence of an earthquake which may exceed the original design level. It will be a useful tool for regulatory bodies, specialists on earthquake engineering and technical support organizations.

This publication provides advice on the application of configuration management (CM) processes in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Taking into account that the concept of CM processes is implemented in different ways in the nuclear industry, it underlines the importance of a consistent approach to CM in operating NPPs, especially for those with long term operation. It also highlights safety aspects and provides further guidance and examples.

The objective of this Safety Report is to complement IAEA Safety Guide RS-G-1.8 and to provide the methodological and technical details of the design and operation of monitoring programmes for different radionuclides, environmental media and types of facility. It also covers general issues of emergency monitoring during and in the aftermath of an accidental release of radionuclides and gives an outline of dose assessment procedures based on monitoring data and the reporting of information to the regulatory body.

There is a widespread variation in the practices with regard to the release of patients from hospital after unsealed radionuclide therapies. This publication aims to harmonize the different approaches, drawing on new advice issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and on a number of regional and national approaches. Particular attention is paid to the most frequent questions from the patients, including those related to potential future pregnancy and the safe approach to reintegration into normal life at home and at work.

The number of interventional procedures guided by X ray imaging is increasing every year. Given the medical necessity of these procedures, it is vital that public confidence in these techniques is not undermined by the adverse consequences of high radiation doses. Guidance levels have proved to be a useful tool for optimization in general radiography, since they provide the opportunity of comparing the radiation doses that radiologists deliver to patients with those prescribed by their colleagues. However, the possibility of establishing guidance levels as a tool for optimization of interventional procedures has been the subject of scientific debate. The research described in this publication has brought the debate closer to a common understanding and consensus. Moreover, it has demonstrated its value in practice, by identifying hospitals with higher doses and then achieving a substantial dose reduction by means of the optimization of protection implemented during the project in these hospitals.

Effective management of the ageing of structures, systems and components has become an important issue for IAEA Member States, since out of the total number of nuclear power plants (NPPs) operating in the world, many have been in operation for more than 30 years and at least half for more than 20 years. Proactive management of ageing is a key element in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of NPPs. This publication supplements the Safety Guide, Ageing Management for Nuclear Power Plants, and provides practical examples of how to manage ageing degradation effectively. It provides guidance and good practices for maintaining and enhancing the safety and performance of NPPs by facilitating the implementation of proactive ageing management throughout their lifetime.

This publication has been developed by the IAEA in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the International Society of Radiology and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. It addresses issues associated with high patient doses received from multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in cardiac imaging and provides data on patient dose and risk levels, as well as information for practitioners on optimizing techniques.

This publication has been developed by the IAEA in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the International Society of Radiology and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. It addresses issues associated with high patient doses received from multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in colonography and provides data on patient dose and risk levels, as well as information for practitioners on optimizing techniques.

The emergence of hybrid systems, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (PET/CT), has stimulated much interest. This Safety Report reviews radiation protection issues arising from the use of PET/CT and offers guidance on dose management and optimization. It provides data on patient dose and risk levels, as well as information for practitioners on optimizing techniques.

This publication is a companion to the IAEA Safety Report, Accident Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants. It is specifically devoted to the analysis of severe accidents. Although the publication does not explicitly differentiate between various reactor types, it has been written on the basis of the available knowledge and databases developed for light water reactors (LWRs). Its application is therefore oriented mainly towards pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs) and, to a more limited extent, water cooled water moderated power reactors (WWERs) and pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs).