Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in non-nuclear industries and the European radiation protection basic safety standards

Exposure of workers to ionizing radiation in non-nuclear industries or NORM (Naturally-occurring radioactivity materials) industries was already addressed in the EU Directive 96/29 that also introduced the harmonized radiation dose limits for workers and members of the public. In 1996, that Directive placed the responsibility on EU Member States to identify those NORM industries where radiation exposure could occur, and to apply there the radiation basic safety standards. Several EU Member States and radiation protection authorities undertook case studies that identified significant re-concentration of radioactivity in products, by-products, and waste materials from non-nuclear industries and workplaces with risk of radiation exposure above legal limits. A revised and updated version of the EU Directive was recently prepared based on revised international safety standards, which will include industrial sectors where radiation doses shall be controlled. NORM industrial sectors in Portugal are still to carry out this radiological risk assessment and urged to do so.