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MARTIR Project Multimedia & Audio-visual Radiation Protection Training in Interventional Radiology. Radiation Protection 119 Download the CD-Rom content (282.830 KB)

140: Cosmic radiation exposure of aircraft crew  (8.508 KB)

Already in 1913, the Nobel Prize winner Victor F. Hess discovered and described the ionising radiation of cosmic origin. The technical developments of civil aviation, supersonic flights and space travel, together with more accurate knowledge about cosmic radiation, motivated in 1966 the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP, to consider the biological effects of the varying solar radiation and the relatively constant galactic radiation, and to recommend for aircrew preventive measures in specific cases. The 1990 ICRP Recommendations stated that exposures to cosmic radiation during flight in jet aircraft should be included as part of occupational exposure of aircrew.

With the protection of aircrew, a new occupational radiation protection area was opened with many unknown parameters. Therefore, in 1991, the Radiation Protection Unit jointly with scientific experts in this field, the aviation companies, regulatory bodies and the social partners developed a work programme aimed at laying down appropriate European radiation protection legislation and to ensure its uniform conversion into practical radiation protection measures. From the beginning of this work programme, the association of institutes in the European Dosimetry Group, EURADOS, provided considerable expertise and co-ordinated important research projects.

The 1996 European Council Directive on the protection of the workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation allows for the 1990 ICRP recommendations. Specific requirements are incorporated into this European radiation protection legislation aimed at establishing a radiological protection system for aircrew.

This report, prepared by a specific EURADOS Working Group delivers the successful conclusion of the above mentioned work programme. The European Commission thanks EURADOS for the intensive support and in particular the scientists and experts for their personal efforts. Their strong commitment was essential for the success of the entire work programme. Indispensable for achieving the envisaged objectives was also the constructive dialogue between the group of experts established pursuant to Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty and EURADOS. As a result of this fruitful co-operation, the now presented publication provides guidelines, recommendations and practical solutions for applying radiological protection measures for air crew exposed to cosmic radiation, based on the most recent scientific knowledge.