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The Federal Office for Radiation Protection is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation and Health

As Collaborating Centre (CC) for Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation and Health, the BfS actively supports the WHO's work in eight areas:

Two signs in front of the BfS building in Neuherberg show the BfS coat of arms and the WHO Col-laborating Centre award WHO Collaborating CentreA sign in front of the BfS building in Neuherberg identifies the BfS as WHO-Collaborating Centre

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS) are further extending their collaboration in the field of protection against harmful effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation. In 2022, the World Health Organization reappointed the BfS as an internationally recognised Collaborating Centre (CC) for Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation and Health.

In this role, the BfS actively supports the WHO's work.

Non-ionising radiationShow / Hide

The BfS also cooperates with WHO in the area of non-ionising radiation. Non-ionising radiation includes electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields as well as optical radiation (UV radiation, light, infra-red).

Electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields

Within the scope of the EMF-project, the WHO evaluates health effects of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMF). From this, the WHO develops recommendations for the member states and the general public concerning health protection and prevention related to electromagnetic fields. As a WHO CC, the BfS does manifold groundwork for these tasks. Among others, the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (DMF) took into account the WHO research agenda. The results obtained within the DMF went straight into the EMF project and can thus be considered within the upcoming risk evaluation. The WHO's EHC document (EHC: Environmental Health Criteria) on high frequency electromagnetic fields is on hold since systematic reviews on a set of endpoints are issued first.

In a similar way, the results from the accompanying research programme on the energy grid expansion, which was initiated in 2017, will be presented on the occasion of the annual WHO International Advisory Committee (IAC) Meeting. The future results of the programme will flow into the continuous updating of the state of the art of science and technology.

Based on the foundation of the "Competence Centre on EMF" the diverse communication activities of BfS have been intensified and will be part of the future dialogue with WHO.

Optical radiation

Within the scope of the INTERSUN programme, the WHO is evaluating health effects from exposures to UV radiation and recommends health protection measures. At this end, the BfS helps the WHO develop papers which are published by the WHO within the INTERSUN programme. The BfS develops information material on the topics of UV radiation, its effects and of UV protection, presents it to the WHO and places it at the disposal of the WHO, if this is requested. Furthermore, the BfS supports the WHO in the development and implementation of protective measures, such as for example the UV index.

The increasing use of non-ionising radiation in medicine and well-being as well as in everyday life and technology is another focus of the existing cooperation with WHO. The BfS also supports the WHO in this regard as described above.

The research projects and results initiated on non-ionising radiation are presented to the WHO within the framework of the annual International Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting of the WHO.

Risk communication

Risk communication is an indispensable element of radiation protection and concerns both non-ionising and ionising radiation. In this area, the BfS contributes its expertise in risk and science communication to the cooperation with WHO, especially in the areas of EMF and optics, but also on ionising radiation, for example in the topic area of radon. The BfS supports the WHO in investigating risk perception and behaviour in different fields of application of radiation protection. Based on this, possibilities to improve the risk and science communication with the general public are examined. Particular attention will be paid to the role of digital or social media communication. This is done by both transferring existing findings for example in the areas of health behaviour, cognitive psychology and risk perception to radiation protection and by especially initiated research. These findings are shared with the WHO.

Emergency preparednessShow / Hide

As a WHO CC, the BfS also supports the WHO in the field of emergency preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergencies.

In the event of an emergency, the BfS is going to support the WHO in its activities relating to health and medical aspects and the evaluation of the radiological consequences. The BfS will bring in its expertise in the areas of risk evaluation, risk management, the development of a radiological situation picture and the resulting recommendations for protective measures. Furthermore, the BfS will support the WHO in the crisis communication and the psycho-social accomplishment of an emergency.

An essential component of emergency preparedness is the determination of the dose received by the affected population. The BfS has comprehensive experience and special computer programs available to estimate the radiation exposure to the population, for both the dose already received in the course of an accident and the dose still to be expected in future.

Medical and health aspects

In a radiological emergency, biological dosimetry also plays an important role. The BfS has a well-equipped laboratory for biological dosimetry and is one of the reference laboratories for the global WHO biodosimetry network BioDoseNet, which was founded in 2008. With the help of biological dosimetry, biomarkers in the blood can be used to detect suspected or actual excessive radiation exposure and, if necessary, determine a radiation dose. This procedure, among others, is important in accidental exposure situations. In the case of unclear radiation exposure, the BfS offers its services at its office in Munich/Neuherberg in its function as a reference laboratory for biological dosimetry.

In the WHO BioDoseNet, biological dosimetry laboratories around the world work closely together. This means that they are optimally prepared for possible large radiation accidents with a high number of potentially affected people and can help and support each other in carrying out the method. With the same objective, the BfS also plays a major role at the European level in the network RENEB e.V. (Running the European Network of Biological and Retrospective Physical Dosimetry), where it currently holds the chair. Many laboratories are active members of RENEB e.V. and the WHO BioDoseNet in Europe.

Medical uses of radiationShow / Hide

With the "Global Initiative on Radiation Safety in Health Care Settings", the WHO seeks to contribute to improve radiation protection in medicine worldwide and, in particular, to reduce the medical radiation exposure. The BfS supports this initiative by assisting in the development and implementation of appropriate strategies.

Especially the principle of "justifying indication" shall be supported in order to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure as far as possible. "Justifying indication" means critical benefit-risk-analysis on a case-by-case basis (cf., for example Benefit and risk of X-ray diagnostics) by the responsible radiologist.

Early detection

The early detection of serious diseases - even before they cause symptoms - is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare systems of many countries. This often involves the use of radiological imaging techniques. As there is no general consensus on the justification of radiological screening procedures in asymptomatic individuals apart from approved population-based screening programs, the WHO, in collaboration with the BfS, launched a project in 2014 to develop a conceptual framework to justify in particular the application of computed tomography as an early detection examination.

In order to avoid errors in the medical use of radiation, the BfS contributes analyses and best practice examples from the reporting and information system for major incidents in radiation applications on humans within the framework of the WHO cooperation. From this, insights can be gained to improve the safety culture.

Existing exposure situationsShow / Hide

Participants of the bilateral meeting in Geneva in front of a world map BfS at the WHOThe participants of a bilateral meeting between WHO and BfS on radon on 13 February 2019 in Geneva Source: WHO

An existing exposure situation is defined as radiation exposure to humans from exposures that already exist if a decision on the control of these must be made. In many cases, this includes naturally occurring ionising radiation. For example, through the radioactive gas radon or through radioactive substances in drinking water and foodstuffs.

With regard to the protection against harmful effects of radon, the BfS is also a key contact for the WHO. The naturally occurring radioactive inert gas radon is the second most important risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. Therefore, within the WHO's International Radon Project, the BfS as Collaborating Centre has developed strategies appropriate to have the general public informed about, and protected against radon exposure primarily occurring indoors.

Indoor radon exposure

Among others, the WHO's "International Radon Project" has brought about the WHO Radon Handbook, which reviewed the scientific evidence available worldwide concerning lung cancer risk induced by radon. Suggestions for reference values related to radon concentration indoors were derived from this publication. Furthermore, the Handbook provides guidance for the protection against radon and a basic risk communication for radon.

Indoor radon exposure can be minimised by constructional measures. Therefore, the BfS supports the objective of including the protection against radon in the list of Criteria for Sustainable Building. From the EU-project RADPAR (Radon Prevention and Remediation), a comprehensive range of precautionary measures concerning radon has been derived, which is also used by the WHO. In the current research programme MetroRADON, the BfS promotes the quality reliability of radon measurements at low concentrations in the field of reference values in Europe. Furthermore, the BfS is working to improve and harmonise tools to register regions with an above-average occurrence of radon.

State of 2023.06.10

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