United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation( UNSCEAR)
The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation( UNSCEAR) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1955. The Committee assesses and reports on levels and effects of exposure to ionising radiation.
UNSCEAR typically meets annually to discuss its current and future programmes of work, review current scientific evaluations and reports, and adopt reports to the General Assembly.
One area of UNSCEAR ' s work is to collect and analyse data on human exposure to ionising radiation, at global and regional levels, and identify trends. Global surveys are carried out periodically on radiation exposure of patients, workers and the general public. Preparatory work is currently underway, preparing for the survey of medical exposures on patients.
Full details of the past and current work of UNSCEAR is at www. unscear. org
Over the years many SRP members have contributed to the work of the Committee as representatives, delegates and members of expert groups.
Some key moments in UNSCEAR history
1955 UNSCEAR established. The original committee was composed of senior scientists from 15 UN Member States: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, India, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, the UK, the USA and the USSR. More countries have joined since, and there are now 31 Member States on the Committee.
1956 First session of the Committee.
1958 First report published, presenting comprehensive evaluations of the state of knowledge about the levels of ionising radiation to which human beings were exposed and of the possible effects of such exposures.
1963 The Partial Test Ban Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere was signed, largely based on UNSCEAR reports from 1958 and 1962.
1974 UNSCEAR Secretariat moved from New York to Vienna.
1988 Following the Chornobyl accident in 1986 UNSCEAR published a first account of acute radiation effects in emergency workers and of the global exposures, with a more detailed assessment published in 2000.
1990s Interest in occupational exposure from work with naturally occurring radioactive material and exposure to radon.
2000s UNSCEAR reports published in 2000, 2001 and 2008. Topics included the risks from exposure to radon, epidemiological studies of radiation, reviews on medical, public and occupational exposures, radiation exposures from accidents, and health effects of the Chornobyl accident.
UNSCEAR has its headquarters at the Vienna International Centre
2013 Report published on radiation exposure following the Fukushima accident.
36 Radiation Protection Today www. srp-rpt. uk