HPS Positions

Official positions are the positions that the Health Physics Society (HPS) takes on a topic. Positions are concise declarations regarding an issue relevant to radiation safety. Positions are established by a two-thirds vote of the Board members present. To promote collegial relationships between the Society and other professional organizations, the Scientific and Public Issues Committee will communicate the positions of the Society on radiation safety issues with other organizations and the scientific community. Nuclear Power PS030-0 The Health Physics Society (HPS) believes that nuclear power in the United States is a safe, reliable, low-carbon energy source. The exposures to radiation and/or radioactive material associated with nuclear power generation—and indeed the entire nuclear fuel cycle—have been effectively managed to ensure the safety of workers, the public, and the environment. Health Physics PS029-0 Health physics, also referred to as the science of radiation protection, is the profession devoted to protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards, while making it possible to enjoy the beneficial uses of radiation. Health physicists normally require a four-year bachelor’s degree and qualifying experience that demonstrates a professional knowledge of the theory and application of radiation protection principles and closely related sciences. CT Scanning The Health Physics Society recommends that computed tomography (CT) screening exams only be performed if prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider. Mobile Device Use for Radiation Detection Mobile applications to measure radiation using smart phones, or external accessories made for such devices, are not substitutes for quality-controlled measurements made by trained and qualified radiation protection professionals using calibrated radiation detection instruments. Measurements made by such devices should not be used as the primary source of information to evaluate the user’s safety or to issue protective actions for the public. Radiofrequency Transmitters The radiofrequency transmitters used in conjunction with smart meters do not present a public health risk. Radiation Exposure of Public PS028-0 No person should be intentionally exposed to ionizing radiation without his or her knowledge. Patient Release PS027-0 The HPS has adopted a position recommending that patients who have been treated with therapeutic quantities of radiopharmaceuticals or who have received permanent implants of sealed radioactive sources for therapeutic purposes may be released from treatment facilities without harm to caregivers and the public if the conditions of release are based on patient-release criteria published by national and international radiation safety consensus organizations and by regulations (10 CFR 35.75) of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Safety Culture PS026-0 Users of radiation and radioactive material should establish a collective commitment by their managers and employees to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. Radiological Quantities PS025-0 The HPS has adopted a position that the International System of Units (SI) should be used exclusively when expressing radiological quantities. Stakeholder Engagement PS024-0 The HPS endorses the Guiding Principles for Radiation Protection Professionals on Stakeholder Engagement developed by the International Radiation Protection Association. Spent Nuclear Fuel PS022-1 1. The HPS believes the management of spent fuel from nuclear reactors should be conducted in a manner that (a) uses only scientifically valid and reasonable assumptions for setting protection standards, (b) adequately protects the public and environment from radiation exposure resulting from natural, accidental, or malevolent release of radioactive materials from the spent fuel, (c) accommodates evolving technologies, and (d) does not permanently dispose of potentially valuable material that is contained in a spent-fuel assembly. 2. The HPS believes that the development of new reactor technology that is intended for commercial production of electrical power must (a) integrate the characteristics of waste streams created by this new technology into the design of the new technology and process from the very beginning of its development, (b) design the framework to manage the new waste stream with equal importance to designing the technology itself, and (c) incorporate input and involvement from the regulatory authority that will regulate the technology and resulting waste stream once it is producing commercial power. 3. The HPS believes the scientific validity and reasonableness of assumptions regarding the estimation of cancer and genetic risk from radiation exposure only allows the risk estimates to be extrapolated out for a period on the order of several generations (that is, on the order of a hundred years) but no more than a few hundred years. Source Security PS