Preventing tissue reactions: a review of the ICRP approach

The International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP) has made a review of the system of radiological protection toward a revision of general recommendations. The management of tissue reactions, previously known as deterministic effects, has always been a core aspect of the system of radiological protection. It is directly related to the health objectives of the system, which aims to prevent such effects. Tissue reactions, currently defined as '<i>injury in populations of cells characterised by a threshold dose and an increase in the severity of the reaction as the dose is increased further</i>', are, in theory, prevented when dose remains below the threshold. This has significant implications for the system, including in relation to the setting of individual dose limits. This article reviews and discusses the approach proposed by the Commission with regards to the management of tissue reactions. It is based on the review of a set of relevant ICRP Publications, with the aim of contributing to the ongoing work on the review of the system of radiological protection.