68^th Session of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

Introduction

The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1955. Its mandate is to assess and report levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. For more information, visit the UNSCEAR website.

The 68^th session of UNSCEAR, which took place from June 21 to 25, 2021, was held virtually for the second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 219 participants from 27 member states, 4 observer states, and 12 international organizations registered for the session.

This session also marked the 65^th anniversary of UNSCEAR. Representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Office in Vienna, and the International Atomic Energy Agency provided congratulatory statements. Videos of these statements can be viewed on the UNSCEAR website.

68^th session

The 68^th session was kicked off by Gillian Hirth (chair), who opened the meeting, and Borislava Batandjieva-Metcalf (secretary), who presented an update on UNSCEAR’s work since the 67^th session. This included the publication of the UNSCEAR 2019 Report, Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation, and an advanced online publication of Annex B of the UNSCEAR 2020 Report, “Levels and Effects of Radiation Exposure due to the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: Implications of Information Published since the UNSCEAR 2013 Report.” In addition, the UNSCEAR global survey on public exposure was launched in March 2021.

The secretariat is planning to publish Annex A and Annex C of the UNSCEAR 2020 Report on medical exposure and biological mechanisms later this year.

The session included a technical discussion on the evaluation of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and discussions of progress reports presented for evaluation on the following programs of work:

• Second primary cancer after radiotherapy
• Epidemiological studies of radiation and cancer
• Public exposure due to ionizing radiation
• Implementation of the Committee’s strategy to improve collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on radiation exposure
• Implementation of the Committee’s public information and outreach strategy for 2020–2024

The session concluded with a discussion on the implementation of the Committee’s future program of work (2020–2024), which includes the evaluation of circulatory diseases associated with radiation exposure that is planned to commence this year.

Notable topics of discussion included:

• Quantities and units
• Evaluating and communicating uncertainties
• Challenges in collecting occupational exposure information for certain applications (for example, radon exposures in workplaces other than mines)
• Challenges in collecting public exposure information for applications outside of the nuclear fuel cycle

A report to the General Assembly providing details on the deliberations of the 68^th session will be prepared and posted on the UNSCEAR website.

Participation from Canada

The Canadian delegation consisted of the following experts from Health Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and Arcadis Canada Inc.:

• Jing Chen (vice-chair and representative)
• Ruth Wilkins (alternate representative)
• Kiza Sauvé (advisor)
• Rachel Lane (advisor)
• Bertrand Thériault (advisor)
• Doug Chambers (advisor)
• Janet Gaskin (advisor)

This year, Canada contributed two part-time in-kind experts to the UNSCEAR secretariat for a period of one year:

• Julie Burtt (technical expert, radiation scientist)
• Adelene Gaw (technical expert, radiation scientist)

69^th UNSCEAR session

The 69^th session is planned to be in person in Vienna, Austria, from May 9 to 13, 2022.

Announcement of the 68^th UNSCEAR Session at the Vienna International Centre.