A summary of UNSCEAR evaluation on occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and call for more representative data in broader range of occupational sectors

Abstract

The annex D of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation （UNSCEAR） 2020/2021 Report presented a comprehensive global estimate of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. The worldwide annual number of workers exposed to natural and human-made sources of ionizing radiation was estimated to be approximately 24 million in the period 2010–2014. About 52% of those were employed in the sectors that involve exposure to natural sources of radiation. The worldwide average annual effective dose for all workers during the period 2010–2014 was estimated to be around 1.2 ​mSv – about two thirds of the value estimated for the period 1995–1999. The annual effective dose was estimated to be around 2.0 ​mSv for workers exposed to natural sources and 0.5 ​mSv for workers exposed to human-made sources. The overriding limitation of current evaluation was the low rate of participation by United Nations Member States in providing occupational exposure monitoring data, especially data from non-nuclear sectors and occupational sectors involving naturally occurring radioactive materials. As the assessment of the worldwide occupational exposure is a complex task, the Committee relies on the collection of up-to-date data on occupational exposure from United Nations Member States in a broad range of occupational sectors, and continues collaboration with international organizations.