ICRP Publication 25

The International Commission onRadiological Protection has given generalguidance on the precautions to be taken in thestorage, handling and disposal of unsealedradioactive material in hospitals and medicalresearch establishments in ICRP Publication5. The present publication replaces theprevious recommendations of the Commission given in ICRP Publication 5 and isprimarily directed towards the competentnational authorities.By utilizing the practices outlined in thepresent report, it should be possible to keepradiation doses well below the maximumpermissible levels recommended by the Commission. National regulatory authoritiesshould, however, draw up the necessary localstandards and control procedures. The Commission believes that the information givencan be utilized also by the local medical andresearch institutions and to some extent beapplicable to other types of laboratorieswhere radioactive substances are used.This report is concerned with theproblems which arise owing to the use ofunsealed radioactive substances in therapy,diagnosis and research.