M Щ т м
W O R L D H E A L T H O R G A N I Z A T I O N
^ O R G A N I S A T I O N M O N D I A L E D E LA S A N T E
2H-21Z
3-ce CORR . EB81/29
9 N o v e m b e r 1987
EXECUTIVE BOARD Eighty-first Session P r o v i s i o n a l a g e n d a item 22
1 7 ^v. m/
L f B ^ f R A D I O N U C L I D E S IN FOOD
WHO GUIDELINES F O R D E R I V E D INTERVENTION LEVELS
This summary report d e s c r i b e s the w o r k of W H O o n g u i d e l i n e s for a p p l i c a t i o n following w i d e s p r e a d c o n t a m i n a t i o n b y r a d i o n u c l i d e s
resulting from a major a c c i d e n t . It also briefly refers to the a c t i o n u n d e r t a k e n by other international organizations in this f i e l d .
CONTENTS
Introduction
Development of W H O g u i d e l i n e s
W H O g u i d e l i n e s for derived intervention levels ....
Work of other international organizations
P a§e
1
2
3 5
Introduction
1 . The activities 1987 as a result of January 1 9 8 7 .1 The
in radiation protection that W H O carried out or planned to carry out in the accident at Chernobyl w e r e reported to the Executive Board in work started at that time included the development by WHO of guideline values for derived intervention levels regarding radioactive c o n t a m i n a t i o n of the environment following a nuclear a c c i d e n t . This activity w a s completed in September 1987 w h e n a W H O Task Group finalized g u i d e l i n e s on radioactive c o n t a m i n a t i o n of f o o d .
2, The need for such guidelines w a s voiced by delegates to the Fortieth World Health
A s s e m b l y , w h o stressed the importance of uniformity regarding b o t h the g u i d a n c e issued by the relevant i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations and the levels adopted by M e m b e r S t a t e s . They urged the D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l to continue WHO's w o r k on this subject in close c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the other
1 Document E B 7 9 / I N F . D O C . / 1 .
EB81 /29 Page 2
i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o d i e s c o n c e r n e d , and it w a s d e c i d e d t h a t , f o l l o w i n g the T a s k G r o u p m e e t i n g , the s u b j e c t be r e f e r r e d to the E x e c u t i v e B o a r d in J a n u a r y 1988 w i t h a v i e w to e l a b o r a t i n g a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n for s u b m i s s i o n to the n e x t H e a l t h A s s e m b l y .
3 . P r i o r to the a c c i d e n t at C h e r n o b y l i n 1 9 8 6 , s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s had i s s u e d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o n the p r i n c i p l e s and m e a s u r e s to be a d o p t e d to limit the i m p a c t of a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t or r a d i o l o g i c a l e m e r g e n c y . 1 This a d v i c e l a r g e l y d e a l t w i t h w h a t was the m o s t c r e d i b l e p r e d i c t i o n of the a c c i d e n t s c e n a r i o a n d e m p h a s i z e d a c t i o n to be t a k e n a t the s i t e and w i t h i n a f e w k i l o m e t r e s of i t , the s o - c a l l e d "near f i e l d " . The a c c i d e n t a t
C h e r n o b y l d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h a m a j o r e m e r g e n c y o c c u r r e d at the s i t e , the d e p o s i t i o n of r a d i o n u c l i d e s h u n d r e d s of k i l o m e t r e s d i s t a n t c o u l d pose h e a l t h h a z a r d s to l a r g e
p o p u l a t i o n s . W h i l e the e x i s t i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l a d v i c e was a p p l i c a b l e to the a c c i d e n t s i t e , it w a s c l e a r f r o m n a t i o n a l a c t i o n that n o t e n o u g h c o n s i d e r a t i o n h a d b e e n g i v e n to the "far f i e l d " • The a c t i o n u n d e r t a k e n b y n a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t i e s p r o t e c t e d t h e p u b l i c but v a r i e d w i d e l y a n d c a u s e d a d d i t i o n a l p u b l i c c o n f u s i o n a n d c o n c e r n . The a b s e n c e of c o h e r e n t g u i d e l i n e s and the i n v o l v e m e n t of d i f f e r e n t a g e n c i e s m e a n t t h a t , e v e n w i t h i n a c o u n t r y , i n c o n s i s t e n t a p p r o a c h e s s o m e t i m e s o c c u r r e d .
4 . E m e r g e n c y p l a n s to d e a l w i t h a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t need to i n c l u d e d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s . T h e s e a r e l e v e l s of r a d i o a c t i v e c o n t a m i n a t i o n of the e n v i r o n m e n t a t w h i c h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s is r e c o m m e n d e d to r e d u c e or e l i m i n a t e h u m a n e x p o s u r e . The s o u r c e s of t h i s e x p o s u r e a r e i n h a l a t i o n , i n g e s t i o n , d e p o s i t i o n o n t h e g r o u n d , a n d i r r a d i a t i o n in the p l u m e . The u n i t s in w h i c h r a d i o a c t i v i t y is m e a s u r e d a r e t e r m e d b e c q u e r e l , ^ so that d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s n e e d to be e x p r e s s e d in b e c q u e r e l s p e r u n i t m a s s or v o l u m e f o r i n h a l a t i o n , i n g e s t i o n and i r r a d i a t i o n in the p l u m e , and b e c q u e r e l s p e r u n i t a r e a for g r o u n d d e p o s i t i o n . In the "far f i e l d " i n g e s t i o n and d e p o s i t i o n of r a d i o n u c l i d e s o n the g r o u n d f o r m the m a j o r e x p o s u r e p a t h w a y s and t h e r e is l i t t l e c o n t r i b u t i o n f r o m i r r a d i a t i o n in the p l u m e a n d i n h a l a t i o n . T h e r e is u s u a l l y l i t t l e d e p o s i t i o n o n the g r o u n d u n l e s s the p a s s a g e of the p l u m e c o i n c i d e s w i t h r a i n f a l l . W h e n t h i s o c c u r s the c o n t r i b u t i o n f r o m d e p o s i t i o n w i l l be v a r i a b l e b u t m a y w e l l be s i g n i f i c a n t in c e r t a i n l o c a l i t i e s . H o w e v e r , s u c h l o c a l g r o u n d d e p o s i t i o n is i m p o s s i b l e to p r e d i c t and v e r y d i f f i c u l t to r e m e d y o n c e it h a s o c c u r r e d . The o t h e r m a j o r c o n t r i b u t o r to d o s e o v e r the f i r s t y e a r s - i n g e s t i o n - is m u c h e a s i e r to p r e d i c t a n d c o n t r o l . C o n s e q u e n t l y , i n the "far f i e l d " a t t e n t i o n is f o c u s e d o n d o s e a v o i d a n c e b y c o n t r o l l i n g food and w a t e r c o n s u m p t i o n w h e r e n e c e s s a r y .
Development of WHO guidelines
5 . W H O i n i t i a t e d i t s w o r k o n d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 . It w a s d e c i d e d t h e n t h a t W H O w o u l d d e v e l o p and i s s u e g u i d e l i n e s w h i c h w o u l d (i) o u t l i n e a n a g r e e d p r o c e d u r e f o r th, -ievelopment of n a t i o n a l d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s , a n d ( i i ) p r o v i d e a set of
g e n e r a l Ш 0 g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s f o r a p p l i c a t i o n d u r i n g e m e r g e n c i e s b y t h o s e c o u n t r i e s w h i c h h a d n o t y e t d e v e l o p e d t h e i r o w n l e v e l s . It w a s f u r t h e r p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e g u i d e l i n e s w o u l d d e a l o n l y w i t h c o n t a m i n a t i o n of f o o d s t u f f s a n d d r i n k i n g - w a t e r . In N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 6 a m e e t i n g w a s c o n v e n e d w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of I A E A , F A O , t h e C o m m i s s i o n of the
E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s , O E C D and W H O 卜 d i s c u s s the W H O p r o p o s a l in r e l a t i o n to the w o r k of the o t h e r a g e n c i e s and to i d e n t i f y a r e a s w h e r e c o l l a b o r a t i o n w o u l d b e u s e f u l . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of these organizations have collaborated throughout the development of the WHO guidelines.
6 . In A p r i l 1987 a c o n s u l t a t i o n of e i g h t e x p e r t s and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the f o u r
a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e v i e w e d v a r i o u s a p p r o a c h e s a n d p r e p a r e d d r a f t g u i d e l i n e s w h i c h
1 (a) C o m m i s s i o n of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s . R a d i o l o g i c a l p r o t e c t i o n c r i t e r i a f o r c o n t r o l l i n g d o s e s to the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of a c c i d e n t a l r e l e a s e s of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l . L u x e m b o u r g , 1 9 8 2 ,
( b ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y . P r i n c i p l e s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of the p u b l i c in t h e e v e n t of a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t or r a d i o l o g i c a l e m e r g e n c y . V i e n n a , 1 9 8 5 ( I A E A S a f e t y S e r i e s , N o . 7 2 ) .
( c ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n o n R a d i o l o g i c a l P r o t e c t i o n . P r o t e c t i o n of the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of m a j o r r a d i a t i o n a c c i d e n t s : p r i n c i p l e s for p l a n n i n g . O x f o r d , 1 9 8 4 (ICRP P u b l i c a t i o n , N o . 4 0 ) .
( d ) W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n . N u c l e a r p o w e r : a c c i d e n t a l r e l e a s e s 一 p r i n c i p l e s of p u b l i c h e a l t h a c t i o n . C o p e n h a g e n , 1 9 8 4 (WHO R e g i o n a l P u b l i c a t i o n s , E u r o p e a n S e r i e s , N o . 1 6 ) .
2 O n e b e c q u e r e l ( B q ) c o r r e s p o n d s to o n e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n p e r s e c o n d of a n y r a d i o n u c l i d e .
EB81 /29 Page 3 w e r e s u b s e q u e n t l y d i s t r i b u t e d to g o v e r n m e n t s f o r r e v i e w . C o m m e n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d f r o m
24 M e m b e r S t a t e s a n d the g u i d e l i n e s w e r e r e v i s e d a c c o r d i n g l y and p r e s e n t e d in S e p t e m b e r to a T a s k Group c o n s i s t i n g of 13 e x p e r t s d r a w n f r o m a l l W H O r e g i o n s a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n c e r n e d . The g u i d e l i n e s w e r e r e v i e w e d a n d f i n a l i z e d and a r e b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n b y m i d - 1 9 8 8 .
7 . The g u i d e l i n e s w e r e p r e s e n t e d to the W o r k i n g G r o u p o n E u r o p e a n H a r m o n i z a t i o n of P u b l i c H e a l t h A c t i o n s in R e l a t i o n to N u c l e a r A c c i d e n t s w h i c h w a s c o n v e n e d i n G e n e v a b y the W H O R e g i o n a l O f f i c e f o r E u r o p e in N o v e m b e r .
W H O g u i d e l i n e s f o r d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s
8 . The W H O g u i d e l i n e s are i n t e n d e d to s e r v e a s a g u i d e to M e m b e r S t a t e s in i n t r o d u c i n g c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s to p r o t e c t p u b l i c h e a l t h f o l l o w i n g the a c c i d e n t a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n of food and d r i n k i n g - w a t e r b y r a d i o n u c l i d e s . They a r e a p p l i c a b l e to the "far f i e l d " w h e r e r a d i a t i o n e x p o s u r e f r o m the i n g e s t i o n of c o n t a m i n a t e d f o o d is l i k e l y to b e of m o r e c o n c e r n than t h a t f r o m g r o u n d c o n t a m i n a t i o n or i n h a l a t i o n . The m e t h o d o l o g y e m p l o y e d is i n t e n d e d a s a g u i d e to c o u n t r i e s in the p r o c e s s of d e v e l o p i n g n a t i o n a l d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s , a n d the
g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s a r e f o r u s e in e m e r g e n c i e s b y c o u n t r i e s w h i c h h a v e n o t d e v e l o p e d t h e i r o w n . It is h o p e d that the u s e of the m e t h o d o l o g y a n d g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s w i l l a s s i s t in a c h i e v i n g a m e a s u r e of u n i f o r m i t y a m o n g c o u n t r i e s r e g a r d i n g d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s .
9 . The l e v e l of r a d i a t i o n to w h i c h a n i n d i v i d u a l is e x p o s e d f o l l o w i n g i n g e s t i o n of c o n t a m i n a t e d f o o d d e p e n d s on the r a d i o n u c l i d e ( s ) p r e s e n t , the q u a n t i t y of r a d i o a c t i v i t y c o n s u m e d , a n d the i n d i v i d u a l ' s a g e , w e i g h t a n d m e t a b o l i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . In o r d e r to d e v e l o p g e n e r a l g u i d e l i n e s it is t h e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r y to m a k e a s e r i e s of d e c i s i o n s a n d a s s u m p t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g the l e v e l of e x p o s u r e a t w h i c h c o n t r o l s s h o u l d b e i n t r o d u c e d , w h e t h e r or n o t s p e c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n is r e q u i r e d f o r p a r t i c u l a r p o p u l a t i o n g r o u p s , t h e t y p e s o f r a d i o n u c l i d e s l i k e l y to b e p r e s e n t f o l l o w i n g a n a c c i d e n t , a n d t h e a m o u n t of food c o n s u m e d • 1 0 . An i m p o r t a n t i n i t i a l d e c i s i o n w h i c h n e e d s to be m a d e is the l e v e l of e x p o s u r e , e x p r e s s e d in terms of the a b s o r b e d d o s e , u p o n w h i c h t h e d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s a r e to be b a s e d . The T a s k G r o u p r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t 5 m S v be u s e d a s the r e f e r e n c e l e v e l of d o s e f o r c a l c u l a t i n g d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s t h i s c o r r e s p o n d s to the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n m a d e b y a W H O e x p e r t g r o u p o n p u b l i c h e a l t h g u i d a n c e in a r a d i o l o g i c a l e m e r g e n c y w h i c h , a t a m e e t i n g in B e l g i u m in 1 9 8 5 , s e l e c t e d 5 m S v a s the d o s e b e l o w w h i c h c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s w e r e u n l i k e l y to be
n e c e s s a r y . ^ It is a l s o in line w i t h the e a r l i e r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n o n R a d i o l o g i c a l P r o t e c t i o n o n t h e a c c i d e n t a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n of f o o d . ^ A t t h i s e x p o s u r e l e v e l t h e p r e d i c t e d r i s k f o r f a t a l c a n c e r o v e r a l i f e t i m e (50 y e a r s ) is 1 0 " ^ . T h i s d e g r e e of r i s k is n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m that a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e x p o s u r e of p o p u l a t i o n s in d i f f e r e n t p a r t s of the w o r l d m e r e l y a s a r e s u l t of t h e n a t u r a l v a r i a t i o n in b a c k g r o u n d r a d i a t i o n . It is a l s o c o m p a r a b l e w i t h the l e v e l of e x p o s u r e i n d o o r s d u e to i n h a l a t i o n of n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g r a d o n a n d its d a u g h t e r s , w h i c h i n s o m e a r e a s e x c e e d s 1 0 m S v . ^ It m u s t b e e m p h a s i z e d that the d e g r e e of r i s k p r e d i c t e d f o r a n e x p o s u r e of 5 m S v is two or t h r e e o r d e r s of m a g n i t u d e g r e a t e r than that a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h c u r r e n t c o n t r o l s f o r n o r m a l o p e r a t i o n s at n u c l e a r f a c i l i t i e s . In the o p i n i o n of the T a s k G r o u p a s i m i l a r d e g r e e of c o n t r o l is n o t p r a c t i c a b l e in a n a c c i d e n t s i t u a t i o n , w h e n the a u t h o r i t i e s a r e f a c e d w i t h the n e e d to take q u i c k r e m e d i a l a c t i o n w h i c h , in i t s e l f , s h o u l d n o t g i v e r i s e to u n d u e c o s t a n d d e t r i m e n t to h e a l t h .
1 S i e v e r t (Sv) is the u n i t of d o s e e q u i v a l e n t . It is the a b s o r b e d d o s e w e i g h t e d
a c c o r d i n g to the p o t e n t i a l to d o d a m a g e of the r a d i a t i o n that g i v e s r i s e to i t . One s i e v e r t a l s o c o r r e s p o n d s to one j o u l e p e r k i l o g r a m .
2 W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n . N u c l e a r p o w e r : a c c i d e n t a l r e l e a s e s 一 p r a c t i c a l g u i d a n c e f o r p u b l i c h e a l t h a c t i o n . C o p e n h a g e n , 1987 (WHO R e g i o n a l P u b l i c a t i o n s , E u r o p e a n S e r i e s No. 21).
о
J I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n o n R a d i o l o g i c a l P r o t e c t i o n . P r o t e c t i o n of the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of m a j o r r a d i a t i o n a c c i d e n t s : p r i n c i p l e s for p l a n n i n g . O x f o r d , 1 9 8 4 (ICRP P u b l i c a t i o n , N o . 4 0 ) .
4 W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n . Indoor a i r q u a l i t y : r a d o n a n d f o r m a l d e h y d e , C o p e n h a g e n , 1 9 8 6 .
EB81 /29 Page 4
1 1 . The g u i d e l i n e s include an o p t i m i z a t i o n technique developed by the International
Commission on R a d i o l o g i c a l Protection for e v a l u a t i o n of h e a l t h d e t r i m e n t and cost of r e m e d i a l m e a s u r e s w h e n the d e c i s i o n to intervene is being c o n s i d e r e d . In situations w h e r e the cost of i n t e r v e n t i o n is low the o p t i m i z a t i o n technique m a y indicate that r e m e d i a l action be
introduced below the 5 m S v d o s e . The T a s k Group also used the o p t i m i z a t i o n procedure to v e r i f y , in a g e n e r a l s e n s e , that the c h o i c e of 5 m S v as the r e f e r e n c e level of d o s e w a s r e a l i s t i c in economic t e r m s .
1 2 . O n c e a d e c i s i o n has b e e n taken on the reference level of d o s e (5 m S v ) , this is
translated into the c o r r e s p o n d i n g r a d i o n u c l i d e concentration in foods (Bq/kg). This requires k n o w l e d g e of a v e r a g e food c o n s u m p t i o n patterns within the country or region of c o n c e r n . The i n f o r m a t i o n is expressed as a n n u a l c o n s u m p t i o n according to m a j o r food g r o u p s such as
c e r e a l s , v e g e t a b l e s , m e a t , e t c . In calculating WHO guideline v a l u e s , g l o b a l information on food c o n s u m p t i o n patterns w a s compiled； data from a p p r o x i m a t e l y 130 countries provided the b a s i s for e s t a b l i s h i n g e i g h t d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n a l p a t t e r n s . On the b a s i s of the m a x i m u m
r e g i o n a l c o n s u m p t i o n in the d i f f e r e n t food g r o u p s , a h y p o t h e t i c a l g l o b a l diet w a s constructed for foods consumed in quantities g r e a t e r than 20 kg per person per y e a r . This value w a s c h o s e n as the cut-off l e v e l , since e x t r e m e l y h i g h contamination is n e c e s s a r y for f o o d s consumed in lesser quantities to reach the reference level d o s e . For the calculation of W H O g u i d e l i n e values for derived i n t e r v e n t i o n levels the consumption of 550 kg of food and 700 litres of d r i n k i n g - w a t e r per person per year w a s a s s u m e d .
1 3 . W h i l e e a c h accident w i l l result in d i s c h a r g e to the environment of different
r a d i o n u c l i d e s , the T a s k Group agreed that the radionuclides m o s t likely to be of concern w e r e : S t r o n t i u m - 9 0 , I o d i n e - 1 3 1 , C a e s i u m - 1 3 4 , Caesium-137 and P l u t o n i u m - 2 3 9 . Although the p r e s e n c e of each of these radionuclides in food w i l l produce a somewhat different dose w h e n ingested in e q u a l q u a n t i t i e s , the d i f f e r e n c e s are sufficiently small to allow the
e s t a b l i s h m e n t of only two broad sets of derived intervention l e v e l s . One of these is for a c t i n i d e s , such as P l u t o n i u m - 2 3 9 , w h i c h h a v e a g e n e r a l dose-per-unit intake of 10_6 S v / B q , and the other for a l l the other above-mentioned r a d i o n u c l i d e s , such as the r a d i o - c a e s i u m s , w h i c h h a v e a d o s e - p e r - u n i t intake of 10""^ S v / B q . These two d o s e - p e r - u n i t intake factors w e r e used in the c a l c u l a t i o n of the g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s .
1 4 . Since it is not possible to predict w h i c h foods w i l l be contaminated by w h i c h
radionuclides in the e v e n t of a n a c c i d e n t , the W H O g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s are based on the premise that only one r a d i o n u c l i d e is involved and a single food g r o u p is a f f e c t e d . The guideline v a l u e s so calculated are presented in Table 1 .
TABLE 1 . G E N E R A L GUIDELINE VALUES ( B q / k g )
R a d i o n u c l i d e Cereals Roots and
tubers Vegetables Fruit Meat M i l k Fish D r i n k i n g - w a t e r Plutonium-239
(1СГ6 Sv/Bq) 35 45 80 70 100 45 350 10
S t r o n t i u m - 9 0 Iodine-131 Caesium-134 Caesium-137
( 1 0 "8 Sv/Bq) 3 500 4 500 8 000 7 000 10 000 4 500 35 000 1 000
H o w e v e r , in any g i v e n a c c i d e n t it is likely that m o r e than one radionuclide w i l l contaminate f o o d s in m o r e than one food g r o u p . To provide for this eventuality a g e n e r a l additivity formula is included in the m e t h o d o l o g y . This formula apportions d e r i v e d intervention v a l u e s to a c c o m m o d a t e m u l t i p l e food c o n t a m i n a t i o n so that the total dose does n o t exceed the
r e f e r e n c e level of d o s e of 5 m S v .
1 5 . The T a s k Group considered t h a t , w h i l e the g u i d e l i n e values w o u l d adequately protect the g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n , s p e c i a l g u i d e l i n e values needed to be developed for i n f a n t s . Table 2 p r o v i d e s g u i d e l i n e values for infants for four radionuclides in m i l k and w a t e r , based oil a c o n s u m p t i o n of 275 litres e a c h per y e a r .
EB81 /29 Page 5 T A B L E 2 . G U I D E L I N E V A L U E S F O R I N F A N T S
( B q / 1 )
R a d i o n u c l i d e M i l k / W a t e r
S t r o n t i u m - 9 0 2 0 0
I o d i n e - 1 3 1 1 6 0 0
C a e s i u m - 1 3 7 2 0 0 0
P l u t o n i u m - 2 3 9 2 0
T h i s w a s felt n e c e s s a r y s i n c e the i n f a n t d i e t is r e s t r i c t e d to f e w f o o d s and the d o s e - p e r - u n i t i n t a k e f o r S t r o n t i u m - 9 0 and I o d i n e - 1 3 1 is h i g h e r in the i n f a n t .
1 6 . In the p a s t W H O h a s f u l f i l l e d its r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s by p r e s c r i b i n g the s t a n d a r d s of s a f e t y w h i c h s h o u l d be a p p l i e d to s a f e g u a r d p u b l i c h e a l t h f r o m c o n t a m i n a t i o n of t h e
e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g the C h e r n o b y l a c c i d e n t c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e d the need to e s t a b l i s h i n t e r n a t i o n a l g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s f o r d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s , and t h e W H O
g u i d e l i n e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d in r e s p o n s e to t h i s n e e d , and to f a c i l i t a t e c o n t i n g e n c y p l a n n i n g by M e m b e r S t a t e s to d e a l w i t h the a c c i d e n t a l r e l e a s e of r a d i o n u c l i d e s • It s h o u l d be e m p h a s i z e d , h o w e v e r , that such g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s a r e o n l y a part of the o v e r a l l e m e r g e n c y p l a n and that it is e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t to be a b l e to s a m p l e and a n a l y s e food in o r d e r to take the a p p r o p r i a t e d e c i s i o n s to p r o t e c t p u b l i c h e a l t h .
W o r k of o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s
1 7 . O t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s - p a r t i c u l a r l y I A E A , F A O , the C o m m i s s i o n of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s and O E C D - h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d in v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of r a d i a t i o n e m e r g e n c y p l a n n i n g , i n c l u d i n g g u i d a n c e f o r i n t e r v e n t i o n and d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s .
1 8 . I A E A h a s i s s u e d b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of the p u b l i c in t h e e v e n t of a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t or r a d i o l o g i c a l e m e r g e n c y ; t h i s document-^- g i v e s g u i d a n c e on c o n t r o l a c t i o n that m i g h t be u n d e r t a k e n in a l l p h a s e s of an a c c i d e n t , i n c l u d i n g e v a c u a t i o n and s h e l t e r i n g , but p r o v i d e s l i t t l e g u i d a n c e a p p l i c a b l e to the "far f i e l d " . In a n o t h e r d o c u m e n t ^ p r o c e d u r e s f o r c a l c u l a t i n g d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s a r e o u t l i n e d f o r v a r i o u s c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s w h i c h are m o r e a p p l i c a b l e c l o s e to the a c c i d e n t t h a n in the "far f i e l d " . T h e a c c i d e n t at C h e r n o b y l e m p h a s i z e d the n e e d for r e v i s i o n of this a d v i c e so that it c a n a l s o be a p p l i e d to the "far f i e l d " , and a c o m p r e h e n s i v e r e v i e w of the I A E A d o c u m e n t s is to b e u n d e r t a k e n .
1 9 . F o l l o w i n g the a c c i d e n t at C h e r n o b y l the c o n c e r n o v e r the s a f e t y of food m o v i n g in
i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e r e s u l t e d in some M e m b e r S t a t e s i m p o s i n g n o n - t a r i f f b a r r i e r s to t r a d e . A s a r e s u l t , in D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 6 FAO c o n v e n e d a n e x p e r t c o n s u l t a t i o n o n r e c o m m e n d e d l i m i t s f o r r a d i o n u c l i d e c o n t a m i n a t i o n of f o o d s . This c o n s u l t a t i o n d e v e l o p e d Interim I n t e r n a t i o n a l R a d i o n u c l i d e A c t i o n L e v e l s for F o o d s , and its r e p o r t w a s c i r c u l a t e d to the M e m b e r S t a t e s of F A O e a r l y in 1 9 8 7 . FAO i n t e n d e d that t h i s r e p o r t f o r m the b a s i s of a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n f o r a d o p t i o n by t h e C o d e x A l i m e n t a r i u s C o m m i s s i o n in J u n e 1 9 8 7 . H o w e v e r , in v i e w of the f a c t t h a t the W H O g u i d e l i n e v a l u e s w o u l d n o t be f i n a l i z e d u n t i l S e p t e m b e r 1987 a n d the F o r t i e t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y h a d r e q u e s t e d that the m a t t e r of d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s be c o n s i d e r e d d u r i n g the e i g h t y - f i r s t s e s s i o n of the E x e c u t i v e B o a r d in J a n u a r y 1 9 8 8 , i t w a s a g r e e d t h a t the r e p o r t of the FAO c o n s u l t a t i o n b e p r e s e n t e d to the s e v e n t e e n t h s e s s i o n of the C o d e x A l i m e n t a r i u s C o m m i s s i o n for i n f o r m a t i o n o n l y , and that W H O and F A O c o n s i d e r the
d e v e l o p m e n t of joint r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s to t h e C o d e x A l i m e n t a r i u s C o m m i s s i o n f o l l o w i n g the e i g h t y - f i r s t s e s s i o n of the E x e c u t i v e B o a r d .
1 I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y . P r i n c i p l e s for e s t a b l i s h i n g i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s f o r the p r o t e c t i o n of the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t or r a d i o l o g i c a l
e m e r g e n c y . V i e n n a , 1 9 8 5 ( I A E A Safety S e r i e s , N o . 7 2 ) . — 2 I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y . D e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s for a p p l i c a t i o n in
c o n t r o l l i n g r a d i a t i o n d o s e s to the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of a n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t or r a d i o l o g i c a l e m e r g e n c y . V i e n n a , 1 9 8 6 ( I A E A S a f e t y S e r i e s , N o , 8 1 ) .
EB81 /29 Page 6
2 0 . The N u c l e a r E n e r g y A g e n c y of O E C D e s t a b l i s h e d a n e x p e r t g r o u p w h i c h r e v i e w e d the e m e r g e n c y m e a s u r e s t a k e n a n d the d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s a d o p t e d b y its M e m b e r
S t a t e s ; 1 the d a t a w e r e m a d e a v a i l a b l e to W H O , w h i c h used them i n the d e v e l o p m e n t of the g u i d e l i n e s .
2 1 . In 1 9 8 2 the C o m m i s s i o n of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s p u b l i s h e d a g u i d e2 r e v i e w i n g t h e d o s e l e v e l s at w h i c h c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s s u c h a s e v a c u a t i o n , s h e l t e r i n g a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of s t a b l e i o d i n e s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d . W h i l e c o n t a m i n a t i o n of f o o d s t u f f s w a s m e n t i o n e d , n o d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s w e r e s u g g e s t e d a t that t i m e . Soon a f t e r the C h e r n o b y l a c c i d e n t i n t e r i m r e g u l a t i o n s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d f o r f o o d s t u f f s i m p o r t e d i n t o the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y a n d the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s a g r e e d that l o w e r l e v e l s w o u l d n o t be a p p l i e d to t r a d e in food w i t h i n the C o m m u n i t y . A r e v i s i o n of t h e s e l e v e l s w a s p r o p o s e d to t h e C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s .
1 O E C D N u c l e a r E n e r g y A g e n c y . The r a d i o l o g i c a l impact of the C h e r n o b y l a c c i d e n t in O E C D c o u n t r i e s (in p r e s s ) .
2 C o m m i s s i o n of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s . R a d i o l o g i c a l p r o t e c t i o n c r i t e r i a for
c o n t r o l l i n g d o s e s to the p u b l i c in the e v e n t of a c c i d e n t a l r e l e a s e s of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l . L u x e m b o u r g , 1 9 8 2 .
W O R L D H E A L T H O R G A N I Z A T I O N
ORGANISATION M O N D I A L E D E LA S A N T E
EB81/29 Corr.l 4 December 1987
E X E C U T I V E BOARD Eighty-first S e s s i o n
P r o v i s i o n a l agenda item 22
'i %
R A D I O N U C L I D E S IN F O O D
W H O GUIDELINES FOR D E R I V E D INTERVENTION LEVELS Corrigendum
8 DEC. Ш
Replace the figures in the c o l u m n "Drinking-water" i n Table 1 by the following:
D r i n k i n g - w a t e r
700
2. Replace Table 2 by the following:
TABLE 2. G U I D E L I N E VALUES F O R INFANTS (Bq/1)
Radionuclide M i l k / W a t e r
Strontium-90 Iodine-131 Caesium-137
160 1 600 1 800
Plutonium-239 7
