Report of the 62 nd session of the Scientific Committee Yoshiharu - PDF document

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation Report of the 62 nd session of the Scientific Committee Yoshiharu Yonekura (JAPAN), Chair, UNSCEAR Briefing of Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly 23 October 2015 Content • Mandate and scope • Highlights from the 62 nd session • Present programme of work • Future programme of work • Concluding remarks United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 1

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery Mandate • Scientific Committee of UN General Assembly • Assess levels, effects & risks of ionizing radiation – identify emerging issues – evaluate levels and effects – improve knowledge for General Assembly, scientific community & public United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 3 Radiation exposure – global average • Cosmic • Terrestrial Natural 2.4 mSv • Radon annually • External • Food & drink • Medicine 0.6 mSv • Nuclear power Artificial annually • Industry • Military United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 4 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery Effects of exposure Human health Environment • Acute radiation • Acute radiation Mortality/ Plants syndrome syndrome Cancer Cancer morbidity Animals • Local injuries • Local injuries Other Other • Fetal effects • Fetal effects Heritable Heritable Population • Cataracts • Cataracts Reproduction Individual effects effects • Cardiovascular • Cardiovascular United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 5 Science underpins protection ILO convention 115: occupational radiation protection FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (food contamination guides) UNSCEAR Scientific basis UN transport regulations for radioactive material IAEA, WHO, ILO, FAO etc. - Safety standards implemented by - Protection programmes Member States United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 6 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 3

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery UNSCEAR‘s 62nd session, June 2015 More than 120 scientists Representatives from 27 States United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 7 Management decisions • Long-term strategic directions beyond 2019 to help inform future deliberations of the Assembly on the Committee’s membership • Governing Principles • Change in internal processes being implemented • Bureau established and functioning • Officers (Chair, Vice-chairs, Rapporteur) elected for the sixty-second session United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 4

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery Follow-up to 2013 Fukushima Report • Entire 2013 Report published in Japanese • Follow-up action to Report ongoing - mechanism to closely follow and review scientific literature • So far, none of the Report’s major assumptions challenged; main findings unaffected • White paper annually on implications for work • “White Paper” reviewing literature up till end of 2014 published in English and Japanese • Outreach efforts continued with two events in Japan United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 9 Present programme of work Mature Methodology for estimating exposures from finalize for 2016 discharges into environment Radiation exposures from electricity Mature finalize for 2016 generation Biological effects from selected internal emitters Mature -Tritium finalize for 2016 -Uranium Cancer epidemiology of exposures at low Progressing dose-rates in the environment Collection of data on radiation exposures for Progressing an evaluation of medical exposures United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 10 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 5

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery UNSCEAR’s Global Survey on Medical Exposure • UNSCEAR’s online platform (survey.unscear.org) • For data submission • National Contact Persons (NCP) for UNSCEAR • Coordinate data collection and online data submission at country level 11 Future programme of work • Prioritize work, conditional on completion of projects in current programme of work 1. Health effects of low-dose radiation exposure 2. Selected evaluations of health effects and inferred risk from radiation exposure 3. Evaluation of risk of second cancers after radiotherapy 4. Assessment of impact on biota of radiation exposure due to the nuclear industry United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 12 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 6

Report of the 62nd session of the Scientific Committee - Chair's report 23 October 2015 - check against delivery Outreach outlook • Committee marks 60th anniversary in 2016 • UNEP booklet for the public: “Radiation: doses, effects, risks” to be launched United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 13 Concluding remarks • Fundamental to international radiation safety framework • Work affects decisions on energy debate, waste management, medical use of radiation, protection of public, workers and environment • More cost-effective to develop global consensus through sharing knowledge than national or regional initiatives • Highly respected by Governments, other international organizations and scientific community • Independence, scientific objectivity, competence and quality are essential • Fukushima-Daiichi assessment was both opportunity and challenge – reforming work processes to learn lessons • Resources be sufficient, assured and predictable United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 14 United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 7