Analysis of risk in taking measures for radiation and social protection ofthe public

The necessity of risk analysis for support of radiation and public protecti on measures and substantiated application of risk analysis for the developm ent of a scientific-methodological and normative-legal base is examined. Re commendations are given for the development and use of risk analysis. For r adiation accidents, a priori and postfactum risk assessment and harm must b e distinguished (before and after an accident has occurred). In the latter case, detailed risk assessment is needed, especially to establish a link be tween sickness and the accident as well as for compensation of harm to the health of victims. A collection of risk indicators for different applicatio ns is given. A new additional risk indicator of proposed. This indicator is the relative loss of duration of life (lost years of life, referred to the year during which the source of risk acted). It is intended for establishi ng a universal limit on risk, suitable for any source of risk. The value of this basic limit is proposed and values of dose and risk limits derived fr om it for ionizing radiation and other sources of risk are presented. Requi rements for methods of dose and risk assessment are formulated.