A Modification to the Situation-based Scheme for Sorting Exposures Proposed in ICRP Publication 103

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) issued its current recommendations in 2007, introducing an evolution from a previously process-based protection approach (practices and interventions) to a situation-based approach (planned, existing, and emergency). In most countries, radiation protection standards are generally in line with the new recommendations by the ICRP. Unfortunately, in many cases, situations involving sources of natural or artificial origin may be in a state of contradiction. Logical incompleteness and unsoundness in the framework of exposure situations can be found in current ICRP recommendations. There are situations that do not readily fall into any category. To contribute to a more reasonable situation-based approach for the radiological protection community, we recommend here a possible framework of exposure situations, i.e., planned, unplanned, and naturally occurring, that forms one coherent system. We believe this system will provide increased clarity that will help resolve possible sorting problems.