UAE tracks radiation exposure of around 27,000 workers through national registry

Abu Dhabi: The UAE's National Dose Registry (NDR) monitors radiation exposure for around 27,000 workers, providing authorities with insight into unusual levels. This registry, part of the Radiation Protection Committee's initiatives, records occupational radiation exposure during both regular operations and emergencies. The committee, chaired by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), discussed various projects during their 48th meeting.

These include a 24-month programme to enhance radiological monitoring of drinking water, the development of an online radiological monitoring platform, and the UAE National Radon Indoor Concentration Survey. Radon, a radioactive gas, can accumulate indoors, prompting the survey's focus on indoor concentrations. Government bodies are also strengthening laboratory capabilities for radioactive analysis to improve coordinated monitoring and assessments.

Additionally, the committee reviewed plans to update national reference levels for radiation in medical scans. The UAE National Diagnostic Reference Levels project, led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, has gathered national data across various medical imaging types. This data will inform updated reference levels, enabling healthcare facilities to optimize radiation doses while preserving medical imaging quality.

The Radiation Protection Committee, established in 2011, unites 17 federal and local government entities to coordinate radiation protection efforts and provide policy and regulatory advice for workers, patients, and the environment.