Status of NCRP scientific committee 1-23 commentaryon guidance on radiation dose limits for the lens of the eye

Previous National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) publications have addressed the issues of risk and dose limitation in radiation protection and included guidance on specific organs and the lens of the eye. NCRP decided to prepare an updated commentary intended to enhance the previous recommendations provided in earlier reports. The NCRP Scientific Committee 1-]23 (SC 1-]23) is charged with preparing a commentary that will evaluate recent studies on the radiation dose response for the development of cataracts and also consider the type and severity of the cataracts as well as the dose rate; provide guidance on whether existing dose limits to the lens of the eye should be changed in the United States; and suggest research needs regarding radiation effects on and dose limits to the lens of the eye. A status of the ongoing work of SC 1-]23 was presented at the NCRP 2015 Annual Meeting, -gChanging Regulations and RadiationGuidance:What Does the FutureHold?-h The following represents a synopsis of a few main points in the current draft commentary. It is likely that several changes will be forthcoming as SC 1-]23 responds to subject matter expert review and develops a final document, expected by mid 2016.