Radiation accidents and emergencies

Although the likelihood of a major accident at a nuclear facility is low, should such an accident occur, protective actions near the facility and monitoring of radiation at longer distances would need to be taken to protect the public. Other radiation emergencies (for example, a radiation source appears in the human environment, patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment are accidentally overexposed) normally affect only a few individuals, but they occur much more frequently (several times each year). More recently the threat of possible terrorist attacks using radioactive materials or nuclear warheads has become prominent.

UN Agency Contact and Response

For major nuclear and radiation emergencies the international organizations with relevant responsibilities have a Joint Plan for a co-ordinated response. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the prime coordinating agency for an international response to radiation accidents. Functional links have been established between agencies to ensure continuous communication and activation of the plan of action.

WHO's Role

In addition to the IAEA and WHO, the key international partners cooperating in this response are: the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

WHO is a full party to the Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (Early Notification Convention) and Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (Assistance Convention), for which the IAEA is the focal point. These Conventions provide the prime legal instruments that establish an international framework to facilitate exchange of information and the prompt provision of assistance in the event of radiation accidents, with the aim of minimizing the health consequences.

WHO works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prepare for and respond to nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies, principally to provide, coordinate and consult medical assistance to victims of such events where severe radiation exposure has occurred. Advice can also be provided to national authorities on how to prepare and respond to such radiation accidents, or what kind of public health actions may be needed.

Emergency medical support for radiation exposed individuals is provided through WHO's Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network (REMPAN). This is activated following notification about a radiaion accident with causalties (but even in case of a single victim with severe overexposure) from the IAEA or directly to WHO.

REMPAN - More information

Public health actions will be advised by WHO to national authorities and publicised widely. Such actions will vary depending on the nature of the radiation event and could include:

Useful information

Radiation Emergency Guidelines (English) [pdf 45kb]

International Health Regulations - Radionuclear Emergencies
Link to WHO IHR Resource Centre web site

Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
Link to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) web site

Radiation Event Medical Management
Link to a dedicated site by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services