Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Government building

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9433 2211

Address: 619 Lower Plenty Road 3085 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://arpansa.gov.au

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25.01.2022 Yesterday we celebrated the International Day of Radiology! The kind not the kind. The date, 8 November, marks the date that X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen way back in 1895. The discovery of X-rays would go on to revolutionise medicine. As soon as X-rays were discovered, they began to be used for medical diagnosis (broken bones and stray bullets inside patients), although it was some time before the medical community began to understand the risks of using ionising radiation for medical purposes. Thankfully today we have specially trained radiologists and radiographers to provide and maintain safe patient care. This clip tells you everything you need to know about the discovery of X-rays, their limitations in diagnostic medicine and how computed tomography (or a CT scan) works.

23.01.2022 This week we’re celebrating 10 years since the inception of ARPANSA’s Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS). Although next year formally marks 10 years of clinical operations, we’re celebrating the commencement of our national independent dosimetry auditing program which plays an important role in the safety of patients receiving radiation as part of their medical treatment.... We’re proud of what our ACDS program has achieved in the last decade, helping radiotherapy providers ensure the accuracy of radiation doses delivered to patients in their care. You can learn more about our ACDS program at https://www.arpansa.gov.au//australian-clinical-dosimetry-

22.01.2022 A recent study conducted by Cancer Council Australia shows that 25-44 year olds in Australia have worrying sun protection habits, with 1 in 4 getting sunburnt on summer weekends. This National Skin Cancer Action Week, we’re reminding Australians about the importance of using a combination of sun protection methods when the UV Index is 3 or more. Do you know what checking the UV Index means? Why do we need to know about the UV Index rather than checking how high the tempera...ture is when heading outdoors? Firstly, it’s important to understand what UV radiation is. It’s a form of energy produced by the sun. It can’t be seen or felt which means it can be high on a cool and overcast day. The UV Index is an important tool to use to find out when, during the day, you need to be SunSmart. You can never rely on clear skies and high temperatures as a gauge on when you need to protect yourself from the sun. Always check the UV Index before heading outdoors and when it is 3 or more, use a combination of sun protection methods. Real-time UV Index in major cities across Australia is available at https://www.arpansa.gov.au//ul/ultraviolet-radiation-index and you can also access UV forecasts for all regions from the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/uv/

21.01.2022 This week is NAIDOC week, an annual event that celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65 000 years. ARPANSA are celebrating NAIDOC this week with our own NAIDOC-themed online event for staff to learn about First Nations’ art and culture. If you’d like to know more about the origins of NAIDOC week, SBS has put together an informative guide.

20.01.2022 Our country has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. It’s estimated that over 15 000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer were diagnosed in Australia last year. This National Skin Cancer Action Week, we’re taking the opportunity to remind you about the most common symptoms of melanoma and what to keep an eye out for. Common symptoms include:... a new spot on the skin, or a spot that is changing in size, shape or colour moles that have features of the ABCDE rule (asymmetry, border irregularity, colour, diameter, evolving) a sore that does not heal itching, scaling, bleeding, oozing, swelling or pain in a mole spread of pigment from a spot into the surrounding skin. Many conditions can cause these symptoms, not just melanoma. If you have any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor. Find out more about melanoma at https://melanoma.canceraustralia.gov.au/ And remember, it’s just as important now as it was when you were younger to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.

20.01.2022 This National Skin Cancer Action Week, Cancer Council Australia is reminding Australians that while a lot has changed since they were younger, some things never change. We’re still exposed to the same sun and it’s just as important as it ever was to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. Did you know that our skin is grouped into 6 different types, depending on how sensitive it is to UV exposure from the sun? The Fitzpatrick skin phototype is a Skin Chart based on the research of... the late Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, one of the world’s leading dermatologists. The Skin Chart is a commonly used system to describe a person’s skin type in terms of its sensitivity to UV radiation). A combination of genetic (physical traits), sensitivity (reaction to sun exposure) and intentional exposure (tanning habits) is used to determine what skin type an individual falls within. Find out what skin type you are at https://www.arpansa.gov.au//Radiat/FitzpatrickSkinType.pdf And remember, increasing your sun or tanning bed exposure to get a tan increases your risk of developing skin cancer, so tanning is not recommended for individuals of any skin type.

17.01.2022 Have you heard about our Talk to a Scientist (TTAS) program? TTAS is a unique program which provides an opportunity for the public to directly contact one of our scientists on issues about radiation exposure and protection in Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TTAS has operated via email and our website contact form. We’re pleased to announce the re-commencement of our TTAS phone support from tomorrow, Thursday 19 November. ... The service will resume on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 12.30 pm Melbourne time (except holidays) and by email during business hours. If you have a question about radiation, you can call and speak to one of our scientists on 1800 022 333 during the allocated times. Visit https://www.arpansa.gov.au/contact-us/talk-to-a-scientist for further information on how you can access this program.

11.01.2022 ARPANSA is responsible for Australia’s radionuclide monitoring obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans nuclear explosions and testing. The 2019-20 financial year saw a number of developments within our CTBT operations: We took on the operation and maintenance of two additional radionuclide stations in the Pacific one in Fiji and one in Kiribati.... Two of our staff members travel to the Mawson research station in Antarctica to conduct maintenance on the Antarctic radionuclide station. It’s an important location for CTBT monitoring given its remote and unique location, however this does present challenges in terms of access and logistics. Just getting there required a 2-week boat trip from Hobart to Davis station in Antarctica, followed by a 4-hour flight to Mawson station! We upgraded our monitoring station in Darwin, Northern Territory, which included the construction of both a new radionuclide and noble gas station within the Darwin Bureau of Meteorology building. Read more about our CTBT developments on page 57 of our 2019-20 Annual Report: https://www.arpansa.gov.au//annual-r/annual-report-2019-20

09.01.2022 Today is the final day of National Skin Cancer Action Week. This weekend, the UV Index is forecast to reach very high to extreme levels across the whole country. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts UV Index for the whole of Australia, so you can see what’s predicted in your region at http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/ Here at ARPANSA, we monitor the UV Index in real-time via our UV detectors located in cities across Australia, as well as four locations in Antarctica...! Check out real-time data at https://www.arpansa.gov.au//ul/ultraviolet-radiation-index Before you head out, remember that UV is harmful at levels of 3 or more so make sure you have adequate sun protection measures in place. Have a SunSmart weekend everyone!

07.01.2022 Tomorrow, 7 November, marks the 153rd birthday of Marie Curie, who is famous for her discovery of radium and polonium; crucial for the development of radioactive medicine as we know it today. Among her numerous accomplishments, Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes and is still one of only two people to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields physics and chemistry. While Curie’s legacy lives on, so too do the radioactive... properties of much of her personal belongs including her clothes, furniture and laboratory notes! The items are stored in lead-lined boxes and are expected to be radioactive for the next 1500 years. Read more at https://www.businessinsider.com.au/marie-curie-radioactive-