China-led International Standard for Estimating RBE-Weighted Absorbed Dose from Acute Exposure Approved for Initiation

According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the international standard ISO25600 "Estimation Method for RBE (Relative Biological Effectiveness)-Weighted Absorbed Dose from Acute Exposure," led by the China Institute of Atomic Energy, has been officially approved for initiation. This is a general methodology international standard led by China in the global field of nuclear and radiation emergency dose assessment. It can provide important support for the rapid estimation and evaluation of acute doses, decision-making on emergency protective actions, international notification and communication, as well as emergency training, exercises, and scientific research, helping to strengthen the scientific rigor and timeliness of global nuclear emergency response, and enhance response capability and standardization.

Nuclear and radiation emergency response is a vital guarantee for the sustained and healthy development of the nuclear energy industry. As acute exposure dose management and assessment have drawn increasing attention, international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Commission on Radiological Protection have successively issued relevant guidelines and technical documents. However, a unified and operable method for estimating acute exposure doses is still lacking. ISO25600 "Estimation Method for RBE-Weighted Absorbed Dose from Acute Exposure" fully incorporates the latest achievements and recommended frameworks of relevant international organizations, and through systematic transformation and integrated consolidation, establishes the estimation principles for RBE-weighted absorbed dose from acute exposure, systematically standardizes the estimation methods, and covers core elements including acute exposure pathways, RBE values for deterministic effect evaluation, and internal and external exposure dose estimation, providing a unified technical pathway for the rapid and scientific assessment of doses to exposed individuals in nuclear and radiation emergency response. Upon completion, this standard will be widely applied in emergency preparedness and response efforts in nuclear power plants, medical, and research fields, providing standardized safeguards for public health and environmental safety.

Empowering scientific research and production through standardization, the China Institute of Atomic Energy has been committed to transforming scientific research achievements into international standards, achieving successive breakthroughs in international standard initiations in 2026. Previously, the international standard ISO24921 "Measurement of Radioactivity in Urine - 241Am - Alpha Spectrometry Method" was also officially approved for initiation. The approval of these two international standards will provide authoritative technical bases for nuclear emergency response and occupational health protection, building a more solid protective barrier for nuclear and radiation safety.