Adrian White
Currently, the law covers the operation of ionizing radiation sources and particle gas pedals solely in the context of radiotherapy. The initiative under consideration aims to replace this wording with a broader one. It would cover the use of this equipment both for medical purposes (radiotherapy, production of radiopharmaceuticals) and for industrial purposes (non-destructive testing, modification of materials), as well as for scientific research.
In the author’s opinion, the current wording creates legal uncertainty, including difficulties in the authorization and surveillance processes.
The author also refers to the Euratom Directive, which obliges Member States to include in national legislation all exposure situations and all relevant installations involving ionizing radiation.
Particle gas pedals are installations that accelerate tiny charged particles (e.g. electrons and protons) and guide them to a desired point. They are used in medicine, particularly for cancer treatment and drug production, as well as in industry, science and even the environment.
