ISO 16638-1:2015

Overview

ISO 16638-1:2015 - Radiological protection: Monitoring and internal dosimetry for specific materials - Part 1: Inhalation of uranium compounds provides minimum requirements and practical guidance for designing professional programmes to monitor occupational inhalation exposures to uranium and uranium compounds. The standard harmonizes principles for monitoring, dose assessment and interpretation of monitoring data while addressing both radiological and chemical toxicity aspects of uranium. It defines the scope and limits of applicability and indicates when more sophisticated methods are required.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Purpose and scope: Establishes objectives for routine, special and task‑related monitoring programmes for uranium inhalation.
• Monitoring categories: Defines workplace monitoring, individual monitoring (in vivo and in vitro bioassays), and task‑related schemes.
• Quantitative criteria: Provides criteria for when monitoring is required and the minimum information needed to design a programme.
• Methods & selection criteria: Identifies suitable monitoring approaches and selection criteria (detection limits, tolerated uncertainties) without prescribing detailed measurement techniques.
• Reference levels & dose assessment: Sets out reference levels for radiological and chemical concerns and procedures/assumptions for dose assessment and selection of dose‑critical parameter values.
• Frequencies & programme design: Addresses measurement frequencies for routine and special monitoring and principles for time intervals relevant to toxicological and radiotoxicological risk.
• Uncertainty and interpretation: Describes uncertainties in internal dose assessments and criteria for determining significance of monitoring results.
• Laboratory performance & QA/QC: Specifies performance criteria for bioassay laboratories, quality assurance, quality control and record keeping.
• Reporting & documentation: Requirements for reporting in vitro/in vivo results and documenting dose assessments.

Note: The standard excludes monitoring of uranium progeny (including radon), ingestion and wound contamination dosimetry, litigation cases, and detailed measurement method descriptions.

Practical applications and users

ISO 16638-1:2015 is intended for:

• Radiation protection officers and occupational health professionals in uranium mining, fuel fabrication and nuclear industries
• Health physics and dosimetry teams conducting bioassays, workplace air monitoring and dose assessments
• Bioassay laboratory managers implementing QA/QC and performance criteria
• Regulators and accredited bodies harmonizing monitoring programme expectations and reporting
• Employers developing internal dosimetry programmes where both radiological and chemical toxicity limits must be considered

Practical uses include designing monitoring programmes, setting monitoring intervals, selecting appropriate bioassay strategies, assessing internal doses, and documenting results for occupational radiation protection.

Related standards

• ISO 20553 (monitoring programmes guidance)
• ISO 28218 (laboratory requirements for bioassay)
• ISO 27048 (dose assessment processes)

Keywords: ISO 16638-1:2015, radiological protection, internal dosimetry, uranium compounds, inhalation monitoring, bioassay, workplace monitoring, dose assessment, quality assurance.