10 - 11 February 2011 Charleston, SC - 10 - 11 February 2011 Charleston, SC - USAUSA

UruguayUruguay is a country located is a country located in the southeastern part of in the southeastern part of

South America.South America. It is inhabited by 3.5 million3.5 million people of whom 1.4 million live in the capital -

Montevideo.33° 00´ South – 56° 00´ West33° 00´ South – 56° 00´ West

International Radiation Protection AssociationInternational Radiation Protection Association

22ndnd IRPA Workshop on IRPA Workshop on Radiation Protection Radiation Protection

Culture Culture

Area - 176,214 Km2

Active Members Active Members 22: 22: doctors, doctors, chemists, technologists, regulators, chemists, technologists, regulators, etc.etc.

www.radioproteccion.com.uywww.radioproteccion.com.uy

SURPSURP

Sociedad Uruguaya de Sociedad Uruguaya de Radio protecciónRadio protección

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – CéspedesProf. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

President of SURPPresident of SURP

Radioprotection in Radioprotection in Uruguay Uruguay

The radiation protection The radiation protection lies between radio panic lies between radio panic

and radio ignoranceand radio ignorance

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

Do medical schools today, assigned Do medical schools today, assigned the proper value to the philosophy the proper value to the philosophy

of radiation protection ?of radiation protection ?

  Limited and superficial in undergraduate Limited and superficial in undergraduate studiesstudies

Medical Doctors graduate with total disregard Medical Doctors graduate with total disregard to the related specialtiesto the related specialties

The medical community does not know the fundamentals of radiation protection.

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

What are the elements of the RP What are the elements of the RP culture and how could we define culture and how could we define

it?it?

Culture:Culture: from the from the LatinLatin culturacultura stemming from stemming from colerecolere, meaning , meaning "to cultivate”"to cultivate”

Culture definition:Culture definition: culture,culture,  in anthropology, the integrated  in anthropology, the integrated system of socially acquired values, beliefs, and rules of conduct system of socially acquired values, beliefs, and rules of conduct which delimit the range of accepted behaviors in any given which delimit the range of accepted behaviors in any given society. society. Cultural differences distinguish societies from one Cultural differences distinguish societies from one another.another.

Definition referred to RP: Definition referred to RP: Culture includes the values, ideas, Culture includes the values, ideas, attitudes and symbols, knowledge, etc that shape human attitudes and symbols, knowledge, etc that shape human behavior and that is transmitted from one generation to the next. behavior and that is transmitted from one generation to the next. The introduction of behavior that leads to the implementation of The introduction of behavior that leads to the implementation of the ALARA principle.the ALARA principle.

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

I only know that I know nothing

trying to discredit our education system

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

Is it possible to assess the RP Is it possible to assess the RP culture and what could be the culture and what could be the

criteria?criteria?

Yes, it is possible assess the RP culture, and if you Yes, it is possible assess the RP culture, and if you

ask me what are the criteria: ALARA culture ask me what are the criteria: ALARA culture

promotes a social risk-taking organization.promotes a social risk-taking organization.

ALARA culture is based on the acknowledgment ALARA culture is based on the acknowledgment

of the existence of a residual risk at levels of of the existence of a residual risk at levels of

exposure lower than the regulatory limits.exposure lower than the regulatory limits.

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

How to engage the stakeholders How to engage the stakeholders in the process of developing RP in the process of developing RP

culture?culture?

Respect to radiological risks and the methods used for its Respect to radiological risks and the methods used for its management, it is necessary to develop a common culture.management, it is necessary to develop a common culture.

Educating people about theEducating people about the BENEFITS and BENEFITS and possiblepossible RISKS RISKS to assist in the to assist in the ALARA concept.ALARA concept.

Promote the need to optimize the relation benefit / risk.Promote the need to optimize the relation benefit / risk.For example in medicine to raise awareness about the For example in medicine to raise awareness about the benefit / risk to professionals who prescribe studies using benefit / risk to professionals who prescribe studies using ionizing radiation.ionizing radiation.

Sensitize the authorities to engage responsibly on keeping Sensitize the authorities to engage responsibly on keeping individual records of radiation received during the life.individual records of radiation received during the life.

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

What is the role of professional What is the role of professional societies in promoting an RP societies in promoting an RP

culture?culture?

Provide an environment that promote dialogue, and Provide an environment that promote dialogue, and

disseminates information among its members – disseminates information among its members –

companies (private and public) and society as a whole.companies (private and public) and society as a whole.

The societies must participate in all the events related The societies must participate in all the events related

with the use of ionizing radiations.with the use of ionizing radiations.

Promote the learning of Radioprotection in pre-grade Promote the learning of Radioprotection in pre-grade

studies.studies.

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

What are the criteria for What are the criteria for success?success?

MotivationMotivation

CompromiseCompromise

WorkWork

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes

The big questionThe big question

Is possible to turn the Is possible to turn the existing reality?existing reality?

We accept by conventionbut not by conviction

aluongo@adinet.com.uy

THANKS

Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes Prof. Dr. Alvaro Luongo – Céspedes