Radiation

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. Radiation is classified as either ionising or non-ionising depending on whether or not it has sufficient energy to cause atomic changes in the matter through which it passes. Both kinds of radiation are found in the environment and exposure may occur as a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes.

New ionising radiation imaging and treatment modalities are increasingly used in both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in many areas of medicine, and understanding potential risks to health of both patients and medical staff are paramount in maximising the efficacy of treatments while ensuring their safety.

Similarly, increases in the application of non-ionising radiation as a means of transmitting data—for example, to improve industrial applications and mobile communications—have raised concerns about potential risks of a number of cancer and non-cancer health outcomes, but mechanisms explaining such associations are largely missing.

Photo: Tobias Bjørkli / Pexels

Goals

The overall objective of the ISGlobal Radiation group is to better understand the potential risks associated with exposure to radiation. Ultimately this aim to ensure adequate protection of the general public, patients and those exposed occupationally, and informing policy to achieve this goal.

Specific goals of our research include:

• Exploring potential cancer and non-cancer effects on the paediatric populations exposed to ionising radiation (IR) in medicine.
• Understanding potential risks associated with occupational and accidental exposures to ionising radiation in relation to the nuclear industry is also key to radiation protection and public health.
• Studying the effects of non-ionising radiation, in particular RF-EMF and novel communicating devices and technologies (including 5 and 6G) on children’s and workers’ health.
• Investigating effects of UV radiation with novel approaches for exposure assessment and application to the study of novel outcomes.
• Integrating citizen science and citizen engagement in preparedness and response and resilience to radiation accidents.

Research Projects

Coordination of/or participation in large international projects is a priority in all aspects of the radiation subprogramme portfolio of activities including both ionising and non-ionising radiation, cancer and non-cancer effects and a wide range of exposure conditions from medical, environmental, accidental and occupational, with strong emphasis on the paediatric population (where relevant).

Main on-going projects are:

• Ionising radiation: HARMONIC, e-QuoL, EPI-CT, BECOME, INWORKS and an internal project on diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis.
• Non-ionising radiation: GOLIAT, INTEROCC and MOBI-Kids.

The radiation area is lead by Dr Isabelle Thierry-Chef (Head of Medical Radiation Group + Occupational Exposures), Researchers working in the group include Mònica Guxens (Head of EMF and Child Health), Elizabeth Diago Navarro (Preparedness), Payam Dadvand (UV), and Gemma Castaño-Vinyals (Occupational Exposures to Non-Ionising Radiation).

This team contributes to the visibility of ISGlobal internationally, with membership in the main EU Radiation Protection Platforms (MELODI, EURAMED, EURADOS, SHARE) and with active participation in Committee 3 on Radiation Protection in Medical Settings of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).