Republic of Cyprus - Department of Labour Inspection

Exposure from medical use of ionising radiation

The use of radiation in medicine has been an important tool in diagnosing and treating patients for over a century. For instance, radiation is used in x-ray medical imaging and cancer-treating radiotherapy.

Exposure to radiation can harm the health of both patients and medical staff however. With human exposure to ionising radiation in medicine exceeding that of any other man-made source, it is important to have safety standards in place.

Existing legislation - Basic safety standards

The Protection from Ionising Radiation and Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security Law of 2018, and the sets of Regulations issued under these Laws fully cover the issue of exposure to radiation due to medical practices with ionising radiation, aiming at the protection of the patients, the staff, and other individuals in medical practices.

This legislation is harmonised with:

(a) the Directive 2013/59/Euratom of the Council of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom of 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom (OJ L-13 of 17.01.2014 page 1) (new Euratom BSS Directive), which lays down basic uniform safety standards to protect the health of persons undergoing occupational exposure, medical exposure and exposure of the public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation, and

(b) the international basic safety standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Publications on medical exposure

The European Commission has issued various publications on radiation protection in medical practices since 1976.

Useful information for the patients and the public

Useful information for health professionals

Radiology

Radiotherapy

Nuclear medicine

Interventional procedures

Dentistry

Other specialities and imaging modalities