Background material on CERRIE

Purpose

In 2001 the Environment Minister Michael Meacher announced that there would be a review of models used to estimate health risks from radioactive materials taken into the body. This review is being carried out by CERRIE, the Committee Examining Radiation Risks from Internal Emitters.

CERRIE's remit is:

"to consider the present risk models for radiation and health that apply to exposure to radiation from internal radionuclides in the light of recent studies and any further research that might be needed".

CERRIE has been set up under the auspices of the Government's advisory Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) but is independent of that committee. CERRIE is jointly sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department of Health. The committee's review takes into account the views of all parties in the debate on risks of radiation. It aims to reach consensus where possible. On topics where differences of view remain after its deliberations, it will explain the reasons for these and recommend research to try to resolve them.

CERRIE will produce a report that is agreed by all its members. This report will not be subject to amendment by COMARE, the Department of Health or DEFRA and will be published. COMARE will consider the CERRIE report and advise Government on it.

CERRIE's meetings are not held in public. Information on its progress and plans is given at http://www.cerrie.org, which also provides means to contact the committee with questions and views, and to submit documents to the committee.

Source: http://www.cerrie.org accessed 5 June 2002
 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

NEWS RELEASE - 77/01 - 31 July 2001

MICHAEL MEACHER ANNOUNCES NEW REVIEW OF RADIATION RISK MODELS

Environment Minister Michael Meacher today announced that the Government's independent advisory Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) has been asked to establish a new broad based working group to review the risks associated with internal radiation emitters and the need for further research.

Membership of the working group will be announced soon and its remit will be "To consider the present risk models for radiation and health that apply to exposure to radiation from internal radionuclides in the light of recent studies and any further research that might be needed."

The working group is the outcome of recent discussions between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and COMARE about the best way to evaluate the risks from radiation to ensure that the most valid risk models are used in radiation protection. The Working Group will produce and publish a report that will be considered by COMARE who will then advise the Government.

Michael Meacher, Environment Minister, said: "There are significant differences of view among experts about the precise impacts of the internal ingestion of radionuclides and these need to be resolved.

"This new Working Group will reach across all parties in the debate on risks of radiation, to assess the impact and reach a consensus on whether the current risk models continue to be valid."

Professor Bridges, Chairman of COMARE welcomed the exercise. He said:

"The Government has recently given Chairmen of Scientific Advisory Committees the responsibility of ensuring that all views are heard and taken into account when Committees formulate their advice. The risk from internal radioactivity is an area where, despite broad international consensus, there are several dissenting and sometimes mutually opposed viewpoints.

"The working group will provide a real challenge to the holders of all viewpoints to argue their case and try and reach agreement. COMARE regards this as an important consultative exercise and will be listening carefully to the proceedings."

Source: DEFRA Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2001/010731b.htm accessed 2 August 2001