International Co-operation

European Medical ALARA Network (EMAN)

The main objective of the EMAN project was to establish a sustainable European Medical ALARA Network (EMAN) where different stakeholders within the medical sector will have the opportunity to discuss and to exchange information on different topics related to the implementation of the ALARA principle in the medical field.

Three specific topics were selected as focus areas for the project:

• computed tomography (CT),
• interventional radiology and
• activities using X-ray equipment outside X-ray departments

In addition EMAN aimed to:

• Disseminate up-to-date information about literature, studies, research, and good practices relating to the ALARA principle in the medical sector,
• Identify and communicate to the EC needs for development and update of European Union (EU) guidance,
• In particular cover the areas of education and training as well as continuous quality improvement as requested in the Directive 97/43 EURATOM,
• Formulate proposals to the EC on harmonisation issues,
• Propose to the EC solutions of identified issues at the European level,
• Establish cooperation with appropriate international organisations and associations.

Results

The main objective of the EMAN project, i.e. to establish a sustainable network where different stakeholders within the medical sector would have the opportunity to discuss and to exchange information related to the implementation of the ALARA principle in the medical field, has been successfully achieved. The European Society of Radiology (ESR), the European Federation of Medical Physics Organisations (EFOMP) and the European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS), representing altogether more than 150.000 professionals in the medical sector, have agreed to continue collaboration in medical radiation protection optimization within the European Medical ALARA Network in order to sustain and improve the network established under the EC tender project.

The EMAN project has been completed end of 2012. Information on the results can be found here.

to the top

: European ALARA Network …

Overview

: European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) … 

• BfS' co-operation with international organisations
• OPERRA – Open Project for the European Radiation Research Area
• MELODI: Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative
• High Level and Expert Group on low dose risk research
• Network of Excellence: Low Dose Research towards Multidisciplinary Integration (DoReMi-NoE)
• NERIS - European Platform on preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergency response and recovery
• Dose Datamed 2
• Towards a European Network of Excellence in Biological Dosimetry (TENEB)
• European Network on Education and Training in Radiation Protection (ENETRAP)
• European ALARA Network
• European Medical ALARA Network (EMAN)
• European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS)