UNSCEAR sessions

56th session of UNSCEAR

The 56th session of UNSCEAR will take place at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 10 to 18 July 2008. Norman Gentner (Canada) will be Chairman, Wolfgang Weiss (Germany) will be Vice-Chairman and Mohamed A. Gomaa (Egypt) will be Rapporteur.

The Committee will be discussing matters arising from General Assembly resolution 62/100 of 17 December 2007, including development of a strategic plan and future programme of work. It will also hold technical discussions on five documents:

• Medical radiation exposures
• Exposures of workers and the public from various sources of radiation
• Exposures from radiation accidents
• Effects of ionizing radiation on non-human biota
• Health effects due to radiation from the Chernobyl accident

The Committee is also expected to approve a report to the 63rd General Assembly.

55th session of UNSCEAR

The 55th session of UNSCEAR took place at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 21 to 25 May 2007. Peter Burns (Australia) was Chairman, Norman Gentner (Canada) was Vice-Chairman, and Wolfgang Weiss (Germany) was Rapporteur.

The Committee discussed, provided feedback and comment on drafts of six documents:

• Medical radiation exposures
• Exposures of workers and the public from various sources of radiation
• Exposures from radiation accidents
• Effects of ionizing radiation on non-human biota
• Health effects due to radiation from the Chernobyl accident
• Sources of radiation and effects of exposure

It also discussed matters relating to its annual progress report to the General Assembly ( A/62/46), development of a future strategy and programme of work, and financial, management, procedural and other matters.

54th session of UNSCEAR

The 54th session of UNSCEAR took place at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 29 May to 2 June 2006. Peter Burns of Australia was Chairman. Norman Gentner of Canada was Vice-Chairman. Christian Streffer of Germany was Rapporteur.

The Committee approved five documents for publication on:

• Epidemiological studies of radiation and cancer
• Epidemiological evaluation and dose response of diseases other than cancer
• Non-targeted and delayed effects of exposure to ionizing radiation
• Effects of ionizing radiation on the immune system
• Sources-to-effects assessment for radon in homes and workplaces

It provided feedback and comment on drafts of other documents submitted by the Secretariat:

• Medical radiation exposures
• Exposures of workers and the public from various sources of radiation
• Exposures from radiation accidents
• Effects of ionizing radiation on non-human biota

It also discussed matters relating to its annual progress report to the General Assembly ( A/61/46 + Corr.1), its work on assessing the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, and financial, management, procedural and other matters.

During the session, the mayor of Vienna hosted a reception for invited high-level dignitaries, diplomats and scientists to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of UNSCEAR.