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Domestic management practices
✔︎Cosmic radiation exists in the natural environment. Aircrew working at high altitudes are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to those on the ground. As a result, international attention to radiation exposure in aircrew has been increasing. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends considering social and economic factors comprehensively when conducting cosmic radiation dose assessments and dose management for aircrew. It has set an annual reference dose level of 5 to 10 mSv as a management benchmark.
✔︎Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where aircrew are exposed to relatively lower levels of cosmic radiation. Since 2022, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has successively organized seminars and educational outreach activities for aircrew members. In December 2024, it launched a pilot program for cosmic radiation dose monitoring and statistical analysis for aircrew, collecting radiation dose monitoring data from flight operations in order to track the radiation exposure trends of aircrew members.
✔︎Q&A on the pilot program for cosmic radiation dose monitoring and statistical analysis for aircrew
Q1. How is aircrew dose management conducted internationally?
A1. The cosmic radiation dose received by aircrew depends on flight time and route. Longer flight durations and routes at higher latitudes result in higher radiation exposure for aircrew. Airlines can reasonably reduce aircrew radiation doses by adjusting flight assignments, such as switching between European/American and Asian routes, replacing high-latitude routes with lower-latitude ones, or limiting the frequency of flights on high-dose routes.
Q2. Does cosmic radiation exposure have a half-life? Can it remain in the body?
A2. Unlike radioactive materials, cosmic radiation does not have a half-life. It exposes the body externally rather than internally, meaning it does not accumulate in the body or cause radiation contamination.
Q3. Has the flight dose assessment software been validated?
A3. The program plans to use a flight dose assessment software developed by the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) to simplify the dose assessment process and facilitate ease of use for airlines. This software is based on the calculation results of the NTHU Flight Dose Calculator (FDC), developed by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The FDC has been validated against measurement data from the ICRU Report 84 and cross-checked with software reviewed in the European EURADOS report, ensuring reliable calculation results. By integrating the FDC with airline-provided route lists and using the great-circle route assumption (shortest distance between two airports), along with approximated flight altitude and speed derived from big data, the software can pre-assess flight doses for all listed routes. Additionally, it considers the influence of the 11-year solar cycle, allowing the creation of a comprehensive database for future dose assessments.
✔︎Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where aircrew are exposed to relatively lower levels of cosmic radiation. Since 2022, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has successively organized seminars and educational outreach activities for aircrew members. In December 2024, it launched a pilot program for cosmic radiation dose monitoring and statistical analysis for aircrew, collecting radiation dose monitoring data from flight operations in order to track the radiation exposure trends of aircrew members.
✔︎Q&A on the pilot program for cosmic radiation dose monitoring and statistical analysis for aircrew
Q1. How is aircrew dose management conducted internationally?
A1. The cosmic radiation dose received by aircrew depends on flight time and route. Longer flight durations and routes at higher latitudes result in higher radiation exposure for aircrew. Airlines can reasonably reduce aircrew radiation doses by adjusting flight assignments, such as switching between European/American and Asian routes, replacing high-latitude routes with lower-latitude ones, or limiting the frequency of flights on high-dose routes.
Q2. Does cosmic radiation exposure have a half-life? Can it remain in the body?
A2. Unlike radioactive materials, cosmic radiation does not have a half-life. It exposes the body externally rather than internally, meaning it does not accumulate in the body or cause radiation contamination.
Q3. Has the flight dose assessment software been validated?
A3. The program plans to use a flight dose assessment software developed by the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) to simplify the dose assessment process and facilitate ease of use for airlines. This software is based on the calculation results of the NTHU Flight Dose Calculator (FDC), developed by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The FDC has been validated against measurement data from the ICRU Report 84 and cross-checked with software reviewed in the European EURADOS report, ensuring reliable calculation results. By integrating the FDC with airline-provided route lists and using the great-circle route assumption (shortest distance between two airports), along with approximated flight altitude and speed derived from big data, the software can pre-assess flight doses for all listed routes. Additionally, it considers the influence of the 11-year solar cycle, allowing the creation of a comprehensive database for future dose assessments.
更新時間：2025-10-01 11:44
