In a recent exposure dose evaluation of beds in which radon and thoron were detected, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, without considering the internal exposure dose, announced that the external exposure dose is not in breach of the safety standards. However, it later reversed its results by stating that the beds do not conform to the safety standards if the internal exposure dose is taken into account, causing public confusion.
Radon and thoron are nuclides of the Uranium 238 and Thorium 232 decay series, respectively. They are included in the definition of “source material” under the current Act and are governed by it. The problem is that the public may find this difficult to understand.
In addition, although the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission is recalling beds in which radon, a Group 1 carcinogen, was detected, progress is being slowed by the lack of a cooperative system between the businesses and agencies concerned. This is partly due to the absence of relevant provisions concerning measures agaisnt processed products that do not conform to safety standards, which are prescribed in the currenct Act, in the comprehensive plan for protection from radiation in the natural environment formulated every 5 year by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, making it difficult to devise long-term, comprehensive measures.
Another criticism is of negligence in regards to worker health and environmental protection in cases where manufacturers collect, discard, or take other measures to address processed products that do not conform to safety standards.
Accordingly, this Amendment expressly includes radon and thoron in the definition of “source material” and requires the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to consider both external and internal exposure when announcing safety standards for processed products.
It also prescribes that a comprehensive plan for protection from radiation in the natural environment shall include “matters concerning measures to address processed products that do not conform to safety standards,” and requires manufacturers, when taking measures to address processed products that do not conform to safety standards, to take the necessary measures to protect the health of the relevant workers and the environment (Article 2, subparagraph 2; Article 5, paragraph 2, subparagraph 6-2; Article 15, subparagraph 3; Article 16, paragraph 2, etc.).

Require manufacturers, when taking measures to address non-conforming processed products, to take the necessary measures to protect the health of the relevant workers and the environment (Article 16, paragraph 2).