Fourth Committee hails work of UN Scientific Committee on effects of atomic radiation, calls for adequate resources to fund its work.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-31 October 2005-UN: Fourth Committee hails work of UN Scientific Committee on effects of atomic radiation, calls for adequate resources to fund its work(C)1994-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:30102005

Governments and organizations throughout the world relied on the estimates of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation as the scientific basis for evaluating radiation risks, establishing radiation protection and safety standards, and regulating radiation sources, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) was informed this morning.

Introducing the Scientific Committee's report, the representative of Japan, who chaired that body's fifty-third session, said that since its establishment 50 years ago, the Committee had served the vital function of providing authoritative scientific review of the sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Although its original mandate was to assess and report levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation, the Committee's role had been adapted to address new challenges arising from radiation exposure, such as diseases other than cancer, effects on the immunological system and effects on non-human biota.

Noting that next year would mark the twentieth year since the Chernobyl accident, he welcomed the Scientific Committee's continuous contribution in enabling a better understanding of the radiation health effects of that catastrophe. Also, he was concerned that the present level of funding for the Committee's work was inadequate, leading to diminished effectiveness at a time when authoritative reviews of the effects of radiation were likely to take on an increasing importance. He also introduced a draft resolution on the issue.

Speakers today hailed the quality of the Scientific Committee's reports, which served as a basis for measures by Governments to protect their populations against the dangers of atomic radiation, and welcomed the continuing work of the Committee on the health effects of the Chernobyl accident.

They called on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to continue to provide the Committee with the necessary resources to continue its important work. Speakers also drew attention to the dangers of having nuclear waste deposited in some developing countries or in the oceans, and stressed that solutions to problems posed by atomic radiation could only be addressed through international cooperation.

In the context of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe next year, the representative of Ukraine said it was now important to analyse the effectiveness of measures taken during the period following the tragedy, to review the work accomplished over the last two decades, and to outline an action plan for the future.

She announced that Ukraine would hold an international conference in April 2006, entitled "Twenty Years After Chernobyl: Future Outlook". The event would promote the effective implementation of up-to-date international expertise on the issues of medical and biological consequences of radiological accidents, the improvement of response effectiveness to radiological accidents, and nuclear power...

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