Protection from radiation in nuclear and radiological emergencies - ISS (EN)

A nuclear emergency occurs when radioactive substances are released into the environment following an accident in nuclear installations, in storage facilities for irradiated fuel or in radioactive waste deposits, in nuclear-powered ships, in satellites with nuclear systems on board or during the transport of irradiated fuel.

A radiological emergency, on the other hand, refers to events not connected to nuclear plants but which involve the diffusion of radioactive substances in the environment by incidental events such as in industries, hospitals and research laboratories or during the transport of radioactive material.

The Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) carries out various activities to deal with these emergencies. It participates in the Data Processing and Evaluation Center (Cevad), the technical evaluation structure that operates in support of the Department of Civil Protection in the event of emergencies, contributes to information about the population and operators, and finally, in European projects to improve emergency preparedness with a radiation protection approach.