Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting Program Radiation & Flight: A Down-to-Earth Look at Risks March 23–24, 2020 Hyatt Regency Bethesda One Bethesda Metro Center 7400 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Cover: Left: Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon, where the ambient radiation is about 500 times more intense than on Earth, and where there is no atmosphere or magnetic field to protect against solar events. https://history.nasa.gov/ ap11ann/kippsphotos/apollo.html Top right: US Air Force pilots preparing to ascend to high-altitude, where they spend hundreds of hours per year receiving radiation at dose rates 10 to 100 times higher than that at sea level. https://www.airforcetimes.com Bottom right: Artist's depiction of the radiation environment on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, with cosmic rays entering from outside the heliosphere, protons emanating from the Sun, and, near Earth, trapped radiation in the Van Allen belts. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/learning_launchers_radiation NCRP Mission: To support radiation protection by providing independent scientific analysis, information and recommendations that represent the consensus of leading scientists. @NCRP2020 NCRP Resource Development Committee is launching a series of efforts to increase the financial stability of NCRP. One effort is to request Council members and friends who shop online at Amazon to make a simple (no cost) modification. Simply register at AmazonSmile (https://smile.amazon.com/), and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 % of the purchase price to NCRP at no charge to you! It’s easy! Follow the directions and be sure to select the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (from the pull down list or searchable request) as the 501(c)(3) public charitable organization to receive the Amazon contribution for each purchase. Donations are anonymous. However, we would like to recognize your support and if you notify NCRP ([email protected]) we will add your name to the NCRP list of AmazonSmile contributors. Introduction Radiation & Flight: A Down-to-Earth Look at Risks Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) How many people have imagined themselves as a fighter from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pilot, traveling through the upper atmosphere at Mach 5? (NASA), Report No. 153 was developed and released in And the prospect of space travel is an idea that has fasci- 2006, Information Needed to Make Radiation Protection nated mankind for centuries. However, as these aspira- Recommendations for Space Missions Beyond Low-Earth tional goals have become a reality, there has been a Orbit; it described the data required, prior to future mis- parallel expansion in our understanding of the complex sions, that would enable the development of an adequate stressors associated with these endeavors that can have personnel radiation protection program. More recently, a detrimental effect on our ground-evolved bodies. As a and reflecting our greater biological understanding of the result, we are increasingly aware of a broad range of mechanisms underlying radiation risk, Report No. 167, potential risks from exposure to cosmic radiation and released in 2010, looked at the Potential Impact of Indi- other factors associated with aeronautical travel and that vidual Genetic Susceptibility and Previous Radiation are now seen as issues for the involved professions. Exposure on Radiation Risk for Astronauts, and a recent report, Report No. 183, completed a two-phase effort Because of the inclusion of cosmic radiation as one of the concerning the impact of space radiation on the central acknowledged stressors in flight, and our limited under- nervous system (Radiation Exposure in Space and the standing of the consequences of exposure, the National Potential for Central Nervous System Effects: Phase II). Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) has been intimately involved in furthering our Commentary No. 12 (1995) explored radiation protection understanding of the risks from flight, at high altitude and considerations associated with high-altitude flight at an beyond, for many decades. With respect to space explo- altitude of 65,000 feet (~20,000 m). It addressed a num- ration, in 1989, Report No. 98, Guidance on Radiation ber of relevant considerations, such as dose rates at dif- Received in Space Activities, was released as an update ferent altitudes and from solar flares, as well as the of the 1970 recommendations made by the National biological effects of ionizing radiation at these altitudes. Academy of Sciences. This document was itself updated Estimates of the associated radiation risks for flight in 2000 with the release of Report No. 132, Radiation Pro- crews, passengers, frequent travelers, and conventional tection Guidance for Activities in Low-Earth Orbit, which travelers were made. The Commentary concluded with focused on the excess cancer risks and other radiation comments on aspects of radiation protection philosophy effects from exposure, and introduced the possibility of and the measurements that needed to be addressed to differential risks dependent on age and sex. This report operate commercial aircraft at these altitudes. was followed quickly by Report No. 137 (2001), Fluence- Despite the large volume of publications, there are still Based and Microdosimetric Event-Based Methods for great uncertainties and gaps in our understanding of the Radiation Protection in Space, which compared method- risks from flight. Thus, NCRP is dedicating its Annual ologic approaches that might be used to determine radia- Meeting to this important topic. The Program has been tion risks from a long-term space mission, and Report No. divided into a number of topical sessions that will exam- 142 (2002), which provided an Operational Radiation ine and discuss some of the important questions and Safety Program for Astronauts in Low-Earth Orbit: A Basic issues facing our aeronautical professions. Framework. The Seventeenth Annual Warren K. Sinclair Keynote Following the commitment of the Bush Presidency to the Lecture will be delivered by Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor. Space Exploration Program and in response to a request Dr. Auñón-Chancellor is an American astronaut, 1 physician, and engineer who recently flew on Expedition sciences, policy and law in the areas of radiation policy 56/57 (June to December 2018) to the International and law. Importantly, he will address the ethics of apply- Space Station. She exemplifies the target audience for ing scientifically developed risk assessments to aeronau- this year's subject matter and will set the tone of the tical professionals. meeting by bringing her personal perspective on the risks Program Committee Co-Chairs, Drs. Jacqueline P. of high altitude flight, particularly in space, and how these Williams and Cary Zeitlin, will wrap up the meeting with are currently perceived by those personnel who may be reflections on some of the meeting's highlights. NCRP most affected. President, Dr. Kathryn D. Held, will conclude the meeting Following the Keynote, the first session will provide an by presenting a brief overview of recent NCRP activities overview of the amalgam of stressors experienced by air- and a vision for the future direction of NCRP. crews and astronauts that may contribute to the risks Questions from the audience can be submitted at from flight, providing a perspective on the complexity of slido.com (an event code will be provided at the time of the flight environment. The second session will take a the meeting) or on cards during each session. Oral ques- critical look at the cancer risk seen in both aircrews and tions from the floor will not be accepted, although, as astronauts, and the remaining sessions on the first day always, dialogue is both encouraged and welcomed will be dedicated to a number of the noncancer risks that during breaks and other times outside of the presenta- have been identified. The final session will assess the tions. Session chairs and speakers will address as many markers and potential countermeasures that may be questions as time permits. available to predict and alleviate flight-associated effects. Established in April 2019, the inaugurational John D. Complementing this program, the Forty-Fourth Lauriston Boice, Jr., Young Investigator Award will be awarded to S. Taylor Lecture will be delivered by Dr. Robert Ullrich, Dr. Deepesh Poudel, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Vice-Chair and Chief of Research for the Radiation This Award is given to recognize an early career profes- Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan, and sional engaged in some aspect of science pertaining to former Director of the NASA Specialized Center for radiation protection and measurements. Research on Carcinogenesis. He is a pioneer in the field NCRP is grateful to: of radiation carcinogenesis and will provide an overview • the Joint Armed Forces Honor Guard from the Mili- of the experimental work carried out in this field and its tary District of Washington D.C. who will open our role in our understanding of the radiation risks associated Annual Meeting; with space flight. • Kimberly Jordan of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory The Fourth Thomas S. Tenforde Lecture will be delivered Commission who will sing our National Anthem; by Dr. Paul Locke, Professor at Johns Hopkins • Brian Champine for coordinating volunteers; and Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose research and • Casper Sun for photography.