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ICRU

The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) is a standardization body. It was proposed in 1925 by the first International Congress of Radiology (ICR) in London and formally established at the second congress in Stockholm in 1928. Until 1950 it was known as the X-Ray Unit Committee. Its objective "is to develop concepts, definitions and recommendations for the use of quantities and their units for ionizing radiation and its interaction with matter, in particular with respect to the biological effects induced by radiation". During the first two decades of its existence, its formal meetings were held during the International Congress of Radiology, but from 1950 onwards, when its mandate was extended, it has met annually, but reported back to the ICR.

In the 1950's it was invited to join other scientific bodies to work with the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) in the development of the International System of Units (SI and has been instrumental in adding the gray, sievert and bequerel to the SI.

ICRP

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an advisory body providing recommendations and guidance on radiation protection. It was proposed in 1925 by the first International Congress of Radiology (ICR) in London and formally established at the second congress in Stockholm in 1928. Until 1950 it was known as the International X-ray and Radium Protection Committee (IXRPC). Its objective "is to develop concepts, definitions and recommendations for the use of quantities and their units for ionizing radiation and its interaction with matter, in particular with respect to the biological effects induced by radiation". During the first two decades of its existence, its formal meetings were held during the International Congress of Radiology, but from 1950 onwards, when its mandate was extended, it has met annually, but reported back to the ICR.

Its first guide on safe practice in the use of X-Rays was published in 1928. This guide was revised at each ICR until 1958 when the Commission was invited by the United Nations to join UNSCEAR, an organisation that included, amongst others, the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since then it has published over a hundred reports on various aspects of protections against all forms of ionising radiation. In 1988 the Commission was legally incorporated under English Law as a charity (not-for-profit organisation) and maintains a secretariat in Stockholm.

Good summary

2010 Annual Report

Annual Accounts

Founding of the Commission
ICRU

Within years of Röntgen discovering X-Rays in 1896, they were being used for imaging fractured bones. By the end of the First World War a number of proposals on how to measure the intensity of X-Rays had been made, but there was little agreement between the various parties concerned. In 1925 the British Institute of Radiology, under the leadership of Thurstan Holland invited delegates from a number of countries to attend the First International Congress on Radiation in London. This congress set up a framework for future meetings - future congresses would meet every three years in a different country, would be organised by the host country. The host country would nominate the chairman of the congress. It was also established that three commissions should be set up which would meet at the congresses:
 * The International Commission of Radiation Units & Measures (ICRU)
 * The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
 * The International Commission on Radiological Education (ICRE)

The second congress was held in Stockholm under the chairmanship of Manne Siegbahn and it was at this congress that the commission met for the first time. Subsequent meetings were held in Paris (1931), Zurich (1934) and Chicago (1937).

ICRP

Within years of Röntgen discovering X-Rays in 1896, they were being used for imaging fractured bones. By the end of the First World War a number of proposals on how to measure the intensity of X-Rays had been made. In 1925 the British Institute of Radiology, under the leadership of Thurstan Holland invited delegates from a number of countries to attend the First International Congress on Radiation in London. This congress set up a framework for future meetings - future congresses would meet every three years in a different country, would be organised by the host country. The host country would nominate the chairman of the congress. It was also established that three commissions should be set up which would meet at the congresses:
 * The International Commission of Radiation Units & Measures (ICRU)
 * The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
 * The International Commission on Radiological Education (ICRE)

The second congress was held in Stockholm under the chairmanship of Manne Siegbahn and it was at this congress that the commission met for the first time under the chairmanship of Rolf Sievert. Subsequent meetings were held in Paris (1931), Zurich (1934) and Chicago (1937).

Development as a separate organisation
ICRU

Until the outbreak of the Second World War, congresses were held every three years. The 1940 congress was due to meet in Berlin in 1940, but was suspended due to the war. Apart from some copies of records kept by the 1937 Congress secretary-general, Benjamin Orndoff, the records of the congress, which had been handed to the German organisers in preparation for the next congress in Germany, were lost during the Second World War. After the war, the British Institute of Radiology revived the IRC by organising the sixth Congress in London in 1950. At the seventh congress, held in Copenhagen in 1953, the organisational details of the conference were overhauled and an executive committee under the chairmanship of Lauriston S Taylor was set up to oversee the organisation of future congresses and to provide continuity between congresses. At the same time the ICRU and the ICRP were also reorganised.

Until 1953, the president of the ICRU was a national of the country that was hosting the ICR, but in that year it was decided to elect a permanent commission - the first permanent chairman being Laurent Taylor who had been a member of the commission since 1928 and secretary since 1934. Taylor served until 1969 and on his retirement was accorded the position of honorary chairman which we held until his death in 2004, aged 102.

The commission has a maximum fifteen members who serve for four years and who, since 1950, have been nominated by the incumbent commissioners. Members are selected for their scientific ability and are widely regarded as the foremost panel of experts in radiation medicine and in the other fields of ICRU endeavour. The commission is funded by the sale of reports, by grants from the European Commission, the US National Cancer Institute and the International Atomic Energy Agency and indirectly by organisations and companies who provide meeting venues. Commissioners, many of whom have full time university or research centre appointments, have their expenses reimbursed, but otherwise they receive no remuneration from the ICRU.

In the late 1950's the ICRU was invited by the CGPM to join other scientific bodies to work with the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) in the development of a system of units that could be used consistently over many disciplines. This body, initially known as the "Commission for the System of Units" (renamed in 1964 as the "Consultative Committee for Units") was responsible overseeing the development of the International System of Units (SI).

ICRP

Until the outbreak of the Second World War, congresses were held every three years. The 1940 congress was due to meet in Berlin in 1940, but was suspended due to the war. Apart from some copies of records kept by the 1937 Congress secretary-general, Benjamin Orndoff, the records of the congress, which had been handed to the German organisers in preparation for the next congress in Germany, were lost during the Second World War. After the war, the British Institute of Radiology revived the IRC by organising the sixth Congress in London in 1950. At the seventh congress, held in Copenhagen in 1953, the organisational details of the conference were overhauled and an executive committee under the chairmanship of Lauriston S Taylor was set up to oversee the organisation of future congresses and to provide continuity between congresses. At the same time the ICRP and the ICRU were also reorganised.

Until 1953, the president of the ICRP was a national of the country that was hosting the ICR, but in that year it was decided to elect a permanent commission - ''the first permanent chairman being Laurent Taylor who had been a member of the commission since 1928 and secretary since 1934. Taylor served until 1969 and on his retirement was accorded the position of honorary chairman which we held until his death in 2004, aged 102.

The commission has a maximum fifteen members who serve for four years and who, since 1950, have been nominated by the incumbent commissioners. Members are selected for their scientific ability and are widely regarded as the foremost panel of experts in radiation medicine and in the other fields of ICRU endeavour. The commission is funded by the sale of reports, by grants from the European Commission, the US National Cancer Institute and the International Atomic Energy Agency and indirectly by organisations and companies who provide meeting venues. Commissioners, many of whom have full time university or research centre appointments, have their expenses reimbursed, but otherwise they receive no remuneration from the ICRU.''

ICRP

Its objects are "to advance for the public benefit the science of radiological protection, by providing recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against ionising radiation, without unduly limiting beneficial practices that give rise to exposure to radiation. In preparing its recommendations, the Commission considers the fundamental principles and quantitative bases upon which appropriate radiation protection measures can be established, while leaving to the various national protection bodies the responsibility of formulating the specific advice, codes of practice, or regulations that are best suited to the needs of their individual countries."

Contributions to Science
In the late 1950's the ICRU started publishing reports on an irregular basis - on average two to three a year. In 2001 the publication cycle was regularised and reports are now published bi-annually under the banner "Journal of the ICRU".

The commission has been responsible for defining and introducing the following units of measure on behalf of the industry. The number of different units for various quantities is indicative of changes of thinking in world metrology, especially the movement from cgs to SI units.