Radiation protection--lessons from the past.

This is a historical review of selected events in radiation protection of medical relevance since the discovery of X-rays. The report concentrates on the period 1895-1970. Key points were difficulty of measuring dose, rapid dissemination of the use of radiation for all sorts of illness, and regulation by professional bodies rather than by legislation. Both World Wars saw a huge expansion in the use of ionizing radiation, but the second war prevented international collaboration, which had begun formally in 1925. Early radiation deaths, and nuclear accidents have caused concerns about radiation safety, and although dose limits have been successively reduced, these concerns have not been overcome. Since the Second World War radiation safety has been subject to more and more legislation although professional bodies still have an important advisory role. Development of the main radiation safety committees both in the UK, US and internationally is described with emphasis on the particular role of the British Institute of Radiology.