The basic principles developed by ICRP over the years continue to be regarded as the fundamental basis for a system of radiological protection (ICRP, 2007a). They can be simplistically formulated as follows: [6]

• Principle of optimization (of radiation protection): The likelihood of incurring exposures, the number of people exposed, and the magnitude of their individual doses and risks should all be kept as low as reason­ably achievable, taking into account economic and societal factors. For NPPs this can be formulated as follows: the level of radiation protection designed for the NPP and the level of radiation protection during its operation should be the best under the prevailing circumstances, maximizing the margin of benefit over harm.

• Principle of individual protection: Inequitable individual protection out­comes of justification and optimization should be prevented by restrict­ing individual doses, by applying individual-related dose limits and source-related dose constraints and reference levels. For NPPs, plant — related dose constraints and reference levels should be established respecting individual-related dose limits.

These principles contain embedded values of prudence encompassing the

protection of future generations and their habitat. These values can be

formulated as a de facto principle:

• Principle of intergenerational prudence, which extends the radiological protection principles to all humanity, regardless of where and when they live, and implies that all humans, present and future, and their habitat shall be afforded a level of protection that is not weaker than the level provided to the populations of the society causing the protection needs. In practice, this means that the dose from NPPs to be controlled is the committed dose rather than the incurred dose.