Kids Safety - WHO WPSD 2025

On the occasion of the WHO World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2025, Dr Akimasa Hirata, ICNIRP Chair, was glad to be given the opportunity to present how ICNIRP cares for kids safety. 

Children’s health is an all-time priority at ICNIRP when setting protection guidelines.

Our approach begins with a careful examination of scientific research, with particular attention to the specific needs and characteristics of children (e.g. ICNIRP Childhood Leukemia Workshop 2008; ICNIRP Kids and NIR Workshop 2011) and the use of models that reflect the entire population (e.g. Appendix A in RF guidelines). We also adopt a conservative approach when developing guidelines to ensure that everyone is protected. Where needed, our recommendations are stratified to cover all groups, including sensitive populations such as newborns, children, and pregnant women (e.g. ICNIRP RF Guidelines 2020). And in cases where science does not fully account for population variability and conditions, we apply appropriate safety factors to address those uncertainties (e.g. ICNIRP Principles Statement 2020). ICNIRP gives full attention to fetal protection also in the medical context (e.g. ICNIRP Diagnostic Devices Statement 2017).