Populations can potentially be exposed to varying doses of ionising radiation or to hazardous chemicals as a result of an accident, act of terrorism, or war. This exposure could cause direct clinical effects within days or weeks or bring about late effects on human health in such as an increased cancer rate. A determination of the magnitude of the exposure to individuals is crucial so that those persons with a significant health risk can have appropriate procedures initiated immediately. It is extremely unlikely that the potential victims will wear adequate exposure indicators. Therefore, there is a critical need for a method to measure the dose from molecular and cellular effects that occur within the individual and that are associated with levels of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents, and their possible short and long term effects on potentially exposed members of a population at risk. Many methods are now available for biological monitoring both of the environment and of humans, and measuring genetic damage and other changes in macromolecules and body tissues. Damage to DNA and other molecules, tissues, and organs after acute or chronic exposures are referred to as biomarkers. For the best kind of study, human monitoring needs close contact with many other disciplines like epidemiology, medical physics and others. As an experimental science, it also has to keep pace with the rapidly growing understanding of the language of the genome and mechanisms of deterministic and stochastic effects, particularly risk of cancer. An individual’s genetic constitution, lifestyle, age, diet and levels of physical activity, can affect the body’s response to exogenous agents. Gene and pathway complexity have to be considered when investigating gene–environment interaction and “phenotypic” response of individuals at risk. The efforts of research and applied science should ultimately contribute to an approval of regulated biodosimetry and diagnostic tests integrated into the national and international radioprotection and human monitoring programs. The main aim of the RADIPER NATO Advanced Training Course was to cover scientific aspects in this field by taking in advance the best action to protect the public against consequences of terrorism and other threats on the basis of state-of-the-art knowledge. On the 95th anniversary of the First World Scientific and Scientists Service for Protection Against War Injury, and on the 60th anniversary of NATO, we have welcomed to Poland scientists and researchers from 22 countries, with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme. We have welcomed them to the country of Madame Curie (awarded twice with the Nobel Prize). Maria Skłodowska-Curie was the first, in 1914, to organize radiological and therapeutic services for the frontline of the First World War and to start training courses for medical doctors and nurses from two continents.

We hope that participants of the RADIPER course have gained knowledge of the deterministic and stochastic effects and biomarkers associated with humans’ early and late health risk, after exposure to physical and chemical agents. We hope they have also gained expanded practical skills in detecting biomarkers of exposure to genotoxicants using different well established biological assays, such as dicentrics, micronuclei, translocations, premature chromosome condensations, comet and more.

Finally, we hope that the participants of the RADIPER course will cherish and preserve the created network for use in the future, in order to protect the public from a pointless health risk.

The Editors