• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2016

As the probability of exposure to radiation increases due to an increase in the use of radioisotopes and radiation generators, the importance of a radiation safety management field is being highlighted. We intend to help radiation workers with exposure management by identifying the degree of radiation exposure and contamination to determine an efficient method of radiation safety management. The personal exposure doses of the radiation workers at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences measured every quarter during a five-year period from Jan. 1, 2011 till Dec. 31, 2015 were analyzed using a TLD (thermoluminescence dosimeter). The spatial dose rates of radiation-controlled areas were measured using a portable radioscope, and the level of surface contamination was measured at weekly intervals using a piece of smear paper and a low background alpha/beta counter. Though the averages of the depth doses and the surface doses in 2012 increased from those in 2011 by about 14%, the averages were shown to have decreased every year after that. The exposure dose of 27 mSv in 2012 increased from that in 2011 in radiopharmaceutical laboratories and, in the case of the spatial dose rate, the rate of decrease in 2012 was shown to be similar to the annual trend of the whole institute. In the case of the surface contamination level, as the remaining radiation-controlled area with the exception of the I-131 treatment ward showed a low value less than $1.0kBq/m^2$, the annual trend of the I-131 treatment ward was shown to be similar to that of the entire institute. In conclusion, continuous attention should be paid to dose monitoring of the radiation-controlled areas where unsealed sources are handled and the workers therein.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2019

Nuclear medicine have often used to diagnose cancers. The main absorbed dose from radiation to a radiation worker resulted from open radioisotopes. Methods for reducing the radiation dose to a radiation worker from radioisotopes injected to patients were studied. The shield device of 0.2 mmPb was manufactured as a size of $300mm{\times}500mm{\times}150mm$. By using dosimeters of Nanodot, the absorbed doses for thyroid, chest and genital organ were measured with and without a shielding device and with syringe shield and shielding device together. The highest absorbed dose of 0.908 mGy reduction of 20.8% as 0.719 mGy was in the genital organ by using the syringe shield and a shielding device together. A effective dose for a radiation worker during 1 year was expected to 1.223 mSv at the chest, which was decrease as 0.994 mSv by shielding device and syringe shield together. When open radioisotope is injected to a patient for examination, the only use of a shielding device results in the reduction of radiation dose to radiation workers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.2019-2024
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• 2021

For evaluating the radiological safety of dismantled concrete, the process of disposal and recycling of the radioactive concrete generated during the dismantling of Kori Unit 1 is analyzed. Four scenarios are derived based on the analysis of the concrete recycling and disposal process, and the potential exposure to the workers and public during this process are calculated. VISIPLAN and RESRAD code are used for evaluating the dosages received by the workers and public in the following four scenarios: concrete inspection, transport of concrete by the truck driver, driving on a recycled concrete road, and public living near the landfilled concrete waste. Two worker exposure scenarios in the processing of concrete and two public exposure scenarios in recycling and disposal are considered; in all the scenarios, the exposure dose does not exceed the annual dose limit for each representative.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2017

Compared to other occupations, there is a greater risk of exposure to radiation due to the use of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine for diagnostic evaluations and therapy. To consider ways to reduce exposure dose for those in nuclear medicine involved in injection work and elution work among radiation workers as well as for sanitation workers and trainees among frequent workers an investigation into exposure dose and situational analysis from changes in yearly exposure dose evaluations, changes in work environment and changes in forms of inspection were conducted. Exposure dose measurements were taken by using EPD MK2 worn during working hours for one injection worker, one elution worker, two sanitation workers, and one trainee at a general hospital in the Seoul area for three days from July 18th to 20th 2016. Radiation from radioisotopes which are a part of nuclear medicine can significantly affect not only radiation workers who deal with radioisotopes directly but also frequency works as well. According to this study the annual dose limit for elution workers and injection workers were considered safe as the amount of exposure was not large enough to have a significant effect. The limits of this study consist in the duration of this study and the quantity of participants. Also there was a limitation of the measurement device involving accumulated exposure, where the EPD MK2 cannot check the changes in exposure according to a particular activity.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2020

Background: Kori unit #1 is permanently shut down after a 40-year lifetime. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission recommends establishing initial decommissioning plans for all nuclear and radwaste treatment facilities. Therefore, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) must establish an initial and final decommissioning plan for radwaste-treatment facilities. Radiation safety assessment, which constitutes one chapter of the decommissioning plan, is important for establishing a decommissioning schedule, a strategy, and cost. It is also a critical issue for the government and public to understand. Materials and Methods: This study provides a method for assessing external radiation dose to workers during decommissioning. An external dose is calculated following each exposure scenario, decommissioning strategy, and working schedule. In this study, exposure dose is evaluated using the deterministic method. Physical characterization of the facility is obtained by both direct measurement and analysis of the drawings, and radiological characterization is analyzed using the annual report of KAERI, which measures the ambient dose every month. Results and Discussion: External doses are calculated at each stage of a decommissioning strategy and found to increase with each successive stage. The maximum external dose was evaluated to be 397.06 man-mSv when working in liquid-waste storage. To satisfy the regulations, working period and manpower must be managed. In this study, average and cumulative exposure doses were calculated for three cases, and the average exposure dose was found to be about 17 mSv/yr in all the cases. Conclusion: For the three cases presented, the average exposure dose is well below the annual maximum effective dose restriction imposed by the international and domestic regulations. Working period and manpower greatly affect the cost and entire decommissioning plan; hence, the chosen option must take account of these factors with due consideration of worker safety.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-48
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• 2017

This paper evaluated the amount of radiation generated by wedge filters during radiation therapy using a high-energy linear accelerator, and the dose to the worker during wedge replacement. After 10-MV photon beam was irradiated with wedge filter, the wedge was removed from the linear accelerator, and the dose rate and energy spectrum were measured. The initial measurement was approximately 1 uSv/h, and the radiation level was reduced to 0.3 uSv/h after 6 min. The effective half-life derived from the dose rate measurement was approximately 3.5 min, and the influence of AI-28 was about 53%. From the energy spectrum measurements, a peak of 1,799 keV was measured for AI-28, while the peak for Co-58 was not measured in the control room. The peaks for Au-106 and Cd-105 were found only measurement was done without wedge removement from the linear accelerator. The additional doses received by the radiation worker during wedge replacement were estimated to be 0.08-0.4 mSv per year.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.85-90
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• 2018

Fundamental data on the safety status is necessary to develop and operate the additional policies related to the radiation safety, however, few studies have been conducted to investigate the status quantitatively. In this study, out of the areas related to radiation safety, the status of the radiation worker, ambient radiation and the environmental radiation were examined in the quantitative aspect using diverse statistical methods. In the results of that, following information were obtained. First, out of the radiation workers engaged in 9 businesses as of end of 2014, the business having highest exposure dose is NDT showing significantly high than other businesses. Second, the average difference of the exposure doses in radiation workers in 9 businesses in 2014 compared to that in 2010 was not statistically significant at significance level of 5% (p=0.221). Third, the average of the environmental radiation in Gyeonggi-do was high than the Jeollabuk-do. The results of this study are anticipated to assist to utilize the basic data for the workers on radiational works, daily living radiation, and the safety control related to the environmental radiation, and to establish the policy of radiation protection in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.745-753
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• 2018

As the radiation is used in various fields, the number of radiation workers is on the increase and there has been an increasa in interest in the radiation worker's safety. In South Korea, it is focusing on securing safety of workers through KISOE system and owner's report. In advance study, We determined that in assessing the risks of securing safety for workers and businesses, the assessment of other items as well as exposure doses would be effective and develops the Radial Scale Analysis Model. So, data from the actual radiographic testing companies were applied to the radial scale analysis model to determine the risks of the actual companies. And, we selected 4 companies to confirm the applicability. Risk assessments of all 56 companies were conducted and improvements and inspections were anticipated for each company's problems. The results of the study are expected to be utilized by radiographic testing companies and regulatory for self-assessment and regulation criteria.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.2 s.22
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• pp.247-254
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• 1987

Serum immunoglobulin(Ig)A, IgG, IgM, levels were measured in 99 coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients and 12 healthy coal workers and 9 non-miners to compare with each group by the radiological categories, its complications and working period in coal mine. Serum were measured by nephelometry, The findings were as follows: 1) Serum IgA levels were significantly different between three groups of CWP patient, healthy coal worker and non-miner ($mean{\pm}standard$ deviation: $226.4{\pm}87.7,\;221.3{\pm}45.1,\;170.1{\pm}65.7$ respectively). 2) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among radiological categories of CWP. 3) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among simple pneumoconiosis and its complicated disorders. 4) The three Ig levels were slightly increased in the group of mining years less than 20 years (IgA: r=0.1869, p<0.10 IgG: r=0.2902, p<0.05 IgM: r=0.2889, p<0.05).

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2021

Radiological impact analyses were carried out for a near-surface radioactive waste repository at Gyeongju in South Korea. The RESRAD-ONSITE code was applied for the estimation of maximum exposure doses by considering various exposure pathways based on a land area of 2,500 ㎡ with a 0.15 m thick contamination zone. Typical influencing input parameters such as shield depth, shield materials' density, and shield erosion rate were examined for a sensitivity analysis. Then both residential farmer and industrial worker scenarios were used for the estimation of maximum exposure doses depending on exposure duration. The radiation dose evaluation results showed that 60Co, 137Cs, and 63Ni were major contributors to the total exposure dose compared with other radionuclides. Furthermore, the total exposure dose from ingestion (plant, meat, and milk) of the contaminated plants was more significant than those assessed for inhalation, with maximum values of 5.5×10-4 mSv·yr-1 for the plant ingestion. Thus the results of this study can be applied for determining near-surface radioactive waste repository conditions and providing quantitative analysis methods using RESRAD-ONSITE code for the safety assessment of disposing radioactive materials including decommissioning wastes to protect human health and the environment.