• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2017

Background: On June 18, 2017, Korea's first commercial nuclear reactor, the Kori Nuclear Power Plant No. 1, was permanently suspended, and the capacity of nuclear power generation facilities will be adjusted according to the governments denuclearization policy. In these circumstances, it is necessary to assess the quality of radiation safety management in nuclear power plants in Korea by evaluating the radiation dose associated with them. Materials and Methods: The average annual radiation dose per unit, the annual radiation dose per person, and the annual dose distribution were analyzed using the radiation dose database of nuclear reactors for the last 5 years. The results of our analysis were compared to the specifications of the Nuclear Safety Act and Medical Law in Korea. Results and Discussion: The annual average per unit radiation dose of global major nuclear power generation was 720 man-mSv, while that of Korea's nuclear power plants was 374 manmSv. No workers exceeded 50 mSv per year or 100 mSv in 5 years. The individual radiation dose according to occupational exposure was 0.59 mSv for nuclear workers, 1.77 mSv for non-destructive workers, and 0.8 mSv for diagnostic radiologists. Conclusion: The radiation safety management of nuclear power plants in Korea has achieved the best outcomes worldwide, which is considered to be the result of the as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) approach and strict radiation safety management. Moreover, the occupational exposures were also very low.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

Bioassay data analysis software (BiDAS-2007) has been developed by KAERI, which adds several new functions to its previous version. New functions of the BiDAS-2007 computer code enable the user not only to do a simultaneous analysis by using two or more types of bioassay for the best internal dose evaluation, but also to do a continual internal dose evaluation from a change of the internal exposure conditions such as an intake type (acute, chronic), an intake pathway (inhalation, ingestion), an absorption type (Type F, M, S), and a particle size (AMAD, activity median aerodynamic diameter), and also to estimate the intakes in various conditions of an internal exposure at a time. The values calculated by the BiDAS-2007 code are consistent and in good agreement with those values by IMIE-2004 code by Berkovski and IMBA code by Birchall. The BiDAS-2007 computer code is very useful and user-friendly to estimate the radionuclide intakes and committed effective doses of a radiation worker.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4181-4190
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• 2023

Nuclear power plants are subjected to various processes during decommissioning, including cutting, decontamination, disposal, and treatment. The cutting of massive bio-shields is a significant step in the decommissioning process. Cutting is performed near the target structure, and during this process, workers are exposed to potential radioactive elements. However, studies considering worker exposure management during such cutting operations are limited. Furthermore, dismantling a nuclear power plant under certain circumstances may result in the unnecessary radiation exposure of workers and an increase in secondary waste generation. In this study, a cutting scenario was formulated considering the bio-shield as a representative structure. The specifications of a standard South Korean radioactive waste disposal drum were used as the basic conditions. Additionally, we explored the hot-to-cold and cold-to-hot methods, with and without the application of polishing during decontamination. For evaluating various scenarios, different cutting time points up to 30 years after permanent shutdown were considered, and cutting speeds of 1-10nullm²/h were applied to account for the variability and uncertainty attributable to the design output and specifications. The obtained results provide fundamental guidelines for establishing cutting methods suitable for large structures.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.421-429
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• 2012

Lately, the number of interventional radiology is increased by the extension of procedure in medical radiation, and radiation exposure may be appeared differently by interventional radiologists, it is caused increase of radiation dose for radiation worker, patient, and radiologists. This study has done a comparative analysis characteristic of radiation exposure for five radiologists who executed interventional cardiology for 303 patients in S university hospital of Gyeong-Buk from Nov. 1, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2011. The average exposure time of five radiologists was 697.95sec. The average of cumulative DAP(exp) for patients was $52,730mGycm^2$ and the average of total DAP for patients was $104,875.14mGycm^2$. The average of frames for image was 855.52 frames in acquired images, and the average of frames for images was 802.2 frames in exposure images. They were statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Exposure time, cumulative DAP(fluro), cumulative DAP(exp), total DAP, acquired image, and exposure image were high correlation except cumulative DAP(exp), and acquired runs in x-ray exposure characteristics of machine. Exposure time was a great influence on radiologist. It signified that the more exposure time lead to the more radiation dose for radiologist. Radiation dose is related to ability, experience, difficulty, and precision of procedures in interventional procedure. The number of angiography and exposure time is difficult to control by radiologists. Therefore, it is in need of reasonable system which was evaluated the real dose of medical teams in interventional proceedings. We think that self education and training are required to reduce radiation dose for radiologists and radiation workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2023

Objectives: Formalin is used as an anthelmintic in farms where flounder are raised. In this study, we aim to identify formaldehyde exposure levels for aquaculture industry workers and provide basic data for managing formaldehyde exposure. Methods: Exposure levels of formaldehyde in the air, including formalin spraying operations, were assessed separately for personal and area samples. In addition, considering the formalin administration method, dermal exposure to the hands was estimated when administering the chemical, and dermal exposure to the legs during water tank work was estimated by collecting water in the water tank and evaluating the amount of formaldehyde remaining. Finally, the respiratory exposure level and the estimated dermal exposure level were added to derive the total exposure level and compared with the maximum allowable human dose. Results: As a result of the airborne evaluation, the formaldehyde concentration of the worker (1 person) who performed the formalin spraying and flounder sorting was 33.61 ppb, and the arithmetic mean of formaldehyde concentrations of the workers (3 people) who only performed the flounder sorting was 3.28 ppb (range: 2.25-4.89 ppb). In the case of dermal exposure, when spraying formalin once, the amount was estimated to be 0.33-2.62 mg when wearing protective gear and 3.27-26.12 mg when not wearing it. Conclusions: There was a difference in the formaldehyde exposure level of workers depending on their operation of handling formalin and whether or not protective gear was worn. In particular, because the level of formaldehyde exposure due to dermal exposure can be significant, there is a need to improve formalin administration methods in a way that avoids skin contact as much as possible.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2008

This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure of worker and user at public facilities in Korea to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We measured the concentrations of two aldehydes and five VOCs in indoor air at 424 public buildings that 8 kinds of public facilities (70 movie theaters, 86 offices, 86 restaurants, 70 academies, 22 auditoriums, 30 PC-rooms, 30 singing-rooms and 30 bars) all over the country. There were estimated the human exposure dose and risks with averages of the using-time and frequency for facility users and office workers, respectively. Carcinogens (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene) were estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs). non-carcinogens (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene) were estimated the hazard quotients (HQs). The average ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene for facility worker and user were $1{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}1{\times}10^{-4}\;and\;1{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}1{\times}10^{-5}$ level, respectively, in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities. The estimated ECRs for restaurant and auditorium were the highest, and the PC-room and bar were the next higher facilities. Furthermore, people in a smoking facility had the highest cancer risk. Higher ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene were observed in indoor smoking facilities such as restaurant and auditorium. Higher HQs of toluene and xylene were observed at the restaurant and office building.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2010

Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between low external doses of ionizing radiation exposure and the risk of cancer mortality among nuclear power plant workers. Methods: We searched MEDLINE using key words related to low dose and cancer risk. The selected articles were restricted to those written in English from 1990 to January 2009. We excluded those studies with no fit to the selection criteria and we included the cited references in published articles to minimize publication bias. Through this process, a total of 11 epidemiologic studies were finally included. A publication bias was tested for using Egger's test. The homogeneity test was performed before the integration of each of the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and the result proved that the studies were heterogeneous. Results: We found significant decreased deaths from all cancers (SMR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62 - 0.90), all cancers excluding leukemia, solid cancer, mouth and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, rectum, liver and gallbladder, pancreas, lung, prostate, lymphopoietic and hematopoitic cancer. The findings of this meta-analysis were similar with those of the 15 Country Collaborative Study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A publication bias was found only for liver and gallbladder cancer (p = 0.015). Heterogeneity was observed for all cancers, all cancers excluding leukemia, solid cancer, esophagus, colon and lung cancer. Conclusions: Our findings of low mortality for stomach, rectum, liver and gallbladder cancers may explained by the health worker effect. Yet further studies are needed to clarify the low SMR of cancers, for which there is no useful screening tool, in nuclear power plant workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.4 s.76
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• pp.60-65
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• 2006

It is a well known fact that LCD is a central part of the IT industry which is important in the present and the future. But the biggest problem of LCD manufacturing is maintaining a cleaning room environment and administration. Therefore the purpose of this study is to first, prevent the yield depreciation and damage of products, and second, protect the worker ftom accidental electrostatic discharge during LCD manufacture. The soft x-ray ionizer is a type of electrostatic reducer device. It protects against electrostatic discharge in the cleaning room environment and is a necessary environmental factor during LCD production. The positive aspects of the soft x-ray are its shorter time and wider angle of exposure. But the negative aspect of the soft x-ray is its need for several shielding of protection from the harmful x-ray exposure. On this study, the development of the Air Nozzle-type ionizer to amend and refine some problems. For example, examined the electrostatic reduce device of a soft x-ray type and discovered the ion did not go inside well. also workers to be free from danger. An Air Nozzle-type ionizer is comprised of soft x-ray radiation and ionized air production. Air is injected through the nozzle after being ionized from radiation. It supplies air keeping the same pressure into the end foundation of ion production. The soft x-ray is the structure which radiates ionized air through the nozzle (21 holes) having micro holes of the ionizable radiation after ionizing the inside air by the ion production. A worker does not need a cover to protect against x-rays and the Air Nozzle-type ionizer is easy to set up and is more effective at eliminating electrostatic.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 1999

This study was performed to find out factors affecting degree of satisfaction with workers' working environment. The study subjects were 165 workers who were working at painting process of twelve furniture manufacturing factories in Incheon area. We used self-administered questionnaire containing general characteristics, working conditions, the degree of satisfaction with working environment, and the degree of satisfaction with working condition. In addition, we measured the exposure levels of occupational hazardous agents. The results were as follows; 1. Correlations between the degree of satisfaction with workers' working environment and the measured of occupational hazardous agents did not affect the degree of satisfaction with workers' working environment. 2. Factors affecting the degree of satisfaction with workers' working environment were not the exposure levels of occupational hazardous agents, but the degree of satisfaction with working condition, size of industry, health status, and types of ventilation system. As the degree of satisfaction with working condition was increased, the degree of satisfaction with working environment was increased. Also, for the workers who had good health status, the degree of satisfaction with work environment was appeared to be high. To increase the degree of satisfaction, with workers' working environment, firstly, effective work management and production control are required. Also, the worker's effort to negotiate continuously with top manager on improving working conditions is required. Secondly, developing heath promotion program to be appropriate for the characteristics of worksite is required. Moreover, leading worker's participation in health promotion program is very important to increase the degree of satisfaction with workers' working environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2020

With the decrease of the agricultural population in Korea, the workers who is vulnerable to labor are increasing in agricultural industry because of aging, feminization of population. They are exposed in poor working environment with higher temperature and concentrations of dust, gas. Higher concentration of harmful gas and dust can cause chronic and acute disease to workers depending on exposure intensity and frequency. In order to improve the working environment in the livestock facilities, It is important to secure monitoring data of the thermal environment and the concentration of harmful gases and fine dust. Multi-point measurement was performed to analyze the regional environmental conditions in the pig rooms. When analyzing the working environment, video monitoring was conducted to analyze the concentration changes of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and fine dust according to worker movement and work type. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide monitoring result showed 1.5~2 times higher concentrations than other work when working in the pigs living zone, and 2~4 times higher than other work when working to increase the activity of pigs. In the case of fine dust, the result was 1.3 times higher than the worker's exposure standard in a specific work. The concentrations of gases and dusts from pig farms are not of concern for acute poisoning in normal work, but there is a risk of chronic respiratory disease if they are continuously exposed. Accordingly, there is a need for development of work environment monitoring device tailored to workers and preparation of alternatives.