• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.209-225
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• 2016

In this study, radiation workers who work in nuclear medicine department were analyzed to find the cause of differences of radiation exposure from General Characteristic, Knowledge, Recognition and Conduct, especially females working on nuclear medicine radiation, in order to pave the way for positive defense against radiation exposure. The subjects were 106 radiation workers who were divided into two groups of sixty-four males and forty-two females answered questions about their General Characteristic, Knowledge, Recognition, Conduct, and radiation exposure dose which was measured by TLD (Thermo Luminescence Dosimeter). The results of the analysis revealed that as the higher score of knowledge and conduct was shown, the radiation exposure decreased in female groups, and as the higher score of conduct was shown, the radiation exposure decreased in male groups. In the correlation analysis of female groups, the non-experienced in pregnancy showed decreasing amount of radiation exposure as the score of knowledge and conduct was higher and the experienced in pregnancy showed decreasing amount of radiation exposure as the score of recognition and conduct was higher. In the regression analysis on related factors of radiation exposure dose of nuclear medicine radiation workers, the gender caused the meaningful result and the amount of radiation exposure of female groups compared to male groups. In the regression analysis on related factors of radiation exposure dose of female groups, the factor of conduct showed a meaningful result and the amount of radiation exposure of the experienced in pregnancy was lower compared to the non-experienced. The conclusion of this study revealed that radiation exposure of female groups was lower than that of male groups. Therefore, male groups need to more actively defend themselves against radiation exposure. Among the female groups, the experienced in pregnancy who have an active defense tendency showed a lower radiation exposure. Thus, those who have never been pregnant need to have a more active defensive conduct for the future possibility of pregnancy.

• 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 Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2010

In a primary system at nuclear power plants (NPPs), various radionuclides including fission products and corrosion products are generated due to the complex water conditions. Particularly, $^3H,\;^{14}C,\;^{58}Co,\;^{60}Co,\;^{137}Cs,\;and^{131}I$ are important radionuclides in respect of dose assessment for radiation workers and management of radioactive effluents. In this paper, the dominant contributors of radiation exposure for radiation workers and the member of public adjacent to NPPs were reviewed and the process of dose assessment attributable to those contributors were introduced. Furthermore, the analysis for some examples of radiation exposure to radiation workers and the public during the NPP operation was carried out. This analysis included the notable precedents of internal radiation exposure and contamination of demineralized water occurred in Korean NPPs. Particularly, the potential issue about the dose assessment of tritium and carbon-14 was also reviewed in this paper.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2007

A deuterium oxide leakage accident occurred on October 4, 1999, at nuclear power plant in Korea. The concentration of tritium in air increased and 22 workers were exposed by tritium at that time. It is well known that tritium causes internal exposure. Therefore, we examined complete blood cell count, physical and biological dosimetry fur 13 workers among whole 22 workers to check the health effect and to evaluate the dose estimation of tritium exposure. The leukocyte count test, one of general blood test, was normal. The estimated doses were 0 - 4.44 mSv by physical dosimetry and 0-37 mGy by biological dosimetry. This dose does not exceed radiation dose limit, and the clinical symptoms of the exposed workers were not shown. The consistency between clinical sign and estimated dose means that physical and biological dosimetry were very useful especially in accident evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.555-564
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• 2017

The current radiation risk assessment for occupational exposure is based on the measured exposure dose and health checkups of workers. This people-centered risk assessment may occur errors because absence of using personal dosimeter or unrelated health symptoms of individuals lead to difficulties in obtaining accurate data from workers. In addition, although the established legal upper dose limit was used as a reference for the assessment, it does not imply that this limit is the optimal dose of radiation workers should get; ALARA principle should always be appreciated. Therefore, a new risk assessment model that can take account of all the important factors and implement optimization of radiation protection is required at the national level. In this paper, based on the KOSHA Risk Assessment, we studied on the workplace-centered risk assessment model for radiation field rather than the people-centered. The result of the study derived a right model for radiation field through the analysis of the risk assessment methods in various fields and also found data acquisition methods and procedures for applying to the model. Multidimensional model centering on the workplace will enables more accurate radiation risk assessment by using a risk index and radar plot, and consequently contribute to the efficient worker management, preemptive worker protection and implementation of optimization of radiation protection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2023

In this study, radiation exposure doses were measured in the course of clinical practice of radiation workers, radiological technologists in the radiation-related worker group, and preliminary-radiological technologists who were classified as frequent visitors. Radiological technologists who worked in the radiation area of C University Hospital in Incheon for a year from January 2021 and 121 students who completed clinical practice at the same medical institution from July 1 to August 31 were the subjects of the study. The nominal risk factor based on ICRP 103 was used to evaluate the probability of side effects due to the exposure dose to the lungs, which are organs at risk of damage due to radiation exposure dose. During the clinical practice period, radiology students, who were classified as frequent visitors, had a surface dose of 0.98 ± 0.14 mSv and a deep dose of 0.93 ± 0.14 mSv. In other words, 6.7 per 1,000,000 for shallow dose and 6.4 per 1,000,000 for deep dose were found to have side effects due to exposure to the lungs. This is a value in terms of exposure dose in one year. Considering that the radiation (science) education course is 3 or 4 years, systematic management and attention to prospective radiation workers who are going to clinical practice are required, and the stochastic effect of radiation In relation to this, it is considered that it will be used as basic data for radiation safety management.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.143-153
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• 2018

Background: The determination of the amount of radionuclides and internal dose for the worker who may have intake of radionuclides results in a variation due to uncertainty of measurement data and ingestion information. As a result of this, it is possible that for the same internal exposure scenario assessors could make considerably different estimation of internal dose. In order to reduce this difference, internal exposure scenarios for nuclear facilities were developed, and intercomparison were made to determine the harmonization of dose assessment results among the assessors. Materials and Methods: Seven cases on internal exposures incidents that have occurred or may occur were prepared by referring to the intercomparison excercise scenario that NRC and IAEA have carried out. Based on this, 16 nuclear facilities concerned with internal exposure in Korea were asked to evaluate the scenarios. Each result was statistically determined according to the harmonization discrimination criteria developed by IDEAS/IAEA. Results and Discussion: The results were evaluated as having no outliers in all 7 cases. However, the distribution of the results was spread by various causes. They can be divided into two wide categories. The first one is the distribution of the results according to the assumption of the intake factors and the evaluation factors. The second one is distribution due to misapplication of calculation method and factors related to internal exposure. Conclusion: In order to satisfy the harmonization criteria and accuracy of the internal exposure dose evaluation, it is necessary that exact guidelines should be set on low dose, and various intercomparison cases also be needed including high dose exposure as well as the specialized education. The aim of the blind test is to make harmonization evaluation, but it will also contribute to securing the expertise and high quality of dose evaluation data through the discussion among the participants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.267-275
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• 2023

Occupational exposure records are subject of global interest, and analysis of radiation workers in work categories is being conducted. In Rep. of Korea, according to relevant ministries, the MOHW(Ministry of Health and Welfare), the MAFRA(Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), and the NSSC(Nuclear Safety and Security Commission) collect and analyze records of occupational exposure by dividing them into 11 work categories. However, this classification system lacks consistency with the systems of major countries, including the UNSCEAR(United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). The domestic radiation work field classification system does not have clear classification criteria and does not reflect the characteristics of the radiation work field. Through the analysis of the classification system of the UNSCEAR, we suggested the five main categories(nuclear cycle, medical, industrial, others(education/research, military/public) field and several sub-categories according to each radiation work field.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2010

Opened a court in February 10, 2006, a rule of safety management of the diagnosis radiation system was promulgated for safety of the radiation worker, patients and patients' family members. The purpose of this rule is to minimize the risk of being exposed to radiation during the process of handling X-ray. For this reason, we manufactured shielding device of mobile X-ray unit collimator for diminution of skin dose. Shielding device is made to a thickness of Pb 0.375mm. For portable chest radiography, we measured skin dose 50cm from center ray to 200cm at intervals of 20cm by Unfors Xi detector. As a result, a rule of safety management of the diagnosis radiation system has been strengthened. But there are exceptions, such as ER, OR, ICU to this rule. So shielding device could contribute to protect unnecessary radiation exposure and improve nation's health.

• 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.