• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.160-169
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• 2021

Background: Dual-energy X-ray images (DEI) can distinguish or improve materials of interest in a two-dimensional radiographic image, by combining two images obtained from separate low and high energies. The concepts of DEI performance describing the performance of double-exposure DEI systems in the Fourier domain been previously introduced, however, the performance of double-exposure DEI itself in terms of various parameters, has not been reported. Materials and Methods: To investigate the DEI performance, signal-difference-to-noise ratio, modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, and noise equivalent quanta were used. Low- and high-energy were 60 and 130 kVp with 0.01-0.09 mGy, respectively. The energy-separation filter material and its thicknesses were tin (Sn) and 0.0-1.0 mm, respectively. Noise-reduction (NR) filtering used the Gaussian-filter NR, median-filter NR, and anti-correlated NR. Results and Discussion: DEI performance was affected by Sn-filter thickness, weighting factor, and dose allocation. All NR filtering successfully reduced noise, when compared with the dual-energy (DE) images without any NR filtering. Conclusion: The results indicated the significance of investigating, and evaluating suitable DEI performance, for DE images in chest radiography applications. Additionally, all the NR filtering methods were effective at reducing noise in the resultant DE images.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2004.11c
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• pp.319-321
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• 2004

The average glandular dose (AGD) is determined by the breast entrance skin exposure, x-ray tube target material, beam quality (half-value layer), breast thickness, and breast composition. Almost breast cancer always arises in glandular breast tissue. As a result, the average radiation absorbed dose to glandular tissue is the preferred measure of the radiation risk associated with mammography. If the normalized average glandular dose is known, the average glandular dose can be computed from the product of the normalized average glandular dose and breast entrance skin exposure. In this study, AGD was calculated by the breast thickness and various x-ray energy (HVL) in 50% glandular 50% adipose breast by Mo.-Rh. assembly. AGD is 84 mrad in compressed 5 cm breast. These results show that as increasing the breast thickness, dose also increases. But as increasing the x-ray tube voltage, dose decreases because of high penetrating ratio through the object. But high tube voltage is reducing the subject contrast. From this result, we have to consider the trade-off between subject contrast of image and dose to the patient and choose proper x-ray energy range.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.465-471
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• 2012

In this study, three dimensional X-ray dose distribution from dental X-ray generator system was measured by ALOKA PDM-117 dosimeter. The X-ray dose distribution will be change with XCP-DS FIT in oral shot, because the distance between X-ray generator and the dosimeter. The X-ray dose change affects on patient exposure and radiograph image quality. Therefore, it is important to obtain relation between the X-ray dose and the distance. The X-ray dose at the central position was decreased with increasing the distance. Furthermore, the dose at the edge of the X-ray flux was increased with increasing the distance. The increased dose affects on the patient radiation exposure. The present results will provide for good dental radiograph image and reducing radiation over-exposure on patient.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 1998

An analysis has been performed to estimate the additional number of workers and the additional collective dose in man-cSv which would be required, nuclear industry-wide as a result of reducing individual dose limit. This analysis can be extended to the reduction in the dose limits recommended by ICRP Publ.60 and BEIR V report as well as the proposed dose limits by regulatory authorities. An industry-wide database was employed in the analysis based on a summary of industry-wide occupational radiation exposure compiled by the Korea Radioisotope Association. Correlation model was employed to compute the affects of setting specific annual individual dose limits. In this study, we have addressed worker non-productivity while in the radiation environment on a parametric or 'sensitivity analysis' basis. This alleviates the need for developing such data underlying a summation of many individual tasks at many nuclear facilities. It has the advantage that very low non-productivity assumptions can readily be defended as conservative, in that it is difficult to approach such low worker non-productivity factors even in the best of environments in any industry. On a per facility basis, for calendar year 1997, the number of workers required would be increased from 231 workers to 269 workers and collective man-cSv dose would be also increased by approximately fourteen percent if the individual dose limit was reduced to 2 cSv/y and an individual worker non-productivity fraction of 0.1 is assumed.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquisition protocols on reducing the effective radiation dose while maintaining image quality. Materials and Methods: The effective dose emitted by a CBCT device was calculated using thermoluminescent dosimeters placed in a Rando Alderson phantom. Image quality was assessed by 3 experienced evaluators. The relationship between image quality and confidence was evaluated using the Fisher exact test, and the agreement among raters was assessed using the kappa test. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the technical parameters could predict the effective dose. P-values<0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The optimized protocol (3 mA, 99 kVp, and 450 projection images) demonstrated good image quality and a lower effective dose for radiation-sensitive organs. Image quality and confidence had consistent values for all structures (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis resulted in a statistically significant model. The milliamperage (b=0.504; t=3.406; P=0.027), kilovoltage peak (b=0.589; t=3.979; P=0.016) and number of projection images (b=0.557; t=3.762; P=0.020) were predictors of the effective dose. Conclusion: Optimized CBCT acquisition protocols can significantly reduce the effective radiation dose while maintaining acceptable image quality by adjusting the milliamperage and projection images.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2023

A Study on the Introduction of Dose Constraints for Occupational Exposures: Focusing on Experts' Opinions by Field of Radiation Industry. The International Commission on Radiological Protection suggests Justification, Optimization, and Dose Limits as the three principles of radiological protection, among which, as a means of protection optimization, ICRP 103 recommends to set dose constraints. In this study, opinions are collected from experts in each category of radiation industries for stakeholder participation to qualify dose constraints. A guidance and questionnaire for analyzing the dose constraints have been developed for their collection, and opinions were collected from radiation protection experts in selected categories. 20 out of 22 experts, consisted with 91%, have assessed the dose constraints setting is necessary, and 2 experts, consisted with 9%, assessed it is unnecessary. The average of dose constraint presented by experts for RI production institutions is to be the highest level of 15.3 mSv, and light-water reactors (14.6 mSv), non-destructive inspection (14.4 mSv), heavy-water reactor and medical institutes (13.9mSv) is to be above the overall average dose constraint. In case of public institutions, the average dose constraint is to be 8.6mSv, and research institutions (8.8mSv), educational institutions (9.6 mSv), waste disposal sites (9.7 mSv), and general industries (10.6 mSv) are resulted to below the overall average dose constraint. As for the means of setting dose constraints, 8 experts out of 22 suggested setting dose constraints for each specific industry or task. And, 5 experts especially suggest setting dose constraints for the specific groups with relatively high exposure, such as workers with above the record levels. As a countermeasure for workers who exceed the dose constraints, 15 experts out of 22 expressed that the cause analyses for them and preparation for a plan of reducing them are necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.393-400
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• 2020

Unlike conventional radiographic examinations, angiointerventional procedures have a high risk of radiation exposure to patients or operators due to prolonged radiation exposure time. This study was undertaken to examine effects of reducing the radiation risk by applying dose reduction fiber (DRF) shielding cloth during angiography. To investigate the properties of DRF shielding cloth, we measured the scattered radiation below and above a human phantom using a glass dosimeter, at site distances 10 cm away from the irradiated field. The results obtained reveal a 15 ~ 31% reduction of scattered radiation in the irradiation field, and 53 ~ 70% reduced radiation measured after phantom transmission. Taken together, our data indicate that application of DRF shielding cloth for radiation reduction at non-procedural sites during interventional procedure results in reduction of scattered doses to patients and operators, without affecting the medical examinations. We propose the use of DRF shielding during angiointerventional procedures, in order to reduce the risk of radiation exposure of patients and operators.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.579-587
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• 2017

Although interventional procedures use very low tube currents, there is a high risk of exposure to radiation as well as the operator due to long-term radiation exposure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of radiation dose on the quality of the operator by measuring the dose received by the operator in the interventional procedure of the cerebral vascular system and finding the shielding material and shielding method which can effectively shield the exposure from the medical radiation. And to find a way to minimize it to the extent that it does not. As a result, when the newly designed shielding system with Nano Tungsten material was used, it was confirmed that the mean dose was reduced by 7.95% on average by the operator. Also, the PSNR results were measured to be 38.44 dB when using the designed shielding material, and it was confirmed that Nano Tungsten does not affect the image quality. In conclusion, the Nano Tungsten shielding material proved to be capable of significantly reducing the operator radiation dose, without affecting the image quality. The use of the above materials is expected to solve the problems related to the harmfulness and economical efficiency of the human body and the environment, which have recently become an issue of shielding materials.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.377-387
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• 2018

Korea's first commercial nuclear power plant, Kori Unit 1, was permanently shut down on June 18, 2017, after 40 years of successful operation. Kori Unit 1 plans to construct a waste treatment facility in the turbine building prior to commencement of dismantling in earnest. Various radioactive wastes are decontaminated, disassembled, cut and melted in the waste treatment facility and sent to the radioactive waste repository. The proportion of metal radioactive waste in dismantled waste is about 70%, of which large metal radioactive waste is mainly generated in the primary circuit and has high radioactivity, so radiation exposure must be managed during disassembly. In this study, the steam generators are selected as large metal radioactive waste, the exposure doses of the dismantling workers are calculated using RESRAD-RECYCLE code and the methods for reducing the exposure doses are suggested.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2001

Purpose: To compare the film density of Insight dental X-ray film (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA) with that of Ektaspeed Plus film (Eastman Kodak) under manual and automatic processing conditions. Materials and Methods : Insight and Ektaspeed Plus films were exposed at three different exposure conditions with an aluminum step wedge on the films under the three different exposure times. The exposed films were processed by both manual and automatic ways. The Base plus fog density and the optical density made by exposing step wedge were calculated using a digital densitometer (model 07-443, Victoreen Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). The optical densities of the Insight and Ektaspeed film versus thickness of alumimun wedge at the same exposure time were plotted on the graphs. Statistical analyses were applied for comparing the optical densities of the two films. Results: The film density of both Insight films and Ektaspeed Plus films under automatic processing condition was significantly higher over the manual processing. The film density of Insight films was significantly higher than that of Ektaspeed Plus films on both automatic and manual processing conditions. Conclusion: The radiation exposure time can be reduced when using Insight over Ektaspeed Plus film. To take the full advantage of reducing exposure time, Insight film should be processed automatically.