• Title/Summary/Keyword: workers' health and safety

Search Result 1,430, Processing Time 0.031 seconds

Evaluation of Spatial Dose Rate in Working Environment during Non-Destructive Testing using Radioactive Isotopes (방사성동위원소를 이용한 비파괴 검사 시 작업환경 내 공간선량률 평가)

  • Cho, Yong-In;Kim, Jung-Hoon;Bae, Sang-Il
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
    • /
    • v.16 no.4
    • /
    • pp.373-379
    • /
    • 2022
  • The radiation source used for non-destructive testing have permeability and cause a scattered radiation through collisions of surrounding materials, which causes changes in the surrounding spatial dose. Therefore, this study attempted to evaluate and analyze the distribution of spatial dose by source in the working environment during the non-destructive test using monte carlo simulation. In this study, Using FLUKA, a simulation code, simulates 60Co, 192Ir, and 75Se source used in non-destructive testing, The reliability of the source term was secured by comparing the calculated dose rate with the data of the Health and Physics Association. After that, a non-destructive test in the radiation safety facility(RT-room) was designed to evaluate the spatial dose according to the distance from the source. As a result of the spatial dose evaluation, 75Se source showed the lowest dose distribution in the frontal position and 60Co source showed a dose rate of about 15 times higher than that of 75Se and about 2 times higher than that of 192Ir. In addition, the spatial dose according to the distance tends to decrease according to the distance inverse square law as the distance from the source increases. Exceptionally, 60Co, 192Ir, and 75Se sources confirmed a slight increase within 2 m of position. Based on the results of this study, it is believed that it will be used as supplementary data for safety management of workers in radiation safety facilities during non-destructive testing using radioactive isotopes.

Comparison of Occupational Exposure Limits in Six Agencies for Hazardous Substances Related Workers' Periodic Health Examination in South Korea (우리나라 특수건강진단 대상물질에 대한 6개 기관의 직업적 노출 기준 비교)

  • Lee, Sangyoon;Suh, Chun-Hui;Kim, Se-Yeong;Ye, Byeong Jin;Sul, Jingon;Son, Jun-Seok;Yoon, Jongwan;Hong, Sukwoo;Ryu, Ji Young;Kim, Dae-Hwan
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.23 no.2
    • /
    • pp.148-155
    • /
    • 2013
  • Objectives: This study was performed in order to compare the average levels and similarity of occupational exposure limits in South Korea, the U.S., the E.U., Germany, Japan and Finland. Methods: In this study, occupational exposure limits (OELs) for one hundred and seventy seven hazardous substances which are managed in the workplace by the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea were matched with those of other countries. The units for the exposure limits of the same substance (identical CAS number) were unified and the exposure limits in each country were compared with threshold limit values (TLVs) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) using a geometric mean method. Geometric similarity was calculated to assess the association by each country. Results: The exposure limits according to ACGIH TLVs in South Korea, the E.U., Germany, Japan, and Finland were 148, 37, 76, 90, and 110, respectively. When using TLVs of ACGIH as a standard, the geometric mean ratios of Germany, Finland, the E.U., South Korea, and Japan were 0.79, 0.80, 0.82, 1.19, and 1.27, respectively. Geometric similarity with TLVs of ACGIH was highest in South Korea (0.75) followed by Japan (0.56), the E.U. (0.52), Finland (0.50), and Germany (0.46). Conclusions: Through the comparison of levels of OELs and similarities among South Korea, the U.S., the E.U., Germany, Japan, and Finland, we could better understand the characteristics of occupational exposure limits by country.

Analysis of the Necessity of Medical Records Related to Radiological Examination (방사선검사의 의무기록에 관한 요구도 분석)

  • Hong, Dong-Hee;Lim, Cheong-Hwan;Lim, Woo-Taek;Joo, Young-Cheol;Jung, Hong-Ryang;Kim, Eun-Hye;Yoon, Yong-Su;Jung, Young-Jin;Choi, Ji-Won;Jeong, Sung-Hun;Park, Myeong-Hwan;Yang, Oh-Nam;Jeong, Bong-Jae
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.44 no.5
    • /
    • pp.513-523
    • /
    • 2021
  • The purpose of this study was to discuss the required items and feasibility of medical records of radiological examinations performed by radiological technologists at medical institutions. An online survey was conducted to a total of 10,000 radiation-related workers, of which 1,026 (10.3%) responded. As a research method, self-made questionnaires were used. The online survey was conducted from September 10 to September 20, 2021 for the survey period. For response data, a Chi-square test was performed according to demographic characteristics using SPSS 27.0 version (IBM Inc., Chicago, Ill, USA), and it was judged to be significant when the P value was less than 0.05. The reliability of the questionnaire response was found to be Chronbach α=0.933. More than 90% of the medical records related to radiological examinations are necessary, and they answered that a curriculum, remuneration curriculum, and legal system for medical records should be prepared. More than 90% of the respondents agreed with the proposal of the Radiological Technologist Independent Act for legal preparation, and most of the information required for medical records is currently recorded in DICOM images. According to the demographic characteristics, the medical record requirement for radiological examination, curriculum, continuing education, and legislation were found to be higher with higher education and higher with longer working experience. In addition, most of the radiology departments showed a high demand for medical records, so most of them responded positively to the medical records requirements for radiological examinations. This study analyzed the medical record requirements for radiological examinations, and as shown in the results, medical record requirements for radiological examinations was found that most radiological technologists felt need for the new law and supported it. In addition, if the information recorded in the DICOM image is used, it is considered that medical records could be easily prepared without additional work by the radiological technologists.

A Comparison of Dose-Response Assessments for CMR Materials in the Workplace (작업장에서 취급하는 CMR물질의 용량반응평가 방법 비교)

  • Lee, Kyung Hwa;Choi, Han Young;Kim, Chi Nyon;Roh, Young Man;Choi, Hee Jin;Park, Chae Ri
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.28 no.1
    • /
    • pp.51-60
    • /
    • 2018
  • Objectives: Currently, there is only limited knowledge regarding the hazard of low-level exposure to CMR materials in workplaces. To overcome this limitation, a reference concentration for workers($RfC_w$) from among the risk assessment tools proposed by the US EPA is widely used to set a provisional workplace exposure level(PWEL) for CMR materials for which there are no established Korea Occupational Exposure Limits(KOELs) or subjective chemicals for work environment measurements as regulated by Korea Ministry of Employment and Labor(KMOEL). A simple European calculator of derived no effect level(SECO-DNEL) as proposed by REACH can also be used in place of $RfC_w$ to set the PWEL for chemicals. This study was performed to test the acceptability of using SECO-DNEL as an alternative to $RfC_w$ when setting a PWEL for low-level exposures. Methods: The $RfC_w$ and DNEL for the five CMR materials of dinitrogen oxide, catechol, 2-phenoxy ethanol, carbitol, and carbon black were calculated using the dose-response assessments of the US EPA for $RfC_w$ and REACH guidance for SECO-DNEL, respectively. They were compared using paired t-tests to determine the statistical differences between them. Results: For the five chemicals, the $RfC_w$ were 2.53 ppm, 0.10 ppm, 1.73 ppm, 1.66 ppm, and $0.05mg/m^3$, respectively, while the SECO-DNEL were 2.01 ppm, 0.11 ppm, 1.83 ppm, 1.77 ppm, $0.14mg/m^3$, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between $RfC_w$ and SECO-DNEL. Conclusions: This study suggests that the SECO-DNEL could be applied in place of $RfC_w$ to set a PWEL for low-level exposure to chemicals, especially CMR materials. To further ensure the reliability of SECO-DNEL as an alternative tool, more chemicals should be applied for calculation and comparison with $RfC_w$.

An Exercise Rehabilitation Field Revitalization Plan for Promoting Elderly Sport for All (노인생활체육 진흥을 위한 운동재활분야 활성화 방안)

  • Cho, Kyoung-Hwan
    • Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
    • /
    • v.14 no.4
    • /
    • pp.305-319
    • /
    • 2020
  • A The purpose of this study was to determine the present state of the exercise rehabilitation field, promote elderly sport for all, and present a revitalization program for higher quality of life for the elderly in the coming era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and aged society. Literature review was performed to analyze the actual conditions of the activities for elderly sport for all and the relevant field of exercise rehabilitation, analyze the elderly health and welfare and elderly sport for all programs, and present a plan for revitalizing the field of exercise rehabilitation to promote elderly sport for all. First, it is necessary to reinforce the awareness and promotion of the need and importance of exercise rehabilitation in inducing seniors to participate in sport for all. Second, it is necessary to make it compulsory to place sport leaders for seniors at such places as elderly leisure and welfare centers and promote expertise in managing elderly health guidance efficiently through cooperation with welfare workers. Third, it is necessary to make it compulsory to take exercise rehabilitation and similar subjects in the curriculums of sport for all, elderly sport welfare, and silver welfare sport as well as the subject of volunteering activities at such places as elderly leisure and welfare centers with the aim of giving opportunities for career choice. Fourth, it is necessary to develop characterized exercise rehabilitation programs at senior welfare centers, community centers for the elderly, and elderly classes and employ experts equipped with exercise event and exercise rehabilitation capabilities as itinerant lecturers to contribute to the government's job creation policies through cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MOCST) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Fifth, it is necessary to make a greater investment in research and development required for elderly sport for all. Sixth, it is necessary to develop and distribute various exercise rehabilitation treatment videos and guidelines that seniors can use for themselves. This is associated with the fifth one; in particular, it is urgent to devise measures against Coronavirus 19. Seventh, it is necessary to reduce inefficiency and budget waste caused by overlapped tasks by establishing a new elderly sports promotion organization through adjustment by MOCST and MOHW; it is also necessary to increase the functions of organization establishment with the aim of reinforcing the education area, which involves post-retirement health care, exercise rehabilitation, safety accident prevention, and virus.

Radiation Exposure of Hands and Feet from $^{18}F$-FDG in Radio-technologists (방사선 작업 종사자의 작업화 및 작업복의 방사선 오염 분석)

  • Lee, Seung-Jae;Jeong, Seok;Seo, Soo-Hyun;Park, Yong-Sung;Park, Hoon-Hee;Oh, Shin-Hyun;Lim, Han-Sang;Kim, Jae-Sam;Lee, Chang-Ho
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.15 no.2
    • /
    • pp.94-98
    • /
    • 2011
  • Purpose: The radiation exposure from radioisotope at the hands and foots of radiation workers who works in PET/CT part at the department of nuclear medicine was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: From 4th August 2010 to 14th January 2011, 6 radio-technologists' radiation on hands and feet were measured. All radio-technologist have been examined around 8; morning, 12; afternoon, and 16 o'clock; evening, respectively. SPSS version 17 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The statistical significances were calculated in several ways. The radiation from both hands and feet in the Morning was lower than Afternoon and Evening. In some cases, the detected radiation showed extremely high values in data. In order to find the effect of the ${\gamma}$-ray on the hand, the estimated doses were presumably calculated, however, the exposure dose on feet were unmeasured. Conclusion: Even if the radiation exposure from the radioisotope at the hands and feet were under the limitations, it is definitely needs to prevent the radiation-contamination. Therefore, the radio-technologists need to have a proper radiation-dealing-procedure of their own, and must try to prevent a radiation exposure by themselves.

  • PDF

A Study on the Improvement of Flexible Working Hours (유연근로시간제 개선에 대한 연구)

  • Kwon, Yong-man;Seo, Ei-seok
    • Journal of Venture Innovation
    • /
    • v.4 no.2
    • /
    • pp.97-108
    • /
    • 2021
  • Labor contracts appear in form as an exchange relationship between labor products and wages, but since they transcend the level of simple barter, they can be economically identified as "trading" and can be identified as "rental." From a legal point of view, a legal device that legally supports and imposes binding force on commodity exchange relations is a contract. Such a labor contract led to a relationship in which wages were received and a certain amount of time was placed under the direction and supervision of the employer as a counter benefit to the receipt of wages. Since working hours are subordinate hours with one's labor under the disposition authority of the employer, long hours of work can be done for the health and safety of workers and furthermore, it can be an act that violates the value to enjoy as a human being. The reduction of working hours needs to be shortened in terms of productivity and enjoyment of workers' culture so that they can expand and reproduce, but users' corporate management labor and production activities should also be compatible compared to those pursued by capitalist countries. Working hours can be seen as individual time and time in society as a whole, and long hours of work at the individual level are reduced, which is undesirable at the individual level, but an increase in products due to an increase in production time at the social level can help social development. It is necessary to consider working hours in terms of finding the balance between these individual and social levels. If the regulation method of working hours was to regulate the total amount of working hours, flexibility and elasticity of working hours are a qualitative regulation method that allows companies to flexibly allocate and organize working hours within a certain range of up to 52 hours per week. Accordingly, it is necessary to shorten working hours, but expand and implement the flexible working hours system according to the situation of the company. To this end, it is necessary to flexibly operate the flexible working hours system, which is currently limited to six months, handle the selective working hours by agreement between employers and workers, and expand the target work of discretionary working hours according to the development of information and communication technology and new types based on the 4th industrial revolution.

A Study on the Relationship between Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Health Promoting Life Style among Some Workers (일부 직업인들의 근골격계 자각증상과 강증진생활양식간의 연관성에 관한 연구)

  • Kang Hong-Gu;Lee Eun-Kyoung;Jun Sun-Young;Kim Sang-Deok;Jeoung Jae-Yeal;Lee Yong-Gil;Jahng Doo-Sub;Song Yung-Sun;Lee Ki-Nam
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.40-68
    • /
    • 2001
  • In this study, grade of subjective symptom appealed by laborer of Jeollabuk-do was evaluated using questionary regarding factor made effect on musculoskeletal disease and in addition, studied relationship with health promotion life style of them. Based on the result, relationship of general characteristics of musculoskeletal subjective symptom and life-style of the subjects was concluded as below. 1. General characteristics of study subjects were as following. Ratio of male was higher as 57.7% of male and 42.2% female and age distribution was 5.1% of 20s, 34.99% of 30s, 36.3% of 40s and 23.7% of 50s and therefore, $30{\sim}40$ aged groups showed highest ratio. Most subjects (74.9%) was married status and in case of education level, high-school graduate and dropout (23.3%) and over-college graduate (46.8%) showed highest distribution. $1{\sim}2$ Mil. KRW (29.5%) and $2{\sim}2.99$ Mil. KRW (21.2%) is the main income distribution and however there was high ratio of non-reply (29.0%). In case of employment period, $10{\sim}14$ years (15.3%) and over 15 years (29.6%) showed highest ratio and there were many non-reply (39.4%) and in addition, 67.6% replied as own house and 14.3% as lease on deposit base in question of residence type. 2. Subjects showed high ratio of subjective symptom appeal of 62.79% and many cases (50.23%) appealed 1 or 2 symptoms. Symptom by body region was 29.8% (waist), 27% (shoulder), 21.2% (knee), 15.5% (neck), 9.5% (ankle), 8.1% (wrist) and 5.0% (elbow) in order. In case of relationship with general characteristics, female comparing with male, non-residence of own house, subjects with lower education level and employment period of $10{\sim}14$ years showed higher appeal rate and kind of symptoms than others. Therefore, it was concluded that rate of musculoskeletal symptom appeal have close relationship with gender, level of living, education level, age and employment period. 3. In case of severe pain of upper body except waist and ankle, it was appealed in both or right side and it means that upper body pain is originated from right side and right region pain is transited to both region pain. In addition, there was 39.41% of non-reply to existence of right-left region pain and therefore, it was evaluated that, in may cases, there was no awareness of their own symptom condition even on subjective symptom. 4. Degree of pain was, as pain over middle level, evaluated as 2.79 on full mark of 4.0 and in order of waist (2.97), ankle (2.83), knee (2.82), wrist (2.82), neck (2.79), shoulder (2.70) and elbow (2.62). In addition, 71.97% appealed $2{\sim}3$ cases for the latest 1 week. Owing to subjective symptom, 54.95% drop into hospital or pharmacy, 10.32% made temporary retirement or absence, 7.99% transferred into more comfortable duty and $39.4{\sim}54%$ experienced one or more managing mentioned above. 5. Fulfillment of health promotion life style of subjects was evaluated on full mark of 4.0 and total score was 2.63. Average mark of each area was personal relationship (3.05), self-realization (2.92), stress management (2.63), health control (2.48), physical exercise (2.19) and nutrition management (2.19) and personal relationship was highest and physical exercise and nutrition management were lowest. As general characteristics influencing health promotion life style, gender, residence style and employment period showed significant difference. Male showed higher mark than female and showed higher mark in order of own house, others, lease on deposit base, monthly rent. Subjects with longer employment period showed higher mark with significant difference. 6. Accounting of factor influencing each area of health promotion life style, self-realization showed significance in marriage status, income, residence style and education level and health control in age, residence style and employment period. Physical exercise showed significant difference in gender, age, residence style and employment period and nutrition in gender, age, residence style and employment period. Stress management showed significant difference in residence style and employment period and however not in personal relationship. 7. Health promotion life style relating with existence and kind of pain showed significant difference in all area except personal relationship area. In absence of pain, there was statistically significant high score in all area even in total health promotion life style and all area. Accounting of kind of pain, cases of $1{\sim}2$ kinds of pain and $5{\sim}6$ kinds of pain showed relatively high score and it was lower than mark of subject stated absence of pain. 8. Subjects appeal symptom were classified by symptom region and difference of total and each areas were evaluated. General area (p=0.002), self-realization (p=0.012), health management (p=0.023), physical exercise (p=0.028), nutrition management (p=0.028) and stress control (p=0.001) showed statistically significant difference and not in personal relationship area. Especially, elbow, shoulder and neck area marked high and group appealed pain of knee, arm and elbow, foot and ankle marked low. Based on those results, subjective symptom should be accounted seriously in diagnosis of occupational musculoskeletal disease of laborer and among subjective symptom, general characteristics of gender, age, condition of living, education level and employment period make effect. Generally subject appeal symptom marked lower than subject without symptom appeal and it means that life management of subject appealing musculoskeletal pain make important role in management and treatment of occupational musculoskeletal disease.

  • PDF

Research on the Relation between Musculoskeletal symptoms and Diagnosis using Moire Topography among Workers at an Automobile Manufacturing Plant (자동차회사 근로자를 대상으로 한 근골격계 자각증상과 moire 영상 진단과의 관계 연구)

  • Chun Eun-Joo;Lee Young-Gil;Jahng Doo-Sub;Lee Ki-Nam;Song Yung-Sun
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.69-92
    • /
    • 2001
  • The purposes of this study were to offer foundation making more certain standards of musculoskeletal disorder diagnosis, We researched musculoskeletal symptoms degrees, frequencies, and cares and then examined relation between musculoskeletal symptoms and diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions using moire topography among workers at an automobile manufacturing plant. Therefore we propose the possibility of moire topography as diagnosing utilities of musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This study was to examine the general characteristics, complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms, and work-related musculoskeletal disorder rates of cervicobrachial and lumbar area by survey among 435 workers at an automobile manufacturing plant and then to show each frequency and percentage, In the diagnosis using moire topography, we studied pain control necessity of cervicobrachial and lumbar area, 435 subjects were classified by 5 levels: A(no symptoms), B(need management), C(need treatment) and then more divided by B1(light symptoms)/B2(heavy symptoms), C1(light symptoms)/C2(heavy symptoms), And musculoskeletal areas were divided by 2 parts, cervicobrachial area(neck, shoulder, arm&elbow, and wrist&hand) and lumbar area, Then, frequency and percentage of each musculoskeletal areas(cervicobrachial and lumbar area) were appeared. At last, Pearson's chi-square test analysis was utilized to observe the relation between diagnosis using moire topography and general characteristics and the relation between diagnosis using moire topography and work-related complaint of musculoskeletal symptoms of cervicobrachial and lumbar area, Results: The subjects employed for this research were categorized into; by gender, all of them were males(l00%): by age, under 35 years 12 %, 36-40 years 56.3%, 41-45 years 26.3 %, and above 46 years 5.3% with 36-40 years accounting for most of it. By living location, owned houses represented 69.7%, rented houses 23.4%, monthly-rented 1.6%, the others 5.3%; by education, middle school and lower represented 3.0%, high school 89.4%, and junior college and higher 7.6% with high school occupying most of the group. By marital status, married represented 95.2%, unmarried 4.1%, and the others 0.7% with most of them married; by alcohol, drinking represented 81.8% and non-drinking 18.2%; by smoking status, smoking represented 53.6%, non-smoking 46.4% with no big difference between them. By working time(hours/week), below 50 represented 26.9%, 50-60 67.6%, above 60 5.5%; by working time(hours/day), below 9 represented 21.6%, 10-12 73.1%, above 13 5.3%; by job tenure(years), below 10 represented 25.1%, 11-15 54.3%, 16-20 15.2%, above 21 5.5%. By personal income per year, below 30 million won represented 11.0%, 30-40 84.8%, above 40 4.1%; by sleeping hours, below 6 hours represented 26.7%, 7-8 hours 69.9%, above 9 hours 3.4%. Complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms and work-related musculoskeletal disorder rates were 63.9% and 54.9% with shoulder area occupying most of both them. By pain degree of musculoskeletal symptoms, shoulder area represented $2.73{\pm}0.84$, lumbar area $2.66{\pm}0.86$, wrist and hand area $2.59{\pm}0.86$, neck area $2.55{\pm}0.74$, and arm and elbow area $2.48{\pm}0.71$. By cares about musculoskeletal symptoms, taking medication or care represented 34.4%-46.7%, absence or leave 15.4%-28.7%, and job transfer 6.3%-11.5%. So experienced cases more than one thing among cares about musculoskeletal symptoms represented 39.6%-54%. In the diagnosis using moire topography, pain control necessity of cervicobrachial area was shown below; A(no symptoms) 20.7%, B1(need management/light symptoms) 64.6%, B2(need management/heavy symptoms) 11.5%, C1(need treatment/light symptoms) 3.0%, C2(need treatment/heavy symptoms) 0.2%. By lumbar area, A(no symptoms) 8.7%, B1(need management/light symptoms) 52.2%, B2(need management/heavy symptoms) 30.3%, C1(need treatment/light symptoms) 8.7%, C2(need treatment/heavy symptoms) was none. In the relation between pain control necessity and general characteristics, age(P=0.013), education(P=0.000), and job tenure(P=0.012) with pain control necessity showed differences with significance. The relation between pain control necessity and complaint of musculoskeletal symptoms of cervicobrachial and lumbar area showed no difference with significance; in cervicobrachial area represented P=0.708, lumbar area P=0.318 Conclusions: This study for musculoskeletal symptoms on workers at automobile manufacturing plant showed that complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms for cervicobrachial and lumbar area were so high, 63.9%. But Pearson's chi-square test analysis was utilized to study the relation between musculoskeletal symptoms and the diagnosis using moire topography, showed no differences with significance. They have no differences with significance, but the prevalence rates of diagnosis using moire topography for cervicobrachial and lumbar area were more higher than complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms; complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms were 52.4%, 34.5% and the diagnosis using moire topography were 79.3%, 91.3% for cervicobrachial and lumbar area. The results of this study indicate that the diagnosis using moire topography can find weak musculoskeletal disorders that an individual can not feel, not be judged work-related musculoskeletal disease. Therefore, this study has an important meaning that diagnosis using moire topography can predict and control own physical condition complete musculoskeletal disorders beforehand, since oriental medicine theory considers that prevention is important.

  • PDF

Evaluation and Verification of the Attenuation Rate of Lead Sheets by Tube Voltage for Reference to Radiation Shielding Facilities (방사선 방어시설 구축 시 활용 가능한 관전압별 납 시트 차폐율 성능평가 및 실측 검증)

  • Ki-Yoon Lee;Kyung-Hwan Jung;Dong-Hee Han;Jang-Oh Kim;Man-Seok Han;Jong-Won Gil;Cheol-Ha Baek
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.489-495
    • /
    • 2023
  • Radiation shielding facilities are constructed in locations where diagnostic radiation generators are installed, with the aim of preventing exposure for patients and radiation workers. The purpose of this study is seek to compare and validate the trend of attenuation thickness of lead, the primary material in these radiation shielding facilities, at different maximum tube voltages by Monte Carlo simulations and measurement. We employed the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 simulation code. Within this simulation, we set a lead shielding arrangement, where the distance between the source and the lead sheet was set at 100 cm and the field of view was set at 10 × 10 cm2. Additionally, we varied the tube voltages to encompass 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. We calculated energy spectra for each respective tube voltage and applied them in the simulations. Lead thicknesses corresponding to attenuation rates of 50, 70, 90, and 95% were determined for tube voltages of 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. For 80 kVp, the calculated thicknesses for these attenuation rates were 0.03, 0.08, 0.21, and 0.33 mm, respectively. For 100 kVp, the values were 0.05, 0.12, 0.30, and 0.50 mm. Similarly, for 120 kVp, they were 0.06, 0.14, 0.38, and 0.56 mm. Lastly, at 140 kVp, the corresponding thicknesses were 0.08, 0.16, 0.42, and 0.61 mm. Measurements were conducted to validate the calculated lead thicknesses. The radiation generator employed was the GE Healthcare Discovery XR 656, and the dosimeter used was the IBA MagicMax. The experimental results showed that at 80 kVp, the attenuation rates for different thicknesses were 43.56, 70.33, 89.85, and 93.05%, respectively. Similarly, at 100 kVp, the rates were 52.49, 72.26, 86.31, and 92.17%. For 120 kVp, the attenuation rates were 48.26, 71.18, 87.30, and 91.56%. Lastly, at 140 kVp, they were measured 50.45, 68.75, 89.95, and 91.65%. Upon comparing the simulation and experimental results, it was confirmed that the differences between the two values were within an average of approximately 3%. These research findings serve to validate the reliability of Monte Carlo simulations and could be employed as fundamental data for future radiation shielding facility construction.