Occupational Radiation Exposure in Korea: 2002

Dose distribution of Korean radiation workers classified by occupational categories was analyzed. Statistics of the occupational radiation exposure(ORE) in 2002 of the radiation workers in diagnostic and dental radiology were obtained from the Korea Food and Drug Agency(KFDA) who maintains the database for individual radiation dose records. Corresponding statistics for the rest of radiation workers were obtained by processing the individual annual doses provided by the Korea Radioisotope Association(KRIA) after deletion of individual information. The ORE distribution was classified in term of 28 occupational categories, annual individual dose levels, age groups and gender of 52733 radiation workers as of the year of 2002. The total collective dose was 66.4 man-Sv and resulting average individual ORE was 1.26 mSv. Around 80% of the workers were exposed to minimal doses less than 1.2 mSv. However, it appeared that the recorded doses exceeded 20 mSv for 43 workers in the industrial radiography and for 147 workers in the field of radiology. Particularly, recorded doses of 23 workers in radiology exceeded the annual dose limits of 50 mSv, which is extraordinary when the working environment is considered. It is uncertain whether those doses are real or caused by careless placing of dosimeters in the imaging rooms while the X-ray units are in operation. No one in the workforce of 16 operating nuclear power plant units was exposed over 20 mSv in 2002. Number of workers was the largest in their 30's of age and the mean individual dose was the highest in their 20's. Women were around 20% of the radiation workers and their average dose was around one half of that of man workers.

2002년 국내 방사선 작업종사자의 직업군별 피폭선량

2002년 기준으로 국내 52733명의 방사선 작업종사자에 대해 5개 대분류와 28개의 세분류 카테고리로 나눈 직업군별 연간 피폭선량의 분포를 분석하였다. 진단용 X선 분야(치과용 포함) 종사자의 선량 통계는 식품의약품안전청이 제공하였으며 기타 종사자의 선량자료는 한국방사성동위원소협회가 제공하였다. 직업군에 따른 선량준위별, 연령별 성별 종사자수와 연간 평균선량을 분석한 결과 거의 80% 정도의 종사자들이 연간 1.2mSv 이하로 피폭하는 것으로 나타났다. 방사선작업 종사자의 총 집단선량은 66.4man-Sv로 나타났고 평균 선량은 1.26mSv였다. 직업군별로는 체내 핵의학 분야와 비 파괴검사 분야 종사자가 다른 분야에 비해 평균선량이 현저히 높게 나타났다. 진단용 X선 분야 종사자에게서 연간 20mSv 이상 피폭자 수가 상당하여 이에 대한 추가 분석이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 16기의 원자력발전소 작업종사자 중에는 20mSv를 초과하는 종사자가 한명도 없는 것으로 나타났다. 연령별로 30대 종사자 수가 가장 많았고 20대 종사자의 선량이 상대적으로 높았다. 여성이 전체 작업종사자의 20%정도를 차지하고 있었으며 평균 피폭선량은 남성의 반 정도인 것으로 나타났다.