• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.1760-1765
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• 2009

After administration of a radiopharmaceutical, the patient remains radioactive for hours or even days, representing a source of potential radiation exposure. Thus, including the personnel who are occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation, radiation exposure must be managed for members of the public, in particular for people accompanying patients. In this study we investigated radiation exposure dose management in the nuclear medicine departments at seven general hospitals. Two of them had no radiation safety considerations for patient transporters, sanitation workers and the like. And they all were careless of radioprotection for people accompanying patients. The average dose rate to people accompanying patients from radioactive patients just before a bone scan was 25.60 ${\mu}$Sv h-1. This is higher than 20 ${\mu}$Sv $h^{-1}$which is the annual public dose limit for temporary use. Therefore radiation dose measurement and risk assessment of patient transporters, sanitation workers and the like should be performed. And the nuclear medicine technologist should provide advices on the radiation safety to patient transporters, sanitation workers, people accompanying patients and so on. To ensure the radiation safety for people accompanying patients, it is required to restrict the patient's access to his relatives, friends and other patients or isolate patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2017

Purpose Radiation exposure management has been strictly regulated for the radiation workers, but there are only a few studies on potential risk of radiation exposure to non-radiation workers, especially nurses in a general ward. The present study aimed to estimate the exact total exposure of the nurse in a general ward by close contact with the patient undergoing nuclear medicine examinations. Materials and Methods Radiation exposure rate was determined by using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and optical simulated luminescence (OSL) in 14 nurses in a general ward from October 2015 to June 2016. External radiation rate was measured immediately after injection and examination at skin surface, and 50 cm and 1 m distance from 50 patients (PET/CT 20 pts; Bone scan 20 pts; Myocardial SPECT 10 pts). After measurement, effective half-life, and total radiation exposure expected in nurses were calculated. Then, expected total exposure was compared with total exposures actually measured in nurses by TLD and OSL. Results Mean and maximum amount of radiation exposure of 14 nurses in a general ward were 0.01 and 0.02 mSv, respectively in each measuring period. External radiation rate after injection at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was as following; $376.0{\pm}25.2$, $88.1{\pm}8.2$ and $29.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $206.7{\pm}56.6$, $23.1{\pm}4.4$ and $10.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in bone scan; $22.5{\pm}2.6$, $2.4{\pm}0.7$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. After examination, external radiation rate at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was decreased as following; $165.3{\pm}22.1$, $38.7{\pm}5.9$ and $12.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $32.1{\pm}8.7$, $6.2{\pm}1.1$, $2.8{\pm}0.6$, respectively in bone scan; $14.0{\pm}1.2$, $2.1{\pm}0.3$, $0.8{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Based upon the results, an effective half-life was calculated, and at 30 minutes after examination the time to reach normal dose limit in 'Nuclear Safety Act' was calculated conservatively without considering a half-life. In oder of distance (at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients), it was 7.9, 34.1 and 106.8 hr, respectively in PET/CT; 40.4, 199.5 and 451.1 hr, respectively in bone scan, 62.5, 519.3 and 1313.6 hr, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Conclusion Radiation exposure rate may differ slightly depending on the work process and the environment in a general ward. Exposure rate was measured at step in the general examination procedure and it made our results more reliable. Our results clearly showed that total amount of radiation exposure caused by residual radioactive isotope in the patient body was neglectable, even comparing with the natural radiation exposure. In conclusion, nurses in a general ward were much less exposed than the normal dose limit, and the effects of exposure by contacting patients undergoing nuclear medicine examination was ignorable.

• 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 the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.442-448
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the appropriateness of systemic radiation exposure control for students in clinical practice by comparing radiation exposure in radiography employees at different stations of a hospital with that of students conducting clinical practice using identical stations. Overall, 121 students who conducted clinical practice in the department of radiology area of C university hospital from July 2014 to August 2014 and 62 workers working in the same medical facility (47 in the department of radiology, 8 in the department of radiation oncology, 7 in the department of nuclear medicine) were investigated. The radiation exposure experienced by students was measured for 8 weeks, which is the duration of the clinical practice. Additionally, radiation exposure of workers were classified into 4 groups, department of radiology, department of radiation oncology, and department of nuclear medicine was compared. Dose was measured with OSLD and differences among groups were identified by ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range test. Among employees, those in the department of radiology, oncology and nuclear medicine were exposed depth doses of $0.127{\pm}0.331mSv$, $0.01{\pm}0.003mSv$, and $0.431{\pm}0.205mSv$, respectively, while students were exposed to $0.143{\pm}0.136mSv$. Additionally, workers in the department of radiology, oncology and nuclear medicine were exposed to surface doses of $0.131{\pm}0.331mSv$, $0.009{\pm}0.003mSv$, and $0.445{\pm}0.198mSv$, respectively, while students were exposed to $0.151{\pm}0.14mSv$, which was significantly different in both doses (p < 0.01). The average dose that students received is higher than that of the other groups (except for nuclear medicine workers), indicating that further improvements must be made in systemic controls for individual radiation exposure by including the students as subjects of management for protection from radiation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2010

Objectives: Plasma lipid profiles and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The knowledge of lipid profile may estimate the potential victims of cardiovascular disease before its initiation and progression and offers the opportunity for primary prevention. The most common ApoE polymorphism has been found to influence plasma lipid concentrations and its correlation with CVD has been extensively investigated in the last decade. Methods: The ApoE polymorphism and its influence on plasma lipid were investigated in healthy woman workers. The information on confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire and ApoE polymorphism was investigated using PCR. Results: The relative frequencies of alleles E2, E3 and E4 for the study population (n = 305) were 0.127, 0.750 and 0.121, respectively. ApoE polymorphism was associated with variations in plasma HDL-cholesterol lipid profile. In order to estimate the independent effects of alleles E2 and E4, as compared with E3, on lipid profile, multiple regression was performed after adjustment for confounding variables such as age, BMI, blood pressure, education status, insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, menopause. ApoE2 had a negative association with HDL cholesterol and ApoE4 had a positive association with LDL cholesterol. Conclusions: This study identified that the ApoE and CVD risk factors contribute to the lipid profiles, similar to other studies. The analysis including dietary intake and other gene in further studies may help to identify clear effects on lipid profiles as risk factor for CVD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.271-281
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• 2019

This study investigated the shielding efficiency of various types of shielding materials and measured the dose by organ using the phantom. Results of Shielding Efficiency Measurement Using Personal Radiation Meter. Among the various shielding materials, 1.1 mm RNS-TX composed of nano tungsten showed the highest shielding efficiency and 0.2 mm lead shielding showed the lowest shielding efficiency. 99mTc 30 mCi was exposed to the phantom for 120 minutes and the result of the measurement of the organs. 20.53 mSv without radiation protective clothing, 8.75 mSv when wearing 0.25 mm Pb protective clothing, 6.03 mSv when wearing 0.5 mm Pb protective clothing. 131I 2 mCi mCi was exposed to the phantom for 120 minutes and the result of the measurement of the organs. 7.71 mSv without radiation protective clothing, 4.88 mSv when wearing 0.25 mm Pb protective clothing, 2.79 mSv when wearing 0.5 mm Pb protective clothing. 18F 5 mCi was exposed to the phantom for 120 minutes and the result of the measurement of the organs. 16.39 mSv without radiation protective clothing, 15.84 mSv when wearing 0.25 mm Pb protective clothing, 12.52 mSv when wearing 0.5 mm Pb protective clothing. None of the radiation workers working in the nuclear medicine department exceeded the dose limit. However, when compared with other workers in the hospital, they showed a relatively high dose. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare measures to reduce and manage the dose of radiation workers in the nuclear medicine department through the wearing of radiation protective clothing made of lightweight, shielding material with good shielding efficiency, circulation task, task sharing, and substitution equipment such as auto dispenser.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.220-224
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• 2014

In this study we assessed the efficacy of an automatic dispensing/injection system (ADIS) to reduce the radiation exposure of workers during PET procedures. NMW(Nuclear Medicine Workers) were classified into 2 groups, one of which used conventional method and the other used an ADIS. The radiation dose during injection were also measured in both groups, with another set of experiment. In dispensing step, ADIS imposed significantly less radiation dose than conventional method, both to finger and to whole body. In injection step, ADIS also imposed significantly less dose to finger, while the dose of whole body was somewhat larger in ADIS than in conventional method. Using ADIS, the radiation exposure of NMW during dispensing was markedly reduced. Also, the exposure of finger during injection was markedly reduced, although exposure of whole body was mildly increased.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.477-482
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• 2015

Workers in nuclear medicine have performed various tasks such as production, distribution, preparation and injection of radioisotope. This process could cause high radiation exposure to wokers' hand. The purpose of this study was to investigate shielding effect for r-rays of 140 and 511 keV by using Monte-carlo simulation. As a result, it was effective, regardless of lead thickness for radiation shielding in 140 keV r-ray. However, it was effective in shielding material with thickness of more than only 1.1 mm in 511keV r-ray. And also it doesn't effective in less than 1.1 mm due to secondary scatter ray and exposure dose was rather increased. Consequently, energy of radionuclide and thickness of shielding materials should be considered to reduce radiation exposure.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.329-334
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• 2012

For the dosimetry of the radiation workers, film badge, Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD), and glass dosimeter are being used and recently, there is a growing trend of using Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter (OSLD) in the world. However, OSLD is only being applied some of the field in Korea and there has been almost no study made related to OSLD. Thus, the accumulated radiation dose of TLD and OSLD that have been most frequently used in the field was compared in the radiation workers of nuclear medicine and their working areasfor 3 months. As a result, the average surface dose showed 0.85 mSv difference with 1.27 mSv for TLD and 2.12 mSv for OSLD while having 0.73 mSv difference for the average depth dose with 1.33 mSv for TLD and 2.06 mSv for OSLD. The surface dose and depth dose of OSLD showed statistically significant result with higher measurement (p<0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2015

Purpose For nuclear medicine technologists, it is difficult to stay away from or to separate from radiation sources comparing with workers who are using radiation generating devices. Nuclear medicine technologists work is recognized as an optimized way when they are familiar with work practices. The aims of this study are to measure radiation exposure of technologists working in PET and to evaluate the occupational radiation dose after implementation of strategies to lower exposure. Materials and Methods We divided into four working types by QC for PET, injection, scan and etc. in PET scan procedure. In QC of PET, we compared the radiation exposure controlling next to $^{68}Ge$ cylinder phantom directly to controlling the table in console room remotely. In injection, we compared the radiation exposure guiding patient in waiting room before injection to after injection. In scan procedure of PET, we compared the radiation exposure moving the table using the control button located next to the patient to moving the table using the control button located in the far distance. PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DOSEMETER (PED), Tracerco$^{TM}$ was used for measuring exposed radiation doses. Results The average doses of exposed radiation were $0.27{\pm}0.04{\mu}Sv$ when controlling the table directly and $0.13{\pm}0.14{\mu}Sv$ when controlling the table remotely while performing QC. The average doses of exposed radiation were $0.97{\pm}0.36{\mu}Sv$ when guiding patient after injection and $0.62{\pm}0.17{\mu}Sv$ when guiding patient before injection. The average doses of exposed radiation were $1.33{\pm}0.54{\mu}Sv$ when using the control button located next to the patient and $0.94{\pm}0.50{\mu}Sv$ when using the control button located in far distance while acquiring image. As a result, there were statistically significant differences(P<0.05). Conclusion: From this study, we found that how much radiation doses technologists are exposed on average at each step of PET procedure while working in PET center and how we can reduce the occupational radiation dose after implementation of strategies to lower exposure. And if we make effort to seek any other methods to reduce technologist occupational radiation, we can minimize and optimize exposed radiation doses in department of nuclear medicine. Conclusion From this study, we found that how much radiation doses technologists are exposed on average at each step of PET procedure while working in PET center and how we can reduce the occupational radiation dose after implementation of strategies to lower exposure. And if we make effort to seek any other methods to reduce technologist occupational radiation, we can minimize and optimize exposed radiation doses in department of nuclear medicine.