• Title/Summary/Keyword: Radiation Risks

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Knowledge, Awareness and Health Risk Concerns on Occupational Exposure to Radiation among Firefighters in Korea (소방공무원의 직업적 방사선노출에 대한 지식, 자각 및 건강피해 우려)

  • Lee, Hyeongyeong;Yoon, Hyeongwan;Park, Jeongim
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.516-524
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: This study aims to investigate the current status of knowledge, awareness and health risk concerns on occupational radiation exposures among firefighters in Korea. The results will provide basic information for developing a prevention program to minimize adverse health effects relating to radiation exposure among firefighters. Methods: A questionnaire was composed of general characteristics of participants, and their knowledge, awareness, health risk concerns relating to occupational radiation exposure. It was distributed by email to all of 307 firefighters in Jeollabukdo in April 2014 and 259 of them (response rate 84.3%) were responded. Answers were analyzed for descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages. SPSS/WIN 18.0 program was utilized for statistical analysis of t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Results: The average score of radiation protection knowledge was $5.83{\pm}1.77$ ($average{\pm}SD$) out of 10. The score of awareness and health risk concerns on radiation exposure were 4.27, 3.94 out of 5, respectively. The results indicated that the knowledge on the characteristics of radiation was marginal among the firefighters, while the awareness and health risk concerns relating to radiation exposures were relatively higher comparing to other professions. Conclusions: Knowing the characteristics of potential risks is the first step for minimizing the adverse health effects relating to the risks. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate training and information on radiation and exposure protection methods for firefighters.

Analysis of Public Perception of Nuclear Power Generation Reflected in the Times (시대성이 반영된 원자력발전에 대한 일반인들의 인식 분석)

  • Park, Cheol Koo;Hwang, Chul Hwan;Kim, Dong Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.11 no.6
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    • pp.483-491
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    • 2017
  • This study investigates the perception of the general public through analysis of various potential risk factors reflecting nuclear power generation and nuclear power (radiation) and risks. A total of 293 copies of the data were collected from various strata in Busan. As a result, among the potential factors in everyday life, there was a high awareness of the risk to the fire. Next, the perception of risk for radiation terror and nuclear (nuclear) energy was relatively high compared to other risk factors. In the analysis according to age, educational background, and political ideological tendency, the results were contradictory to the necessity, risk and safety of nuclear power generation. The potential risk factors and the perception of nuclear power according to the tendency of political ideology were analyzed to be positive recognition of conservative ideology and negative recognition of progressive group. In other words, the perception of nuclear power was analyzed differently according to the tendency of political ideology. Therefore, it should be decided to reflect the opinions of experts and various opinions of the general public in the setting of nuclear radiation (radiation), it is believed that ordinary people need to take flexible action without having a vague sense of anxiety about various potential risks and nuclear power (radiation) based on objective and scientific grounds.

Therapeutic Results of Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Early Stage Uterine Cervical Cancer (초기 자궁경부암의 수술후 방사선치료 결과)

  • Kang, Seung-Hee;Suh, Hyun-Suk
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.347-354
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    • 1993
  • This is a retrospective analysis of 67 patients with histologically proven invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix treated with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital between october 1983 and september 1991, Postoperative radiotherapy was carried out in patients with high risks of locoregional recurrence such as positive pelvic lymph node (38 pts), large tumor size more than 3 cm (22 pts), cervical stromal invasion more than 2/3 (46 pts), parametrial involvement (9 pts), positive resection margin (14 pts), endo/myometrial extension (10 pts), and angiolymphatic invasion (13 pts). Stage I A, I B, and IIA were 2 $(3\%),$ 39 $(58.2\%),\;and\;26\;(38.8\%),$ respectively. Median follow-up period was 48 months with ranges from 13 to 115 months. All 67 patients were treated externally with standard pelvic field with radiation dose ranging from 4080 to 6120 cGy in 4~6 weeks period of time. Of these, 45 patients received intracavitary radiotherapy. The overall survival rate and disease free survival rate at 5-year were $88.0\%\;and\;82.1\%,$ respectively. The survival rates by stage were $87.1\%$ in IB and $88.4\%$ in IIA. Local control rate was $80.6\%(58\;pts).$ The treatment failure was noted in 12 of 67 patients $(17.9\%):$ locoregional failure in $7(10.4\%),$ distant metastasis in 3 $(4.5\%),$ and locoregional and distant metastasis in $2(3\%),$ The univariate analysis of prognostic factors disclosed endo/myometrial extension as a significant factor of survival and recurrence $(70.0\%\;vs\;91.1\%\;P<0.05\;&\;30.0\%\;vs\;15.8\%,\;respectively).$ The complication of postoperative radiothrapy was not significant and all patient were well tolerated. In conclusion, postoperative radiotherapy in patients with high risks of locoreginal recurrence is relatively well tolerated and it gives significantly improved survival rate especially in patients with positive lymph nodes, bulky tumor size $(\geqq3\;cm),$ parametrial involvement, cervical stromal invasion more than 2/3, positive resection margin and angiolymphatic invasion.

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SUMRAY: R and Python Codes for Calculating Cancer Risk Due to Radiation Exposure of a Population

  • Michiya Sasaki;Kyoji Furukawa;Daiki Satoh;Kazumasa Shimada;Shin'ichi Kudo;Shunji Takagi;Shogo Takahara;Michiaki Kai
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.90-99
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    • 2023
  • Background: Quantitative risk assessments should be accompanied by uncertainty analyses of the risk models employed in the calculations. In this study, we aim to develop a computational code named SUMRAY for use in cancer risk projections from radiation exposure taking into account uncertainties. We also aim to make SUMRAY publicly available as a resource for further improvement of risk projection. Materials and Methods: SUMRAY has two versions of code written in R and Python. The risk models used in SUMRAY for all-solid-cancer mortality and incidence were those published in the Life Span Study of a cohort of the atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The confidence intervals associated with the evaluated risks were derived by propagating the statistical uncertainties in the risk model parameter estimates by the Monte Carlo method. Results and Discussion: SUMRAY was used to calculate the lifetime or time-integrated attributable risks of cancer under an exposure scenario (baseline rates, dose[s], age[s] at exposure, age at the end of follow-up, sex) specified by the user. The results were compared with those calculated using another well-known web-based tool, Radiation Risk Assessment Tool (RadRAT; National Institutes of Health), and showed a reasonable agreement within the estimated confidential interval. Compared with RadRAT, SUMRAY can be used for a wide range of applications, as it allows the risk projection with arbitrarily specified risk models and/or population reference data. Conclusion: The reliabilities of SUMRAY with the present risk-model parameters and their variance-covariance matrices were verified by comparing them with those of the other codes. The SUMRAY code is distributed to the public as an open-source code under the Massachusetts Institute of Technology license.

Mechanisms of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity and implications for future clinical trials

  • Kim, Jae Ho;Jenrow, Kenneth A.;Brown, Stephen L.
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.103-115
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    • 2014
  • To summarize current knowledge regarding mechanisms of radiation-induced normal tissue injury and medical countermeasures available to reduce its severity. Advances in radiation delivery using megavoltage and intensity-modulated radiation therapy have permitted delivery of higher doses of radiation to well-defined tumor target tissues. Injury to critical normal tissues and organs, however, poses substantial risks in the curative treatment of cancers, especially when radiation is administered in combination with chemotherapy. The principal pathogenesis is initiated by depletion of tissue stem cells and progenitor cells and damage to vascular endothelial microvessels. Emerging concepts of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity suggest that the recovery and repopulation of stromal stem cells remain chronically impaired by long-lived free radicals, reactive oxygen species, and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines resulting in progressive damage after radiation exposure. Better understanding the mechanisms mediating interactions among excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activated macrophages, and role of bone marrow-derived progenitor and stem cells may provide novel insight on the pathogenesis of radiation-induced injury of tissues. Further understanding the molecular signaling pathways of cytokines and chemokines would reveal novel targets for protecting or mitigating radiation injury of tissues and organs.

Beyond Nuclear Power: Risks, Alternatives, and Laypersons' Role (원자력발전을 넘어: 위험, 대안, 그리고 비전문가 역할)

  • Huh, Chan Rhan;Kwon, Sangcheol
    • Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.163-180
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    • 2021
  • Nuclear power has been an attractive energy efficient and to the pressure with the climate change despite of its risks. There are safety, security, and environmental concerns with the nuclear radiation, but the techno-optimism forms the mainstream by experts and the state to be able to control and manage the risks yet occurred. The disastrous Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents brought about alternative action and thought including renewable energy expansion, efficient energy delivery and use, and enhancing stewardship to environmental carrying capacity. More significant alternative movement is sought by victims of nuclear radiation, technicians, and the general public who realized the pitfalls of expert and state centered policy formation. These laypersons become counter-expertise competent in recognizing local contamination and considering the risks and emotions seriously affecting peoples' everyday lives. They play important roles in the construction and legitimation of alternative knowledge about nuclear power widely realized across regions.

EDUCATIONAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION WORK-STUDY ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

  • Han, Eun Ok;Kim, Jae Rok;Choi, Yoon Seok
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.447-460
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    • 2014
  • The results of this study, suggest public communication to promote the use of radiation as follows: first, suitable information for the recipient's perception patterns should be provided, as there is a difference in risk perception and acceptance between the experts and the public. Thus, information on the necessity of nuclear power should be provided to the public, while information based on technical risks is provided by the experts. Second, since the levels of perception, knowledge, and attitudes increased highly for sectors which use radiation after the class, classes should be provided continuously to increase students' perception, knowledge, and attitude, which are all preemptive variables which induce positive behavioral changes. Third, since the seven sectors which use radiation are highly correlated, arguments for the necessity of other sectors should be based on the necessity of the medical sector.

Dobe Contamination by Tangential Irradiation of Breast Cancer (유방암의 방사선 절선조사에 의한 선량분포)

  • Lee Jong Gul;Lee Byung Jun;Lee Ho Soo;Lee Byung Je
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.67-70
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    • 1994
  • The use of primary breast irraditation with advantage of improved cosmesis in breast cancer may be the potential risks of radiation for a change in the number of normal breast cancers and lung fibrosis. The magnitude of the scattered dose for a variety of radiation treatment techniques from patient of breast cancer and phantom was measured by adequate dosimeters. We can reduce the dose of the normal breast to treated with radiation by understanding the factors contributing to the unwanted dose and by determining ways to decrease this dose.

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A Study on Radiation Risk Recognition Aided System Visualizing Risk Information by CG

  • Katagiri, M.;Tuzuki, Y.;Sawamura, S.;Aoki, Y.
    • Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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    • 2002.07a
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    • pp.425-428
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    • 2002
  • The technology of Computer Graphics (CG) has been in great progress for almost 20 years and has proven to be a valuable tool for a broad variety of fields, including nuclear engineering. To work in any hazardous environment for example radiation field is particularly challenging because the danger is not always visually apparent. In this study as the application of CG to nuclear engineering field, we proposed to develop a radiation risk recognition aided system in which various radiation information; radiation risks, radiation distribution, hazard information and so on, were visualized by CG. The system used the server and client system. In the server there were two parts; one (main-server) was the database part having various data and the other (sub-server) was the visualization part visualizing the human phantom by POV-Ray. In the client there was the input and output part. The outputs from the system were various radiation information represented by coloring, circle graph and line graph intuitionally. The system is useful for a broad range of activities including radiation protection, radiation management, dose minimization, and demonstration to the public.

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