• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.172-181
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• 2015

This study intends to improve the radiation safety management and the recognition for handling radiation using structured questionnaires to dental hygienists working at Jeollabuk-do from September 1 to October 31 in 2014. As a result, 63% of respondents have not received education for radiation safety management. Moreover, the practical degree for radiation safety management was $2.58{\pm}1.11$, while the degree of knowledge was $3.74{\pm}0.83$ of total 5.0. The results of insecurity for radiation danger were high as $3.88{\pm}0.92$, and insecurity for fetus during pregnancy shows the highest value as $4.43{\pm}0.71$. From the results of statistical significance level, the knowledge degree of radiation safety management is affected by total numbers of radiograpy for a day (p<0.05), and the practical degree of radiation safety management is affected by age group, academic background, monthly income, continuous service year, practice area, present position, and status of radiography in present (p<0.05). In addition, the knowledge degree of radiation safety management have a negative correlation (r=-0.232) with the practical degree, but have a positive correlation (r=0.262) with the insecurity for radiation danger. The high knowledge degree of radiation safety management (${\beta}=0.252$, p<0.001) and the short radiography work period (${\beta}=-0.341$, p<0.05) were the influential factors to the insecurity for radiation danger. Consequently, countermeasures are necessary to encourage dental hygienists to put their radiation safety management knowledge into the practice and to reduce the insecurity degree for radiation danger. Furthermore, it is important to prevent psychological and physical risks by radiation exposure through the improvement of radiation safety management level and recognition for handling radiation to improve medical environment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.357-363
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• 2009

The current population of elderly is increasing and the with an extended average lifespan, the frequency of cancerous occurrences have also increased, with these increases and the increase in radiotherapy for cancer patients, recognitions of harm and importance have become known. This article was known tumor treatment of patients with hematopoietic disorder by doing a comparative study on the changes in blood cells caused by the acute effects of trace dose to high dose of radiation exposed to mice. According to the sensitizer injection may give rise to harm to the components of peripheral blood. This material needs to be considered when for treating tumor patients and the risks of hematopoietic harm and believe that radiation therapy will be reasonable.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2011

This study was to estimate the radiation dose associated with 64-slice multidetector CT(MDCT) in clinical practice and quantify the potential cancer risk associated with these examinations. Lifetime attributable risks(LAR) were estimated with models developed in the national Academies' Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII report. Mean effective dose were 1.48mSv in Brain axial scan, 7.66mSv in chest routine contrast, 12.17mSv in coronary angiogram, 24.52mSv in Dynamic abdomen scan. LAR estimates for brain routine varied from 1 in 7463 for man to 1 in 4926 for women. In chest routine with contrast, LAR varied from 1 in 1449 for men to 1 in 952. LAR of Abdomen dynamic CT varied from 1 in 453 for men to 1 in 298 for women. So, 64-slice MDCT scan is associated with non-negligible LAR of cancer. Doses can be reduced by careful attention to scanning protocol.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5107-5111
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• 2016

Background: Epidemiological studies have indicated an increasing incidence of radiation induced secondary cancer (SC) in breast cancer patients after radiotherapy (RT), most commonly in the contra-lateral breast (CLB). The present study was conducted to estimate the SC risk in the CLB following 3D conformal radiotherapy techniques (3DCRT) including wedge field and forward intensity modulated radiotherapy (fIMRT) based on the organ equivalent dose (OED). Material and Methods: RT plans treating the chest wall with conformal wedge field and fIMRT plans were created for 30 breast cancer patients. The risks of radiation induced cancer were estimated for the CLB using dose-response models: a linear model, a linear-plateau model and a bell-shaped model with full dose response accounting for fractionated RT on the basis of OED. Results: The plans were found to be ranked quite differently according to the choice of model; calculations based on a linear dose response model fIMRT predict statistically significant lower risk compared to the enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW) technique (p-0.0089) and a non-significant difference between fIMRT and physical wedge (PW) techniques (p-0.054). The widely used plateau dose response model based estimation showed significantly lower SC risk associated with fIMRT technique compared to both wedge field techniques (fIMRT vs EDW p-0.013, fIMRT vs PW p-0.04). The full dose response model showed a non-significant difference between all three techniques in the view of second CLB cancer. Finally the bell shaped model predicted interestingly that PW is associated with significantly higher risk compared to both fIMRT and EDW techniques (fIMRT vs PW p-0.0003, EDW vs PW p-0.0032). Conclusion: In conclusion, the SC risk estimations of the CLB revealed that there is a clear relation between risk associated with wedge field and fIMRT technique depending on the choice of model selected for risk comparison.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.1368-1375
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• 2016

A radiological safety assessment study was performed for the transportation of low level radioactive wastes which are temporarily stored in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon, Korea. We considered two kinds of wastes: (1) operation wastes generated from the routine operation of facilities; and (2) decommissioning wastes generated from the decommissioning of a research reactor in KAERI. The important part of the radiological safety assessment is related to the exposure dose assessment for the incidentfree (normal) transportation of wastes, i.e., the radiation exposure of transport personnel, radiation workers for loading and unloading of radioactive waste drums, and the general public. The effective doses were estimated based on the detailed information on the transportation plan and on the radiological characteristics of waste packages. We also estimated radiological risks and the effective doses for the general public resulting from accidents such as an impact and a fire caused by the impact during the transportation. According to the results, the effective doses for transport personnel, radiation workers, and the general public are far below the regulatory limits. Therefore, we can secure safety from the viewpoint of radiological safety for all situations during the transportation of radioactive wastes which have been stored temporarily in KAERI.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.134-142
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• 2021

Background: From 2018 to 2020, the Expert Study on Public Understanding after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (the Expert Study Group) identified and analyzed activities designed to promote public understanding of science and radiation since the Fukushima accident, and held discussions on how to achieve public understanding in the situation where public confidence has been lost, and how experts should prepare for dealing with the public. This panel session was held at the 53^rd meeting of the Japan Health Physics Society on June 30, 2020. Materials and Methods: First, three subgroup (SG) leaders reported their research methods and results. Then, two designated speakers, who participated as observers of the Expert Study Group, commented on the activities. Next, the five speakers held a panel discussion. Finally, the rapporteur summarized. Results and Discussion: SG leaders presented reports from researchers and practitioners in health physics and environmental risks who provided information after the Fukushima accident. During the discussion, experts in sociology and ethics discussed the issues, focusing on the overall goals of the three groups, local (personal) and mass communication, and ethical values. Many of the activities instituted by the experts after the accident were aimed at public understanding of science (that is, to provide knowledge to residents), but by taking into account interactions with residents and their ethical norms, the experts shifted to supporting the residents' decision-making through public engagement. The need to consider both content and channels is well known in the field of health communication, and overlaps with the above discussion. Conclusion: How to implement and promote the public engagement in society was discussed in both the floor and designated discussions. Cooperation between local communities and organizations that have already gained trust is also necessary in order to develop relationships with local residents in normal times, to establish an information transmission system, and to make it work effectively.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.110-117
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to estimate occupational doses and patient peak skin doses (PSDs) during interventional radiology procedures. Materials and Methods: We examined data from brain embolization (n = 30), hepatic chemoembolization (n = 50), and uterine embolization (n = 12). The PSDs were measured using radiochromic film around the patient's head (group 1) or abdominal/pelvic region (group 2). Acquisition technical data and kerma-area products (KAP) were also recorded. Occupational doses were measured using $Instadose^{TM}$ dosimeters near the left eye region (LER), chest, and left ankle. Results and Discussion: The third quartile (median) KAP values were $408.1(235.3)Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ for group 1 and $584.4(449.4)Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ for group 2. The average PSDs were greatest during vascular procedures, reaching 1,004.4 (786.4) mGy, and the highest PSD was 2,352.6 mGy (during hepatic chemoembolization). The third quartile (median) occupational doses were 0.35 (0.21) mSv at the LER, 0.25 (0.15) mSv at the chest, and 1.47 (0.64) mSv at the left ankle. Occupational doses at the LER were higher than at the chest, which highlights the importance of protective glasses and suspended shields. The occupational doses at the ankle region were also high, which highlights the importance of using a lead-lined curtain attached to the table. Conclusion: The results indicate that physicians can reach, for eye region, the weekly occupational dose limit after around 15 procedures, even when using proper protection. The average PSD values were below the threshold for tissue reactions, although the complexity of these procedures emphasises the importance of considering related risks.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2004

In the process of photon treatments, linear accelerators with energies higher than 10 MV produce neutrons through the (${\gamma}$, n) interactions with the composite materials of the linac head md these materials further produce the induced radiations. We investigate the possible risks from these induced radiations especially in the wedge filters to the radiation workers. Wedge filters are used to modify the isodose profiles in the radiation treatment using the linear accelerator and always be handled by the radiation workers. For the background radiation, we measured the radiation in both the waiting room and the outside of the building for two hospitals, S and H. The results of S hospital were $0.11\;{\mu}Sv/hr$ and $0.10\;{\mu}Sv/hr$ for waiting room and outside respectively, and in the case of H hospital, they were $0.12\;{\mu}Sv/hr$ and $0.11\;{\mu}Sv/hr$. Using a survey meter, we measured the radiation from wedge filters inserted in 10 MV and 15 MV Siemens linear accelerators. The time series measurements were done in ${\sim}1$ minutes after exposure of 5 Gy of monitor units for the field size of $25{\times}25cm^2$. The starting value of 10 MV machine was about $3.26\;{\mu}Sv/hr$, which was three times higher than that of 10 MV. The measured radiation was from $^{28}Al$ and $^{53}Fe$ with a half life of 3.5 min. If the treatment patients are $20{\sim}50$ per day and the number of process of wedge filter change per patient is one or two, the annual dose equivalent is $0.08{\sim}0.4\;mSv$ for 10 MV, and $0.27{\sim}1.36\;mSv$ for 15 MV, which are in the range of dose equivalent limits of radiation workers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2010

Worksite health promotion programs have been associated with reductions in health risks but are labor-intensive and costly to implement. Therefore, innovative strategies to provide a cost-effective approach to health education program are needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a worksite on-line health education program by email on metabolic syndrome risk factors and dietary intakes in male workers with metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured and the nutrient intakes were assessed through FFQ. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was adapted from NCEP-ATP III with blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and Asia-Pacific definition with waist circumference. The education group consisted of 212 male workers and the non-education group of 236 age-matched male workers. The on-line health education program provided 10 sessions by e-mail. After a worksite on-line health education program, systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased and HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001) was significantly increased in the education group. Intakes of total energy (p < 0.05), carbohydrate (p < 0.05), sodium (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in the education group, but there were no significant differences in dietary intakes in the non-education group after a worksite on-line health education program. The results indicate that online health education program by e-mail is effective for improving metabolic syndrome risk factors and dietary intakes in male workers and show potential for use in the working setting.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.19-34
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• 2013

Previous research assessed media reporting on nuclear accidents and risks, whilst studies about the Fukushima accident focused on the impact of the Internet on coverage of the incident. However, little research has addressed news framing or comparisons of the perceptions of journalists in relation to reporting nuclear accidents. The aim of this study is to apply framing analysis to news content in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today about the Fukushima accident. It explores the question of how journalists view reporting on complex events. Content analysis of these three newspapers shows that conflict, responsibility, and economic consequences were the most frequently used frames. According to the journalists interviewed, the biggest problem was the inability to assess information due to contrary positions held by experts. It is argued that the Fukushima accident was framed as a conflict of experts and officials' opinions, utility and government officials' responsibility, and economic consequences for the United States. Adherence to professional norms of objectivity and impartiality was signified as the best approaches to risk reporting.