• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.133-140
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• 2016

Backgrounds: The accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), March 2011, caused serious radioactive contamination over wide area in east Japan. Therefore, it is important to know the effect of the accident and the status of NPP. Materials and Methods: This paper provides a review on the status of radiation dose and radioactive contamination caused by the accident on the basis of publicized information. Results and Discussion: Monitoring of radiation dose and exposure dose of residents has been conducted extensively by the governments and various organizations. The effective dose of general residents due to the accident proved to be less than a mSv both for external and internal dose. The equivalent committed dose of thyroid was evaluated to be a few mSv in mean value and less than 50 mSv even for children. Monitoring of radioactivity concentration has been carried out on food ingredients, milk and tap water, and actual meal. These studies indicated the percentage of foods above the regulation standard was over 10% in 2011 but decreasing steadily with time. The internal dose due to foods proved to be tens of ${\mu}Sv$ and much less than that due to natural $^{40}K$ even in the Fukushima area and decreasing steadily, although high level concentration is still observed in wild plants, wild mushrooms, animals and some kind of fishes. Conclusion: According to extensive studies, not only the effect of the accident but also the pathway and countermeasures against radioactive contamination have been revealed, and they are applied very effectively for restoration of environment and reconstruction of the area.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.103-108
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• 2014

Following the emergency work in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, more attention was paid for the radiation protection of workers working under severe accident condition. The protection procedure for the emergency workers, including the on-site emergency center, the seismic isolated building and the reestablishment of the radiation protection framework were analyzed to investigate drawbacks and deficiencies which led to adverse effects on the emergency planning and on emergency workers' health and comfort. Those drawbacks were identified and studied, and then suggestions were made to enhance the emergency working condition to avoid any future problems during severe accident emergency work and management.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.45-52
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• 1981

The March 1979 accident at Three Mile Island provided physicians specializing in radiation medicine an opportunity to observe the field under conditions never seen before. Since no, injuries occurred at the site or within the community, medical personnel were immediately involved in efforts to allay fear, provide accurate information, and replace labortory resources rendered ineffective by the release in the reactor building. Valuable insights concerning medical emergency planning are derived from the accident; suggestions are made for handling any future mishaps.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.16-25
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• 2020

Background: To investigate radiological effects on biota, it is necessary to assess radiation dose for flora and fauna living in a terrestrial ecosystem. This paper presents a dynamic model to assess radioactivity concentration and radiation dose of terrestrial flora and fauna after a nuclear accident. Materials and Methods: Litter, organic soil, mineral soil, trees, wild crops, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are considered the major components of a terrestrial ecosystem. The model considers the physicochemical and biological processes of interception, weathering, decomposition of litter, percolation, root uptake, leaching, radioactive decay, and biological loss of animals. The predictive capability of the model was investigated by comparison of its predictions with field data for biota measured in the Fukushima forest area after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Results and Discussion: The predicted radioactive cesium inventories for trees agreed well with those for evergreens and deciduous trees sampled in the Fukushima area. The predicted temporal radioactivity concentrations for animals were within the range of the measured radioactivity concentrations of deer, wild boars, and black bears. The radiation dose for the animals were, for the whole simulation time, estimated to be much smaller than the lower limit (0.1 mGy·d^-1) of the derived consideration reference level given by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for terrestrial flora and fauna. This suggested that the radiation effect of the accident on the biota in the Fukushima forest would be insignificant. Conclusion: The present dynamic model can be used effectively to investigate the radiological risk to terrestrial ecosystems following a nuclear accident.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2017

A cyclotron is a kind of particle accelerator that produces a beam of charged particles for the production of medical, industrial, and research radioisotopes. More than 30 cyclotrons are operated in Korea to produce $^{18}F$, an FDG synthesis at hospitals. A 30-MeV cyclotron was installed at ARTI (Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, KAERI) mainly for research regarding isotope production. In this study, we analyze and estimate the items of risk such as the problems in the main components of the cyclotron, the loss of radioactive materials, the leakage of coolant, and the malfunction of utilities, fires and earthquakes. To estimate the occurrence frequency in an accident risk assessment, five levels, i.e., Almost certain, Likely, Possible, Unlikely, and Rare, are applied. The accident consequence level is classified under four grades based on the annual permissible dose for radiation workers and the public in the nuclear safety law. The analysis of the accident effect is focused on the radioactive contamination caused by radioisotope leakage and radioactive material leakage of a ventilation filter due to a fire. To analyze the risks, Occupation Safety and Health Acts is applied. In addition, action plans against an accident were prepared after a deep discussion among relevant researchers. In this acts, we will search for hazard and introduce the risk assessment for the research 30-MeV cyclotron facilities of ARTI.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

2011년 3월 11일 발생한 일본 후쿠시마 원전 사고 1주년을 계기로 한국 국민의 방사선 인식도를 조사하고자 하였다. 연구 방법론적 설계는 양적 조사로 하고, 빈도 분석을 하였다. 분석 대상은 전국에서 무작위로 추출한 일반인으로부터 수거한 설문 응답지 2754부이다. 연구 도구는 설문지이며, 직접 배포한 뒤 수거하였다. 설문은 40문항으로 구성하였으며, 하위영역별 크론바하 알파(Cronbach's ${\alpha}$) 계수는 '방사선의 자아인식' 0.620, '방사선의 위험' 0.830, '방사선의 편익' 0.781, '방사선의 관리' 0.685, '방사선의 정보원' 0.831, '후쿠시마 사고의 영향 정도' 0.763으로 모두 높게 나타났다. 설문 분석 결과 응답자의 방사선 개념에 대한 지식은 100점 만점 환산 평균 69.5점이며, 이는 자신들이 '방사선에 대해 잘 알고 있다'고 응답한 비율 53.7%, '보통 알고 있다'는 응답이 37.4%인 것과는 상당히 다른 결과다. '방사선이 위험하다'고 느끼는 중요 원인 중 하나는 '방사선에 노출되면 지금은 아니더라도 다음 세대에 문제가 생길 수 있기 때문'(66.1%)으로 분석됐다. 방사선에 대한 정부 발표를 믿지 못하는 응답자가 41%에 이르러 정부에 대한 불신이 높았다. 후쿠시마 원전 사고 때문에 원전을 운영하지 말아야 한다는 쪽으로 생각을 바꾼 응답자도 39.5%나 됐다. 본 연구는 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 방사선에 대한 한국 국민의 인식을 처음 조사한 것으로 그 의의가 크다. 향후 방사선에 대한 정부의 정책 수립에도 크게 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.201-215
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• 1996

Radiation and radioactive materials serve man in many beneficial ways. Diagnostic X-ray, radiation therapy, and other nuclear medicine uses of radioactivity save thousands of lives each year. Industrial application of radiation, such as radiography, make many manufactured products more reliable and less expensive. Nuclear power plants are producing more electrical power each year and reducing our dependence on imported oil. However, radiation can and dose produce harmful effects particularly as the reault of a radiation accident in which a victim receives as the result of a radiation accident in which a victim receives a large dose. Fortunately such accidents are very rare and recently we need more electric power produced by nuclear power plants. Considering increase of use of radiation or radioactive materials, we have to establish the radiological emergency response system prepared for radiation accidents.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.68-76
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• 2023

Background: In the process of discussion on the possibility of using radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris generated by radiation disasters, a strategy for the proper management of radiation exposure protection while considering the source of the contaminated materials is necessary. Materials and Methods: The radiological protection criteria that are likely to be applied to the source-related approach based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommendations and the International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards are summarized. We proposed five interpretations of radiation protection to contribute to the promotion of discussion on the possibility of using a part of low-level-radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris in the post-accident rehabilitation. Interpretations I to III are based on the idea of "using a reference level to protect the public in post-accident rehabilitation," whereas IV and V are based on the idea of "using the dose constraint to protect the public in the post-accident rehabilitation when the sources are handled in a planned activity." The former idea is subdivided into three based on the definition of the source, which is managed by the reference level, and the latter idea is divided into two depending on whether or not additional dose from using contaminated materials is deemed acceptable. Results and Discussion: To confirm the applicability of the five interpretations presented, we suggested the concrete values of protection criteria via two feasible cases. In this case study, we proposed radiation protection by the dose constraint based on the Interpretation IV and chose 1 mSv/yr for the public and 20 mSv/yr for workers dealing with radionuclide-contaminated materials. Conclusion: We concretely and systematically demonstrated how the concept of radiation protection can be applied to the process of discussion on the possibility of using radionuclide-contaminated materials within the framework of an international system of protection. This study's findings can provide necessary information to discuss the possibility of using radionuclide-contaminated materials as an alternative option for recovery and reconstruction after a radiation disaster from the viewpoint of radiation protection.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.75-83
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• 2012

2011년 3월 11일 일본 후쿠시마(福島) 원전 사고 1주년을 계기로 청소년의 방사선 인식도를 알아 본 뒤 이를 일반 성인을 대상으로 동일 설문을 이용해 거의 비슷한 시기에 조사한 결과와 비교하고자 하였다. 연구 방법론적 설계는 양적 조사를 하고, 빈도 분석을 하였다. 조사 대상은 미래 세대인 15세 중학교 3학년 학생으로 한정하였으며, 조사 도구인 설문지를 직접 배포하여 유효 응답지인 2,217부를 기준으로 분석하였다. 설문은 40문항으로 구성하였으며, 하위 영역별 크론바하 알파(Cronbach's ${\alpha}$) 계수는 '방사선의 자아 인식' 0.494, '방사선의 위험' 0.843, '방사선의 편익' 0.748, '방사선의 안전관리' 0.692, '방사선의 정보원' 0.819, '후쿠시마 사고의 영향 정도' 0.675로 대부분 높은 것으로 나타났다. 설문 분석 결과 응답자의 방사선 개념에 대한 지식은 100점 만점으로 환산시 67.4점(성인 69.5점)으로 높지 않았다. 후쿠시마 사고의 영향은 성인보다 덜 받은 것으로 조사됐는데, 다음 문항에서 '그렇다' 또는 '매우 그렇다'고 응답한 비율에서 잘 드러난다. '후쿠시마 사고의 영향으로 원전을 하지 말아야 한다는 쪽으로 생각을 바꿨다'는 문항에는 전체의 27.0%(성인은 38.9%)가, '후쿠시마 원전 사고로 인한 피해는 측정이 불가능할 만큼 막대하다'는 문항에는 전체의 65.7%(성인은 86.6%)가, '후쿠시마 원전 사고는 원자력 발전소 안전에 대한 경각심을 높이는 데 기여하였다'는 문항에는 전체의 65.0%(성인 86.3%)가 그 같이 응답해 청소년의 후쿠시마 사고의 영향 정도가 상대적으로 낮은 것을 알 수 있다. 또 상당수의 문항에서 청소년들은 성인에 비해 '보통이다'라고 응답하는 비율이 높았는데, 이는 아직 청소년 자신의 방사선에 대한 인식이 제대로 정립되지 않았기 때문으로 해석된다. 본 연구는 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 국내에서 청소년을 대상으로 방사선 인식도를 처음 조사했고, 일반 성인 조사 결과와도 비교한 것으로, 향후 정부의 방사선 정책 수립에 크게 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2000