• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.435-444
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that demographic factors, radiation knowledge level, and radiation awareness could be affecting the benefits of radiation. From July 2022 to July 2023, after receiving consent to participate by using the link of Naver through Social Network Service (SNS) for the general public, 312 people were surveyed by self-registration method without collecting personal information. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 25 questions following demographic factors (5 questions including age group by life cycle, sex, monthly household income, residence), radiation knowledge level (8 questions including basic physical, biological effects, radiation protection technology), radiation awareness (12 questions including risk, management, benefit). Independent sample T-test and ANOVA tests were performed for significant differences in the average radiation awareness between variables, and hierarchical regression was performed to identify influencing factors on radiation benefits. As a result, the benefit of radiation was significantly high among the radiation awareness, but the awareness of the danger of radiation was insufficient to the level of recognizing it as safe. Men had significantly higher awareness of radiation management and benefits than women, and the awareness of radiation management was significantly higher in the middle class with a monthly household income of 4.31 million won or more. The higher the knowledge level of radiation, the higher the awareness of the benefits of radiation. The factors that had a positive effect on radiation benefits were the high level of radiation knowledge and awareness of radiation management.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.91-95
• /
• 2010

The study aimed to measure the levels of radiation protection for radiologists in medical institutions in three environmental categories (physical, administrative and social) and to establish a data base which can be used to increase awareness of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions within Korea. The study surveyed 10% of radiologists working in radiology departments in medical institutions which are supervised by the National Dose Registry overseen by the Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA). This study found that the level of environmental radiation protection was higher in the capital area and in larger hospitals. On the other hand, the study shows environmental radiation protection was lower in the Youngnam area and in clinics. Results from the questionnaires indicate the level of environmental radiation protection was higher when radiologists were given an individual dosimeter but lowest when the radiation protection apron quality test was conducted. Environmental radiation protection is an important factor for radiologists to conduct activities in a safe and protected environment. However, this study shows there are differences in the level of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions and location within Korea. In particular, the level of environmental radiation protection was lower in clinics, appropriate intervention strategies befitting these conditions are needed based on medical institution classification and location in order to improve the level of environmental protection.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.96-102
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study identified factors impacting radiation knowledge among aircrew, who are affected by cosmic radiation exposure due to their occupational environment. Methods: In September 2019 we conducted an online survey of aircrew through a Google link. We evaluated the level of radiation knowledge using a ten-item (10 points) questionnaire. The following exploratory variables were evaluated in relationship with the level of radiation knowledge using univariable linear regression models: sex, age, duration of employment, position level, company, marriage, education level, personal/family history of disease, and the number of times acquiring information on radiation through various channels (internet searching, watching television, reading newspaper, conversation about radiation with aircrew/non-aircrew, in-house training). With a p of 0.2 in univariable models, we built a multivariable linear regression model using a stepwise selection method. Results: The average radiation knowledge score of the 356 respondents was 7.22. Univariable linear regression analysis showed that radiation knowledge of the aircrew was associated with their company, position level, age, and number of conversations with other aircrew members. Our multivariable model showed that the radiation knowledge level of aircrew decreased as they had more conversations about radiation with other aircrew members and as their age increased. Conclusions: Korean air crew showed a lower level of radiation knowledge as their age and the number of conversations with colleagues increased. The study suggests that more education is needed in order for aircrew to gain accurate radiation knowledge.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.7
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2006

Background & Objectives: This study investigates the recognition on the necessity of the use of radiation for both college students who are considered that they have a high knowledge level in radiation and proposes basic materials to change the recognition of the use of radiation. Also, the investigation was applied to average people who showed the most negative attitudes on radiation. Methods: A questionnaire was applied to 600 college students for five days from October 10 to 15, 2005 and used in statistical analysis. Results: The average value obtained in the recognition of the use of radiation was 76.60 points in which male respondents who were majored in natural science, health, and engineering department and respondents who have experienced radiation related education, radiation diagnosis, and radiation treatment demonstrated higher levels. Also, the average value obtained in the recognition of the radiation damage was 71.66 points in which respondents who were majored in natural sciences, humanities, engineering, and health department showed higher levels than that of respondents who were majored in art and physical department. Groups that exhibited higher recognition levels in the necessity of the use of radiation were male respondents and respondents who were majored in natural science, humanities, and health department and have experienced radiation diagnosis and radiation treatment. In the results of the correlation analysis on the necessity of the use of radiation and recognition of radiation damages, the recognition of radiation damages was presented as negative attitudes in the case of the higher recognition level in the necessity of the use of radiation. Conclusions: Regarding the frequency of the use of radiation in Korea, a 80.9% of university students who showed a high education level had no experiences in radiation related education. Although they showed a relatively high level of 76.6 points in the recognition level of the necessity of the use of radiation, the negative attitude on the radiation damage was also presented as a high level of 71.7 points. Because the providing chance of radiation related information was limited as compared to the atomic power used in Korea and dependancy of the use of radiation, it is necessary to provide the basic information related in the use of radiation to the public. In addition, various investigations on the use of radiation and such negative attitudes are required in future for the public. Also, the correct information of the radiation safety should be delivered to the public.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 2019

Tritium is an important nuclide that must be monitored for radiation safety management. In this study, HTO was orally administered to rats at the level of 37 kBq ($1{\mu}Ci$) or 370 kBq ($10{\mu}Ci$) to examine tissue distribution and excretion levels. After sacrifice, wet and dry tissue samples were weighed and analyzed for tissue free-water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT). The mean tissue concentrations of TFWT (OBT) were 30.9 (17.8) and 4.4 (8.1) Bq/g on days 7 and 13 at the 37 kBq level and 30.8 (64.6) Bq/g on day 17 at the 370 kBq level. To assess the cytogenetic damage due to tritium exposure, a cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) assay was performed in blood samples from rats exposed to HTO for 14 and 21 days after oral administration. There was no significant difference in the MN frequencies between the control and exposed rats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2018

Purpose : This study identified knowledge, attitudes and behavior for radiation safety management of dental hygiene student. And to provide basic data for the development of effective education program for safety management for radiation protection. Methods : A questionnaire survey of questionnaires was conducted on the second and third grade dental hygiene students at three - year college in 'A' area of Gyeongnam province. The questionnaire of 37 items was used to investigate knowledge and attitude about radiation protection. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA and pearson's correlation Analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. Result : Results obtained from this study are as follows. 1. Knowledge level of radiation safety management by general characteristics showed statistically significant difference. 2. Radiation safety education knowledge score was higher in the case of radiation safety education(t=1.660, p<.05). 3. The radiation safety management attitude score was a statistically significant difference between the groups according to 'achievement' (F=1.660, p<.001). In the case of 'radiation protection facilities', there was a statistically significant difference between groups according to the recognition of radiation protection facilities (F=6.001, p<.001). 4. As a result of investigating the relationship between radiation safety management knowledge and attitude, the higher the knowledge level of radiation safety management, the higher the attitude(p<.001). Conclusion : Therefore, radiation safety management education should be organized systematically and it is required to improve not only safety management knowledge, attitude level but also action level.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.209-216
• /
• 2015

It has been about 5 years since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, which contaminated large area with radioactive materials. It is necessary to assess radiation dose to establish evacuation areas and to set decontamination goal for the large contaminated area. In this study, we assessed temporal trend of radiation dose to the public living in the large area contaminated with radioactive materials after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. The dose assessment was performed based on Chernobyl model and RESRAD model for two evacuation lift areas, Kawauchi and Naraha. It was reported that deposition densities in the areas were $4.3{\sim}96kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{134}Cs$, $1.4{\sim}300kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{137}Cs$, respectively. Radiation dose to the residents depended on radioactive cesium concentrations in the soil, ranging $0.11{\sim}2.4mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Kawauchi area and $0.69{\sim}1.1mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Naraha area in July 2014. The difference was less than 5% in radiation doses estimated by two different models. Radiation dose decreased with calendar time and the decreasing slope varied depending on dose assessment models. Based on the Chernobyl dosimetry model, radiation doses decreased with calendar time to about 65% level of the radiation dose in 2014 after 1 year, 11% level after 10 years, and 5.6% level after 30 years. RESRAD dosimetry model more slowly decreased radiation dose with time to about 85% level after 1 year, 40% level after 10 years, and 15% level after 30 years. The decrease of radiation dose can be mainly attributed into radioactive decays and environmental transport of the radioactive cesium. Only environmental transports of radioactive cesium without consideration of radioactive decays decreased radiation dose additionally 43% after 1 year, 72% after 3 years, 80% after 10 years, and 83% after 30 years. Radiation doses estimated with cesium concentration in the soil based on Chernobyl dosimetry model were compared with directly measured radiation doses. The estimated doses well agreed with the measurement data. This study results can be applied to radiation dose assessments at the contaminated area for radiation safety assurance or emergency preparedness.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2007

Background & Objectives: International radiation protection committee recognized the importance of radiation protection from medical practices because the exposure to the radiation in medical practice is higher than any other exposure. The factors on knowledge, attitude and practice of radiation safety of the medical workers engaged in radiation were analyzed in order to improve radiation safety technology. Method: Questionnaires were used for 1200 radiation workers in medical institution from July 23 through September 4 and collected for analysis. Results: Different level of safety measures were practiced by age, marital status, career, and medical facility. The difference was statistically significant. Higher levels of safety measures were practiced in the age group of 50s and married persons. The workers who have more than 20 years experience have higher level of safety measures. The workers of health centers have higher level of safety measures to compare with other workers. The factors which give more concerns on safety practice were self efficacy, practice and knowledge in order. Conclusion: Safety conscious operators should get additional education program to maintain higher level of safety. The operators who do not have much safety concern should be intensive training program for self efficacy and safety.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.468-473
• /
• 2010

We confirmed that the dismantling of two research reactors with thermal power of $2MW_{th}$ and $100kW_{th}$, respectively, reveals no significant difference between the radiation levels of the research reactor site and the surrounding environment far away from it, from the radiation level aspect. Radiation dose and radioactivity were measured at monitoring points around the research reactor site of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in Seoul and comparison points 0.5 km to 3.3 km from the site. To grasp trends in the radiation levels during dismantling from the end of 2002 to the end of 2007, the gamma radiation dose rate, the accumulated dose, and the radioactivity of the strontium, tritium, and gamma isotopes were statistically treated and estimated. The averages of these items between the two groups, the research reactor site and comparison points, were assessed by applying a T-test with a significance level of 0.05. P-values found by using the T-test were from 0.12 to 0.83 where the values were much higher than the significance level. As a result, no difference was observed between the radiation levels at the research reactor site and at the comparison points by this T-test. This study showed that dismantling activity of the Korea Research Reactor of the Seoul site did not expose the public or the environment to harmful levels of radiation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.57-70
• /
• 2016

Background: Since the terminology 'radioactive consumer product' is not quite familiar to the public and is often considered as negative and detrimental things, the educational curriculum is essential for establishing reliability of nuclear energy related and for the development of better communication strategy of radiation risk with the public. To provide base data which is valuable for establishing efficient curriculum of education and training about radiation safety, it is necessary to apprehend the different level of awareness of radiation exposures classified by various consumer products. Materials and Methods: On November 2014, a question investigation about asking awareness level of radiation exposure from various consumer products was done for university students who are highly educated. The object students are studied at a four-year-course universities which is located at Daejeon City. Results and Discussion: Although the average awareness level is comparatively low, the awareness of senior students, who major in radiation, nuclear related departments and male students are relatively high. On the other hand, the awareness of freshman, sophomore, junior students, who do not major in radiation, nuclear related departments and female students are relatively low. It is necessary to provide various information to avoid unnecessary concerns and misconceptions about radiation exposure. Conclusion: This paper will be an instrument for efficient establishment of curriculum of education and training related with radiation safety.