• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.116-122
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• 2012

A short-term atmospheric dispersion factor (${\chi}/Q$) is an essential element for radiological dose assessment following a hypothetical accidental releases of light-water nuclear power plants. The U. S. NRC developed PAVAN program to comply with the U. S. NRC's Regulatory Guide 1.145. Meteorological data is an essential element for atmospheric dispersion, and PAVAN uses a joint frequency distribution data, which represents the occurrence probability of wind speed and wind direction for atmospheric stability. Using the meteorological data measured at Kori and Wolsung sites for the last 5 years (from 2006 to 2010), a variety of joint frequency distribution data were prepared to evaluate ${\chi}/Q$ values with different wind speed classifications (U. S. NRC's recommendation and even distribution of occurrence probability) and periods of meteorological data to be analyzed (1 year, 2 year, 3 year, 4 year, 5 year). As a result, it was found that the influence of the wind speed classification on ${\chi}/Q$ values is little, while the influence of the periods of meteorological data to be analyzed is relatively significant, representing more than 1.5 times in the ratio of maximum to minimum values.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2015

As performance of electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) used for auxiliary personal dosimeter in nuclear power plants (NPPs) has been being continuously improved, we investigated application cases in Korea and other countries and also tested it in NPPs to assess the performance of EPD for external radiation dosimetry. Result of performance tests done in domestic NPPs was similar to those obtained by IAEA in cooperation with EURADOS (IAEA-TECDOC-1564). In addition, EPD/TLD dose ratio has shown similar tendency of EPD/Film-badge dose ratio from the research by the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) and EPD provided more conservative value than TLD or Film-badge. Although some EPD's failures have been discussed, EPD has shown continuous improvement according to the report of Institute of Nuclear Power Operation (INPO) and data from domestic NPPs. In conclusion, It is considered that the general performance of EPD is adequate for external radiation dosimetry compared with that of TLD, providing appropriate performance checking procedure and alternative measures for functional failure.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

Recently, a new imaging method, gamma vertex imaging (GVI), was proposed for the verification of in-vivo proton dose distribution. In GVI, the vertices of prompt gammas generated by proton induced nuclear interaction were determined by tracking the Compton-recoiled electrons. The GVI system is composed of a beryllium electron converter for converting gamma to electron, two double-sided silicon strip detectors (DSSDs) for the electron tracking, and a scintillation detector for the energy determination of the electron. In the present study, the modules of a charge sensitive preamplifier (CSP) and a shaping amplifier for the analog signal processing of DSSD were developed and the performances were evaluated by comparing the energy resolutions with those of the commercial products. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the energy resolution of the developed CSP module was a little lower than that of the CR-113 (Cremat, Inc., MA), and the resolution of the shaping amplifier was similar to that of the CR-200 (Cremat, Inc., MA). The value of $V_{rms}$ representing the magnitude of noise of the developed system was estimated as 6.48 keV and it was confirmed that the trajectory of the electron can be measured by the developed system considering the minimum energy deposition ( > ~51 keV) of Compton-recoiled electron in 145-${\mu}m$-thick DSSD.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2014

In potential accident consequence assessments for the licensing approval of LWRs, the ground deposition of radionuclides released into the environment is not allowed into the models, as recommended in the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulatory guide. Meanwhile, it is allowed into the assessment models for the licensing approval of PHWRs with consideration of more detailed physical processes of radionuclides in the atmosphere. Under these backgrounds, importance of exposure dose by ground deposition was quantitatively evaluated and comprehensively discussed. For potential accidental releases of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{131}I$, total exposure doses were more conservative in case of without consideration of ground deposition than in case of with its consideration. It was because of that the depletion of air concentration resulting from ground deposition is more influential in the contribution to total exposure doses than additional doses from contaminated ground. The exposure doses by the inhalation of contaminated air showed the contribution of more than 90% in total exposure doses, depending on atmospheric stability, release period of radionuclides and distance from a release point. The exposure doses from contaminated ground showed less than 10% at most in contribution of total exposure doses. The ratios of total exposure doses in case of with consideration of deposition to without its consideration for $^{131}I$ were distinct than those for $^{137}Cs$. As the atmosphere is more stable, release duration of radionuclides is longer, distance from a release point is longer, it was more distinct.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-205
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• 2016

Background: The emergency planning zone (EPZ) of the city of Busan is divided into the precautionary actions zone (PAZ) and the urgent protective action planning zone; which have a 5-km radius and a 20-km to 21-km radius from the nuclear power plant site, respectively. In this study, we assumed that a severe accident occurred at Shin-Kori nuclear unit 3 and evaluated the dispersion speed of radiological material at each distance at various wind speeds, and estimated the effective dose equivalent and the evacuation time of PAZ residents with the goal of supporting off-site emergency action planning for the nuclear site. Materials and Methods: The total effective dose equivalent, which shows the effect of released radioactive materials on the residents, was evaluated using the RASCAL 4.2 program. In addition, a survey of 1,036 residents was performed using a standardized questionnaire, and the resident evacuation time according to road and distance was analyzed using the VISSIM 6.0 program. Results and Discussion: According to the results obtained using the VISSIM and RASCAL programs, it would take approximately 80 to 252.2 minutes for permanent residents to move out of the PAZ boundary, 40 to 197.2 minutes for students, 60 to 232.2 minutes for the infirm, such as elderly people and those in a nursing home or hospital, and 30 to 182.2 minutes for those temporarily within the area. Consequently, in the event of any delay in the evacuation, it is estimated that the residents would be exposed to up to $10mSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ of radiation at the Exclusion Area Boundaries (EAB) boundary and $4-6mSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ at the PAZ boundary. Conclusion: It was shown that the evacuation time for the residents is adequate in light of the time lapse from the initial moment of a severe accident to the radiation release. However, in order to minimize the evacuation time, it is necessary to maintain a system of close collaboration to avoid traffic congestion and spontaneous evacuation attempts.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2011

This study investigated characteristics of dose distribution at junction field of X-ray and electron beams according to the method for fabricating the insert block on the electron cone. Insert block were fabricated to the divergency cutout block and the straight cutout block. For the 6 MV X-ray and 10 MeV nominal energy of electron beam, we was adjacent to the light field of X-ray and electron beam at a surface of matrix chamber and measured to beam profile of abutted field in the 0, 1, 2, 3 cm measurement depth. As a result, characteristics of dose distribution at junction field, straight block was existent that over dose area exceed the give dose more than 5% and under dose area with a rapid change in dose distribution. However, divergency block had remarkably decreased the over dose area caused by the lateral scattering effects of decrease, and being existed uniformity dose distribution in the junction field. Therefore, divergency block were the benefits of radiation dose delivery, in order to applied the clinical, measurement of electron beams according to the fabrication method of the block should be considered carefully.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2011

This study conducts cross-comparison through verification of treatment planning of using beam spoiler and bolus, according to the dose variation of different tumor bed and metastatic lymph node cancers, against ionization and optically stimulated luminescence detectors(OSLDs), in head and neck radiotherapy. Verification of treatment planning examined the feasibility of inserting detectors through simulated solid dry water slabs under identical irradiated conditions from treatment planning system to measure beam spoiler and 0.5, 1 cm bolus. In addition, two detectors were cross-compared for verification of treatment planning accuracy and reliability within ${\pm}$2%. The study found that, given a beam spoiler thickness of 0.5 cm and beam spoiler-to-skin distance of 10 cm subjected to optimal dose distribution given for metastatic lymph node cancers, the bolus low-level skin dose was less, and the tumor bed dose reduced slightly. Additionally, two detectors were cross-compared for accuracy within ${\pm}$1%. Accordingly, The use of beam spoiler was determined that reduces skin side effects and can deliver an optimal dose distribution for tumor, and to apply to future clinical studies should be performed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2007

When an accident occurs at nuclear power plant and radionuclide material is released to the area around the plant, public evacuation is considered as a measure to protect the safety of the residents nearby. This study draws factors required to estimate evacuation time and make estimation of the time to evacuate all residents from the EPZ of Wolsong site in consideration of traffic condition in the neighborhood and on the basis of field data around the site for each factor. The traffic capacity and the traffic volume by season were investigated for the traffic analysis and simulation within EPZ of Wolsong site. As a result, the background traffic volume by season were established. To estimate TGT(Trip Generation Time), the questionnaire surveys were carried out for resident and transient. The TSIS code was applied to traffic analysis in the events of daytime/night and normal/adverse weather under normal day/summer peak traffic condition. The results showed that the evacuation time required for total vehicles to move out from EPZ took generally from 118 to 150 minutes. The evacuation time took longer maximum 17 minutes at night than daytime during summer peak traffic.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2007

Present study aimed to investigate the radioprotective effects of propolis feeding on rat tissues damaged by X-ray irradiation. It was shown that the number of white blood cell in X-ray irradiated group supplemented with propolis increased as much to those of the control group and also the GOT activities among the blood components were decreased after propolis feeding. The mineral contents such as Mg, Fe, Ca, Mn, Cu, Mo, Ni, As in liver were increased as compared with those of the control group but maintained lower level than those of only irradiated groups, implying that the propolis feeding elevated the recovery capability of white blood cell effectively and propolis have a potential resistance to cell damage by X-ray. According to histological observations of the testis, intestine and liver tissues which are irradiated after feeding propolis, the numbers of damaged undifferentiated cells were decreased in testis and the shape of the goblet cells and inner and outer muscular layers in intestine were restored to the original state and the hepatocytes and interlobular veins were shown intact in liver, suggesting that propolis has a potential capacity to restore cell shapes or resist deformation of cell.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2008

As the first comprehensive attempt at a national implementation, this study aims at assessing the external costs of major electricity generation technologies in Korea, particularly an evaluation of the impacts on human health resulting from exposures to atmospheric radiological emissions from nuclear power plants, and a monetary quantification of their damages. The methodology used for the assessment of the externalities of the selected fuel cycles has been developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), namely the SimPacts Model Package. The model is internationally recognized as a tool which can be applied to a wide range of fuels, different technologies and locations, for an externalities study. In this study, the relevant emissions are quantified first and then their impacts on human health are evaluated and compared. The study focused on all the nuclear power plants for the last 6 years ($2001{\sim}2006$) in Korea. With respect to nuclear power, the impact analysis only focuses on a power generation, however the front- and back-end nuclear fuel cycles are not included, namely uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, reprocessing, conditioning, etc., because these facilities are not present in Korea. The analysis results show that nuclear power in general, generates low external costs. The highest damage costs from the nuclear power plants among the 4 sites in Korea were estimated to be 3.9 mills/MWh, which is about 1/20th of the result for a similar case study conducted in the U.K., implemented through the ExternE project. This difference is largely due to the number of radionuclides included in the study and the amount of released radioactive emissions based on up-to-date information in Korea. In this study, the sensitivities of the major factors for nuclear power plants were also calculated. The analysis indicates that there was around a ${\pm}3%$ damage costs variation to a ${\pm}15%$ change of the reference population density and a ${\pm}1%$ damage cost variation to a $1{\sim}30$ meters change of the effective release height, respectively. These sensitive calculations show that there is only a minor difference when the reference costs are compared.