• Title/Summary/Keyword: Radiological Safety

Search Result 524, Processing Time 0.021 seconds

Development and Usefulness Evaluation of Virtual Reality Simulator for Education of Spatial Dose Rate in Radiation Controlled Area (방사선관리구역의 공간선량률 교육을 위한 가상현실 시뮬레이터의 개발과 유용성 평가)

  • Jeong-Min Seo
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.46 no.6
    • /
    • pp.493-499
    • /
    • 2023
  • This study developed education contents of measuring spatial dose with virtual reality simulation and applied to students majoring radiological science. The virtual reality(VR) contents with measuring spatial dose rate in the radiation controlled area was developed based on the simulation from pilot study. In this simulation, the tube voltage and tube current can be set from 60 to 120 kVp in 10 kVp steps and 10 to 40 mAs in 10 mAs increments, and the distance from source can be set from 30 to 400 cm continuously. Iron and lead shields can be placed between the source and the detector, and shielding thickness can be set by 1 mm increments ranging from 1 to 20 mm. We surveyed to students for evaluating improvement of understanding spatial dose rate between before and after education by VR simulation. The survey was conducted with 5 questions(X-ray exposure factors, effects by distance from the source, effects from using shield, depending on material and thickness of shield, concept and measuring of spatial dose rate) and all answers showed significant improvement. Therefore, this VR simulation content will be well used in education for spatial dose rate and radiation safety environments.

An Analysis of the Awareness and Performance of Radiation Workers' Radiation/Radioactivity Protection in Medical Institutions: Focused on Busan Regional Medical Institutions (의료기관 방사선작업종사자들의 방사선/능 방어에 대한 인식도 및 수행도 분석: 부산지역 의료기관을 중심으로)

  • Park, Cheol Koo;Hwang, Chul Hwan;Kim, Dong Hyun
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.40 no.1
    • /
    • pp.101-108
    • /
    • 2017
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate safety management awareness and behavioral investigation of radiation/radioactivity performance defenses of radiation workers' in medical institutions. Data collection consisted of 267 radiation workers working in medical institutions using structured questionnaires. As a result, it was analyzed that radiation safety management awareness and performance were high in 40s, 50s group and higher education group. The analysis according to the radiation safety management knowledge was analyzed that the "Know very well" group had higher scores on awareness and performance scores. The analysis according to the degree of safety management effort showed the high awareness scale and the performance scale in the group "Receiving various education or studying the safety management contents through book". The correlations between the sub-factors showed the highest positive correlation between perceived practician and personal perspective and perceived by patient and patient's caretaker perspective. Therefore, radiation safety management for workers, patients, and patient's caretaker should be conducted through continuous education of radiation safety management through various routes of radiation workers working at medical institutions.

Effects of Claustrophobia, Vital Signs on Psychological Anxiety of the Patients during MRI Examination(In Patient Safety Accident) (MRI 검사 시 환자의 심리적 불안감이 폐쇄공포 및 활력징후에 미치는 영향(환자안전사고에 있어서))

  • Kim, Jae-Cheon;Bae, Seok-Hwan;Kim, Yong-Kwon;Lee, Moo-Sik
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.231-240
    • /
    • 2015
  • In this study, to find out the effect of psychological anxiety of the patients during MRI examination on the claustrophobia and vital signs, As for a study tool, to measure Anxiety Sensitivity Index(ASI), Kamsung Evaluation Index of Life Environmental Noise(KEI), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV) was used, and for vital signs, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured pre and post MRI examination. In conclusion, it was indicated that though the effect of the general characteristics, psychological anxiety, on noise sensitivity and claustrophobia was small, the psychological anxiety of the patients during MRI examination affected claustrophobia and vital signs.

Evaluation of radiological safety according to accident scenarios for commercialization of spent resin mixture treatment device

  • Choi, Woo Nyun;Byun, Jaehoon;Kim, Hee Reyoung
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.54 no.7
    • /
    • pp.2606-2613
    • /
    • 2022
  • Spent resin often exceeds radiation limits for safe disposal, creating a need for commercial-scale treatment techniques to reduce resin radioactivity. In this study, the radiological safety of a commercialized spent resin treatment device with a treatment capacity of 1 ton/day was evaluated. The results confirm that the device is radiologically safe in the event of an accident. This device desorbs 14C from the spent resin, allowing disposal as low-level waste instead of intermediate-level waste. The device also reduces overall waste by recycling the extracted 14C. Potential accident scenarios were explored to enable dose assessments for both internal and external exposure while preventing further spillage of the device and processing the spilled resin. The scenarios involved the development of a surface fracture on the resin mixture separator and microwave systems, which were operated under pressure and temperature of 0-6 bar and 0-150 ℃, respectively. In the case of accidents with separator and microwave device, the maximum allowable working time of worker were derived, respectively, considering external and internal exposures. When wearing the respirator corresponding to APF 50, in the case of the microwave device accident scenario, the radiological safety was confirmed when the maximum worker worked within 132.1 h.

Activity concentrations and radiological hazard assessments of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in soil samples obtained from the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Korea

  • Jieun Lee;HyoJin Kim;Yong Uk Kye; Dong Yeon Lee;Wol Soon Jo;Chang Geun Lee;Jeung Kee Kim;Jeong-Hwa Baek;Yeong-Rok Kang
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.55 no.7
    • /
    • pp.2388-2394
    • /
    • 2023
  • The radioactivity concentration of environmental radionuclides was analyzed for soil and sand at eight locations within a radius of 255 m centered on the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Science (DIRAMS), Korea. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 137Cs, 226Ra, and 232Th were 661.1 Bq/kg-dry, 0.9 Bq/kg-dry, 21.9 Bq/kg-dry, and 11.1 Bq/kg-dry, respectively. The activity of 40K and 137Cs was lower than the 3-year (2017-2019) average reported by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, respectively. Due to the nature of granite-rich soil, the radioactivity of 40K was 0.6-fold higher than in other countries, while 137Cs was in the normal fluctuation range (15-30 Bq/kg-dry) of the concentration of radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. The activity of 226Ra and 232Th was lower than in Korean soils reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The average activity concentrations of 232Th and 40K for the soil and sand samples from DIRAMS were within the range specified by UNSCEAR in 2000. The radium equivalent activity and internal and external hazard index values were below the recommended limits (1 mSv/y). These radionuclide concentration (226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs) data can be used for regional environmental monitoring and ecological impact assessments of nuclear power plant accidents.

Balloon Bronchoplasty for the Treatment of Bronchial Stenosis After Lung Transplantation: A Single-Center 10-Year Experience

  • Dong Kyu Kim;Joon Ho Kwon;Kichang Han;Man-Deuk Kim;Gyoung Min Kim;Sungmo Moon;Juil Park;Jong Yun Won;Hyung Cheol Kim;Sei Hyun Chun;Seung Myeon Choi
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
    • /
    • v.24 no.5
    • /
    • pp.424-433
    • /
    • 2023
  • Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of balloon dilatation under dual guidance using fluoroscopy and bronchoscopy for treating bronchial stenosis following lung transplantation (LT), and to elucidate the factors associated with patency after the procedure. Materials and Methods: From September, 2012, to April, 2021, 50 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 54.4 ± 12.2 years) with bronchial stenosis among 361 recipients of LT were retrospectively analyzed. The safety of balloon dilatation was assessed by evaluating procedure-related complications. Efficacy was assessed by evaluating the technical success, primary patency, and secondary patency. Primary and secondary cumulative patency rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The factors associated with patency after the procedure were evaluated using multivariable Cox hazard proportional regression analysis. Results: In total, 65 bronchi were treated with balloon dilatation in 50 patients. The total number of treatment sessions was 277 and the technical success rate was 99.3% (275/277 sessions). No major procedure-related complications were noted. During the mean follow-up period of 34.6 ± 30.8 months, primary patency was achieved in 12 of 65 bronchi (18.5%). However, the patency rate improved to 76.9% (50 of 65 bronchi) after repeated balloon dilatation (secondary patency). The 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year secondary patency rates were 95.4%, 90.8%, 83.1%, and 78.5%, respectively. The presence of clinical symptoms was a significant prognostic factor associated with reduced primary patency (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.465; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.220-0.987). Early-stage treatment ≤ 6 months (adjusted HR, 3.588; 95% CI, 1.093-11.780) and prolonged balloon dilatation > 5 min (adjusted HR, 3.285; 95% CI, 1.018-10.598) were associated with significantly higher secondary patency. Conclusion: Repeated balloon dilatation was determined to be safe and effective for treating bronchial stenosis following LT. Early-stage treatment and prolonged balloon dilatation could significantly promote long-term patency.

Radiation risk perception and its associated factors among residents living near nuclear power plants: A nationwide survey in Korea

  • Sung, Hyoju;Kim, Jung Un;Lee, Dalnim;Jin, Young Woo;Jo, Hyemi;Jun, Jae Kwan;Park, Sunhoo;Seo, Songwon
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.54 no.4
    • /
    • pp.1295-1300
    • /
    • 2022
  • There has been increased interest in researching risk perception of radiation to implement successful risk communication, particularly given the recent worldwide nuclear policy movement regarding nuclear energy. This study aimed to investigate characteristics of risk perception among residents living near normally operating nuclear power plants in South Korea by identifying factors associated with risk perception. A survey was conducted with face-to-face interviews for 1200 residents aged 20e84 years by gender- and age-stratified random sampling. Risk perception was associated with trust perception in nuclear safety, but was not highly correlated with benefit perception for utilizing nuclear power. Relatively high risk perception was observed in women, older age groups, and residents not having experience of nuclear-related education or work. This association remained after adjusting for other factors including benefit perception, trust perception, and psychological distress. In addition to these individual characteristics, risk perception was also associated with a residential district's own unique context, indicating that a strategy of risk communication should be developed differently for residents facing nuclear-related circumstances. Given that risk perception can be changed, depending on social values such as safety culture and economic setting, further studies are required to understand the changing characteristics of radiation risk perception.

50-300 keV X-ray Transmission Ratios for Lead, Steel and Concrete

  • Tae Hwan Kim;Kum Bae Kim;Geun Beom Kim;Dong Wook Kim;Sang Rok Kim;Sang Hyoun Choi
    • Progress in Medical Physics
    • /
    • v.33 no.4
    • /
    • pp.164-171
    • /
    • 2022
  • The number of facilities using radiation generators increases and related regulations are strengthened, the establishment of a shielding management and evaluation technology has become important. The characteristics of the radiation generator used in previous report differ from those of currently available high-frequency radiation generators. This study aimed to manufacture lead, iron, and concrete shielding materials for the re-verification of half-value layers, tenth-value layers, and attenuation curve. For a comparison of attenuation ratio, iron, lead, and concrete shields were manufactured in this study. The initial dose was measured without shielding materials, and doses measured under different types and thicknesses of shielding material were compared with the initial dose to calculate the transmission rate on 50-300 kVp X-ray. All the three shielding materials showed a tendency to require greater shielding thickness for higher energy. The attenuation graph showed an exponential shape as the thickness decreased and a straight line as the thickness increased. The difference between the measurement results and the previous study, except in extrapolated parts, may be due to the differences in the radiation generation characteristics between the generators used in the two studies. The attenuated graph measured in this study better reflects the characteristics of current radiation generators, which would be more effective for shield designing.

Study Radiological Defense Interrelationship Research in Career (경력에 따른 방사선방어 상관성 연구)

  • Kim, Jean Soo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.16 no.2
    • /
    • pp.135-138
    • /
    • 2012
  • Purpose : This research the isotope of handling was to an actual act of the radiological defense which it follows in career of the clinical pathological companies in order to inquire the interrelation for a radiological defense. Materials and Methods : The tool of this research with question from 2010 October until November did electrification Chwung Cheng and the Seoul isotope thread clinical pathological company with the object person and it investigated in direct question or mail method, the data which is collected used SPSS19.0 programs and frequency and percentage and t-test, ANOVA, it used it analyzed a multiple regression analysis method. Results : The interrelationship of the radiological defense which it follows in career was visible the interrelation which considers statistically (p<0.01). But the correlation coefficient appeared lowly with 0.196. With the variable who affects in radiological defense act it appeared with worker providing by law educations and RI license acquisitions. Conclusion : There is to business progress and the radiological defense act respects a worker safety stands the unit only is the fact which is important. Consequently a possibility of saying that the radiation worker education is necessary, it executes the education which is continuous, RI license acquisitions, there is.

  • PDF

Development and strengthening of the nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure for nuclear power program of Bangladesh

  • Islam, Md. Shafiqul;Faisal, Shafiqul Islam;Khan, Sadia
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.53 no.5
    • /
    • pp.1705-1716
    • /
    • 2021
  • Bangladesh, as a newcomer country, is expecting to start her nuclear power journey by 2022. Due to evident reasons, newcomer nuclear countries face several key challenges concerning the development of national nuclear safety infrastructure. The paper investigates the status of the 7 key safety infrastructure issues out of the 19 and readiness of the supportive organizations, laboratories, and workforces following the International Atomic energy Agency's status evaluation guide at milestone 3 and foreign countries' practice. Much progress has been achieved at phase 3 regarding the establishments of a few Acts, a regulator, and an operator. However, comprehensive regulatory frameworks, skilled workforces, establishments of a few supportive organizations, and laboratories for managing environmental radioactivity, radiological accidents, and radioactive wastes are yet to ready. Several suggestions are made for establishing and expediting radiation monitoring laboratories, a radiological emergency management center, a radioactive waste management company, and technical support organizations for the safety infrastructure. To avoid perceived risks, policymakers and competent authorities need to emphasize creating an optimized safety infrastructure before commissioning and operating the 1st nuclear power plant safely, securely, and cost-sustainably.