• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.627-638
• /
• 2018

This article describes an integrated Level 1-Level 2 probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methodology to evaluate the radiological risk during postulated accident scenarios initiated during the decommissioning phase of a typical Mark I containment boiling water reactor. The fuel damage scenarios include those initiated while the reactor is permanently shut down, defueled, and the spent fuel is located into the spent fuel storage pool. This article focuses on the integrated Level 1-Level 2 PRA aspects of the analysis, from the beginning of the accident to the radiological release into the environment. The integrated Level 1-Level 2 decommissioning PRA uses event trees and fault trees that assess the accident progression until and after fuel damage. Detailed deterministic severe accident analyses are performed to support the fault tree/event tree development and to provide source term information for the various pieces of the Level 1-Level 2 model. Source terms information is collected from accidents occurring in both the reactor pressure vessel and the spent fuel pool, including simultaneous accidents. The Level 1-Level 2 PRA model evaluates the temporal and physical changes in plant conditions including consideration of major uncertainties. The goal of this article is to provide a methodology framework to perform a decommissioning Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), and an application to a real case study is provided to show the use of the methodology. Results will be derived from the integrated Level 1-Level 2 decommissioning PSA event tree in terms of fuel damage frequency, large release frequency, and large early release frequency, including uncertainties.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.553-560
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical risk according to the applicator heterogeneity, mislocation, and tissue heterogeneity correction through a dose verification program during brachytherapy of cervical cancer. We performed image processing with MATLAB on images acquired with CT simulator. The source was modeled and stochiometric calibration and Monte-Carlo algorithm were applied based on dwell time and location to calculate the dose, and the secondary cancer risk was evaluated in the dose verification program. The result calculated by correcting for applicator and tissue heterogeneity showed a maximum dose of about 25% higher. In the bladder, the difference in excess absolute risk according to the heterogeneity correction was not significant. In the rectum, the difference in excess absolute risk was lower than that calculated by correcting applicator and tissue heterogeneity compared to the water-based calculation. In the femur, the water-based calculation result was the lowest, and the result calculated by correcting the applicator and tissue heterogeneity was 10% higher. A maximum of 14% dose difference occurred when the applicator mislocation was 20 mm in the Z-axis. In a future study, it is expected that a system that can independently verify the treatment plan can be developed by automating the interface between the treatment planning system and the dose verification program.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.373-377
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to suggest a necessity and development of radiation counsellor qualifications system for the public to solve the anxiety and the curiosity about radiation exposure. We analyzed the definition and role of radiation counsellor and define radiation counsellor qualifications system. Qualification is given to those who have completed the professional training course organized by Korea Energy Information Culture Agency (KEIA). Since 2014, KEIA has been conducting radiation counsellor training, Examination and certification. This system continues to promote efforts to disseminate and develop the right knowledge about radiation risk and information of radiation risk to the public. Also, it is thought that radiation counsellors could be able to fulfill the roles needed in society through legislation for the mandatory placement of radiation counsellors.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.489-494
• /
• 2021

In this study, radioactivity quantitative analysis was performed on radon contained in cigarette, and the effective dose was calculated using the result value to determine the amount of exposure caused by smoking. A total of 5 types of cigarettes were sampled. Cigarette smoke was collected by using activated carbon, and tobacco were measured by homogenizing for quantitative analysis. For each sample, Bi-214 and Pb-214 were subjected to gamma nuclide analysis to observe the uranium-based radioactive material contained in cigarette, and a measurement time of 30,000 seconds was set for the sample based on the results of previous studies. As a result of measuring the radioactivity of tobacco, a maximum of 0.715 Bq/kg was derived, and in the case of cigarette smoke measured using activated carbon, a maximum of 3.652 Bq/kg was derived. Using this measurement, the average effective dose to the lungs is 0.938 mSv/y, and it was found that there is a possibility of receiving exposure up to 1.099 mSv/y depending on the type of tobacco. It was found that the exposure dose due to cigarette occupies a large proportion of the annual effective dose limit for the general public. Therefore, more diverse studies on radioactive substances in cigarette are needed, and measures to monitor and reduce the incidental exposure to radon should be established.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2010.05a
• /
• pp.51-52
• /
• 2010

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.459-466
• /
• 2018

Risk of radiation worker and radiation workplace are being mainly assessed by exposure dose. But, the radiation used in radiation workplace and the work environment are different. Because the nondestructive work environment varies depending on the work subject, the existence and nonexistence of shielding board, and so on. So, we need to consider the various factors in effective radiation protection aspect. We conducted a survey of radiation workers with over two years' experience in NDT workplace and heared the thoughts of experts. As a result, radiation source, exposure dose, current status of workplace management, workers with personel dosimetry problem and status of periodic regulatory inspection were chosen as main factors of radiation risk index model. Also, we primarily set weighting factors in order of importance based on questionnaires. Finally, we determined weighting factor for details of main factors through the professional advice. Therefore, we will be able to develop the radiation risk index model for assessing the risk of nondestructive test workplace based on main factors that are selected through this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.2783-2787
• /
• 2013

To assess the risk of cancer incidence after medical radiation exposure for coronary artery disease (CAD), a retrospective cohort study was conducted based on Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients with CAD were identified according to the International Classification of Diseases code, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and their records of medical radiation procedures were collected from 1997 to 2010. A total of 18,697 subjects with radiation exposure from cardiac imaging or therapeutic procedures for CAD were enrolled, and 19,109 subjects receiving cardiac diagnostic procedures without radiation were adopted as the control group. The distributions of age and gender were similar between the two populations. Cancer risks were evaluated by age-adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) and association with cumulative exposure were further evaluated with relative risks by Poisson regression analysis. A total of 954 and 885 subjects with various types of cancers in both cohorts after following up for over 10 years were found, with incidences of 409.8 and 388.0 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The risk of breast cancer (aIRR=1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.14-3.00) was significantly elevated in the exposed female subjects, but no significant cancer risk was found in the exposed males. In addition, cancer risks of the breast and lung were increased with the exposure level. The study suggests that radiation exposure from cardiac imaging or therapeutic procedures for CAD may be associated with the increased risk of breast and lung cancers in CAD patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.503-513
• /
• 2022

The purpose of the study is to investigate the characteristics of the subjects and analyze and confirm the association between related factors in order to study the factors affecting drinking level after COVID-19 using data from the Korea Labor and Income Panel(2018-2020). The result of the study indicated that male group, 10s and 20s, unemployed status, and groups whose personal income fell before COVID-19 have a high risk of increased drinking levels. n particular, in the group where the frequency of drinking before COVID-19 decreased, the risk of increasing the level of drinking after COVID-19 was found to be higher. Further research is needed on this group of subjects. Based on this, various studies on drinking factors are needed through long-term monitoring studies on drinking levels after COVID-19.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.337-341
• /
• 2020

Although the screening with a mammography has been shown to be economical, simple and effective in detecting breast cancer, it is accompanied by the risk from radiation. Therefore, this study analyzed the glandular dose and organ dose according to the target-filter combination and the presence and absence of implants using Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicate that at a tube voltage of 30 kV and a tube current of 50 mAs, the dose increased in the order of Mo/Mo. Mo/Rh, Rh/Rh and W/Rh in proportion to the atomic number of the target-filter. In addition, in phantom without implant a reduction in dose was seen when compared to the phantom with implant. The organ dose was highest in the lens except for the breast on the examination side regardless of the presence or absence of the implant. These results may contribute to use basic data for the diagnostic reference level of breast plastic surgery patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.61 no.5
• /
• pp.582-591
• /
• 2018

Objective : To evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features that have a statistically significant association with the need for a tracheostomy in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) during the acute stage of injury. Methods : This study retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 130 patients with cervical SCI. We analyzed the factors believed to increase the risk of requiring a tracheostomy, including the severity of SCI, the level of injury as determined by radiological assessment, three quantitative MR imaging parameters, and eleven qualitative MR imaging parameters. Results : Significant differences between the non-tracheostomy and tracheostomy groups were determined by the following five factors on multivariate analysis : complete SCI (p=0.007), the radiological level of C5 and above (p=0.038), maximum canal compromise (MCC) (p=0.010), lesion length (p=0.022), and osteophyte formation (p=0.015). For the MCC, the cut-off value was 46%, and the risk of requiring a tracheostomy was three times higher at an interval between 50-60% and ten times higher between 60-70%. For lesion length, the cut-off value was 20 mm, and the risk of requiring a tracheostomy was two times higher at an interval between 20-30 mm and fourteen times higher between 40-50 mm. Conclusion : The American Spinal Injury Association grade A, a radiological injury level of C5 and above, an MCC ${\geq}50%$, a lesion length ${\geq}20mm$, and osteophyte formation at the level of injury were considered to be predictive values for requiring tracheostomy intervention in patients with cervical SCI.