• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.378-383
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• 2016

Background: Radiation dose rates in PRIDE facility is evaluated quantitatively for assessing radiation safety of workers because of large amounts of depleted uranium being handled in PRIDE facility. Even if direct radiation from depleted uranium is very low and will not expose a worker to significant amounts of external radiation. Materials and Methods: ORIGEN-ARP code was used for calculating the neutron and gamma source term being generated from depleted uranium (DU), and the MCNP5 code was used for calculating the neutron and gamma fluxes and dose rates. Results and Discussion: The neutron and gamma fluxes and dose rates due to DU on spherical surface of 30 cm radius were calculated with the variation of DU mass and density. In this calculation, an imaginary case in which DU density is zero was added to check the self-shielding effect of DU. In this case, the DU sphere was modeled as a point. In case of DU mixed with molten salt of 50-250 g, the neutron and gamma fluxes were calculated respectively. It was found that the molten salt contents in DU had little effect on the neutron and the gamma fluxes. The neutron and the gamma fluxes, under the respective conditions of 1 and 5 kg mass of DU, and 5 and $19.1g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$ density of DU, were calculated with the molten salt (LiCl+KCl) of 50 g fixed, and compared with the source term. As the results, similar tendency was found in neutron and gamma fluxes with the variation of DU mass and density when compared with source spectra, except their magnitudes. Conclusion: In the case of the DU mass over 5 kg, the dose rate was shown to be higher than the environmental dose rate. From these results, it is concluded that if a worker would do an experiment with DU having over 5 kg of mass, the worker should be careful in order not to be exposed to the radiation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.1757-1762
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• 2023

Radiological hazards from external exposure of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) scales residues, generated during the extraction process of oil and gas production in southern Algeria, are evaluated. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured using high-purity gamma-ray spectrometry (GeHP). Mean activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, found in scale samples are 4082 ± 41, 1060 ± 38 and 568 ± 36 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Radiological hazard parameters, such as radium equivalent (Ra_eq), external and internal hazard indices (H_ex, H_in), and gamma index (I_γ) are also evaluated. All hazard parameter values were greater than the permissible and recommended limits and the average annual effective dose value exceeded the dose constraint (0.3 mSv y^-1). However, for occasionally exposed workers, the dose rate of 0.65 ± 0.02 mSv y^-1 is lower than recommended limit of 1 mSv y^-1 for public.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.69-89
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• 2006

Biological mechanisms for ionizing radiation effects are different at low doses than at high doses. Radiation hormesis involves low-dose-induced protection and high-dose-induced harm. The protective component is associated with a reduction in the incidence of cancer below the spontaneous frequency, brought about by activation of defensive and repair processes. The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) hypothesis advocated by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the Biological Effects of ionizing Radiation (BEIR) Report VII for cancer risk estimations Ignores hormesis and the presence of a threshold. Cancer incidences significantly less than expected have been found in a large number of epidemiological studies including, airline flight personnel, inhabitants of high radiation backgrounds, shipyard workers, nuclear site workers in scores of locations throughout the world, nuclear power utility workers, plutonium workers, military nuclear test site Participants, Japanese A-bomb survivors, residents contaminated by major nuclear accidents, residents of Taiwan living in $^{60}Co$ contaminated buildings, fluoroscopy and mammography patients, radium dial painters, and those exposed to indoor radon. Significantly increased cancer was not found at doses <200 $mSv^*$. Evidence for radiation hormesis was seen in both sexes for acute or chronic exposures, low or high LET radiations, external whole- or partial body exposures, and for internal radionuclides. The ubiquitous nature of the Healthy Worker Effect (HWE)-like responses in cellular, animal and epidemiological studies negates the HWE as an explanation for radiation hormesis. The LNT hypothesis is wrong and does not represent the true nature of the dose-response relationship, since low doses or dose-rates commonly result in thresholds and reduce cancer incidences below the spontaneous rate. Radiation protection organizations should seriously consider the cost and health implications of radiation hormesis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권7호
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• pp.2736-2747
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• 2022

The operations in the design lifecycle of a nuclear power plant targeted to be decommissioned lead to neutron activation. Operations in the decommissioning process include cutting, decontamination, disposal, and processing. Among these, cutting is done close to the target material, and thus workers are exposed to radiation. As there are only a few studies on pressurizers, there arises the need for further research to assess the radiation exposure dose. This study obtained the specifications of the AP1000 pressurizer of Westinghouse and the distribution of radionuclide inventory of a pressurizer in a pressurised water reactor for evaluation based on literature studies. A cutting scenario was created to develop an optimal method so that the cut pieces fill a radioactive solid waste drum with dimensions 0.571 m × 0.834 m. The estimated exposure dose, estimated using the tool VISIPLAN SW, in terms of the decontamination factor (DF) ranged from DF-0 to DF-100, indicating that DF-90 and DF-100 meet the ICRP recommendation on exposure dose 0.0057 mSv/h. At the end of the study, although flame cutting was considered the most efficient method in terms of cutting speed, laser cutting was the most reasonable one in terms of the financial aspects and secondary waste.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.161-172
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• 2023

Coal-fired power plants handle large quantities of coal, one of the most prominent NORM, and the coal ash produced after the coal is burned can be tens of times more radioactive than the coal. Workers in these industries may be exposed to internal exposure by inhalation of particles while handling NORM. This study evaluated the size, concentration, particle shape and density, and radioactivity concentrations of airborne suspended particles in the main processes of a coal-fired power plant. Finally, the internal radiation dose to workers from particle inhalation was evaluated. For this purpose, airborne particles were collected by size using a multi-stage particle collector to determine the size, shape, and concentration of particles. Samples of coal and coal ash were collected to measure the density and radioactivity of particles. The dose conversion factor and annual radionuclide inhalation amount were derived based on the characteristics of the particles. Finally, the internal radiation dose due to particle inhalation was evaluated. Overall, the internal radiation dose to workers in the main processes of coalfired power plants A and B ranged from 1.47×10^-5~1.12×10^-3 mSv y^-1. Due to the effect of dust generated during loading operations, the internal radiation dose of fly ash loading processes in both coal-fired power plants A and B was higher than that of other processes. In the case of workers in the coal storage yard at power plants A and B, the characteristic values such as particle size, airborne concentration, and working time were the same, but due to the difference in radioactivity concentration and density depending on the origin of the coal, the internal radiation dose by origin was different, and the highest was found when inhaling coal imported from Australia among the five origins. In addition, the main nuclide contributing the most to the internal radiation dose from the main processes in the coal-fired power plants was thorium due to differences in dose conversion factors. However, considering the external radiation dose of workers in coal-fired power plants presented in overseas research cases, the annual effective dose of workers in the main processes of power plants A and B does not exceed 1mSv y^-1, which is the dose limit for the general public notified by the Nuclear Safety Act. The results of this study can be utilized to identify the internal exposure levels of workers in domestic coal-fired power plants and will contribute to the establishment of a data base for a differential safety management system for NORM-handling industries in the future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.69-75
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• 2020

Background: Dose conversion coefficients (DCCs) have been commonly used to estimate radiation-dose absorption by human organs based on physical measurements of fluence or kerma. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has reported a library of DCCs, but few studies have been conducted on their applicability to non-Caucasian populations. In the present study, we collected a total of 8 Korean pediatric and adult voxel phantoms to calculate the organ DCCs for idealized external photon-irradiation geometries. Materials and Methods: We adopted one pediatric female phantom (ETRI Child), two adult female phantoms (KORWOMAN and HDRK Female), and five adult male phantoms (KORMAN, ETRI Man, KTMAN1, KTMAN2, and HDRK Man). A general-purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code, MCNPX2.7 (Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport extended version 2.7), was employed to calculate the DCCs for 13 major radiosensitive organs in six irradiation geometries (anteroposterior, posteroanterior, right lateral, left lateral, rotational, and isotropic) and 33 photon energy bins (0.01-20 MeV). Results and Discussion: The DCCs for major radiosensitive organs (e.g., lungs and colon) in anteroposterior geometry agreed reasonably well across the 8 Korean phantoms, whereas those for deep-seated organs (e.g., gonads) varied significantly. The DCCs of the child phantom were greater than those of the adult phantoms. A comparison with the ICRP Publication 116 data showed reasonable agreements with the Korean phantom-based data. The variations in organ DCCs were well explained using the distribution of organ depths from the phantom surface. Conclusion: A library of dose conversion coefficients for major radiosensitive organs in a series of pediatric and adult Korean voxel phantoms was established and compared with the reference data from the ICRP. This comparison showed that our Korean phantom-based data agrees reasonably with the ICRP reference data.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.653-659
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• 2019

본 연구는 고용량 $^{131}I$ 치료 후 방사선원이 된 퇴원 환자로부터 나오는 방사선 피폭에 관해 외부 선량률을 측정하고, 그에 따른 피폭선량을 예측하는 것이 목적이다. 200 mCi 이상 고용량 $^{131}I$ 치료를 받은 30명의 환자에서 구리링 3개를 이용하여 환자로부터 거리 및 방위각에 따른 선량평가를 시행하였다. 정확한 방사선 계측을 위하여 GM 계측기를 이용하여 2명의 측정자가 방위각 8 포인트와 거리 변화를 주며 계측하였다. 측정값을 기반으로 3가지 예측 시뮬레이션을 설정하여 불특정 다수 일반인에 대한 피폭선량을 계산하였다. 1m 높이에서 방위각에 따른 외부 선량률이 가장 높은 부위는 0도이다. 거리에 따른 선량률은 거리별 방위각의 선량률 평균값을 사용하였다. 거리에 따른 외부 선량률의 최고치는 50, 100, 150 cm에서 각각 $214{\pm}16.5$, $59{\pm}9.1{\mu}Sv/h$, $38{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/h$ 이다. 고용량 $^{131}I$ 치료 환자가 대중교통을 이용해서 5시간 이동할 때 반경 50 cm 지점의 옆좌석에 안은 불특정 일반인이 받을 수 있는 피폭선량은 1.14 mSv이다. 소변 통(urin bag)을 착용한 퇴원환자로부터 100 cm 거리에서 4일 동안 간병인이 받을 수 있는 최대 피폭선량은 6.5 mSv이다. 퇴원 환자 귀가로 인해 7일 동안 150 cm 거리에서 보호자가 받을 수 있는 최대 피폭선량은 1.08 mSv이다. 개발된 예측 모델링으로 불특정 $^{131}I$ 치료 환자의 주변 일반인에게 적용하였을 때 연간 선량 한도를 단시간에 초과하는 수준이었다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 현행 고용량 $^{131}I$ 치료 환자의 퇴원 후 주변의 일반인의 방호체계의 합리적인 가이드라인을 제시하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.209-221
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• 1994

원자력발전소의 중대 사고시 대기로 방출된 방사성물질에 의해 피폭자가 사고후 일생동안 받게 될 전신 피폭선량과 핵종의 상대적 중요도를 방출점으로부터 거리에 따라 각 피폭경로에 대해 평가하였다. 방사능운과 지표에 침적된 방사성물질에 의한 외부피폭, 호흡과 오염된 음식물섭취에 의한 내부피폭이 피폭경로로 고려되었다. 오염된 음식물섭취에 의한 영향은 우리나라 환경을 고려하여 개발된 동적 삽식경로모델 KORFOOD을 사용하여 침적시점과 침적후 시간에 따른 음식물내 방사성물질의 농도 변화를 고려하였다. 방출점으로부터 80km까지 피폭선량을 평가한 결과, 오염된 음식물섭취에 의한 영향이 가장 높았다. 핵종별 기여도는 방사능운에 의한 외부피폭과 호흡에 의한 내부피폭의 경우 I, 침적된 방사성물질에 의한 외부피폭의 경우 Cs에 의한 영향이 가장 높았다. 오염된 음식물섭취에 의한 내부피폭의 경우 Cs은 여름철 침적, Sr은 겨울철 침적에 보다 중요한 영향을 미쳤다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.347-353
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• 2022

In this study, the radiation dose rate was measured by time and distance and evaluated whether radiation dose rate was suitable for domestic and international discharge criteria. In addition, the radiation dose emitted from the patient was measured with a glass dosimeter to evaluate the exposure dose if the caregiver stays in the isolated ward by placing a humanoid phantom instead of the caregiver at a distance of 1 m from the patient, on the second day of treatment. After 23 hours of isolation, the radiation dose rates at a distance of 1 m were 20.54 ± 6.21 µSv/h at 2.96 GBq administration and 27.94 ± 12.33 µSv/h at 3.70 GBq administration. The radiation dose rates at a distance of 1 m were 25.90 ± 2.21 µSv/h when 2.96 GBq was administered and 34.22 ± 10.06 µSv/h when 3.70 GBq was administered after 18 hours of isolation. However, if the isolation period is short may cause unnecessary radiation exposure to the third person. The reading of the attached dosimeter from the morning of the second day of treatment until removal was 0.01 to 0.95 mSv, which is a surface dose determined by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. And the depth dose was 0.01 to 0.99 mSv. On the second day of treatment, even if the patient caregivers stayed in the isolation ward, the exposure dose of the patient family did not exceed the effective dose limit of 5 mSv recommended by the ICRP and NCRP.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.50-53
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• 2019

본 연구는 고에너지의 베타선을 방출하는 Y-90 미세구의 경동맥방사선색전술 시 발생되는 제동복사선에 의한 불필요한 외부피폭을 줄이고자 텅스텐 차폐체를 개발하였다. 본 연구에서는 다양한 용량(1 GBq, 2 GBq, 4 GBq)의 $SIR-Spheres^{(R)}$ Y-90 미세구를 사용하여, 텅스텐 차폐체 표면으로부터 10 cm, 50 cm, 100 cm인 곳에서 GM tube식 디지털 서베이미터로 선량률을 측정하였다. 텅스텐 차폐체 표면 10 cm 위치에서 차폐율을 분석한 결과 4 GBq의 $SIR-Spheres^{(R)}$ Y-90 미세구의 경우 90.9%, 2 GBq의 경우 88.9%, 1 GBq의 경우 88.8%의 차폐율을 보였고, 표면 50 cm 위치에서 차폐율은 4 GBq의 $SIR-Spheres^{(R)}$ Y-90 미세구의 경우 89.2%, 2 GBq의 경우 87.5%, 1GBq의 경우 86.3%로 나타났다. 텅스텐 차폐체 표면 100 cm 위치에서 텅스텐 차폐체는 평균 75.1%의 차폐율을 보이는 것으로 확인할 수 있었다. 높은 용량이 함유된 $SIR-Spheres^{(R)}$ Y-90 미세구의 경동맥방사선색전술시 방사선 작업종사자와 선원간의 거리가 짧고, 작업시간이 길기 때문에 제동복사선에 의한 피폭에 노출될 수 있다. 본 연구를 통해 개발된 텅스텐 차폐체는 향후 임상에서 경동맥방사선색전술 시 제동복사선에 의한 외부피폭을 줄이는데 활용될 수 있을 것이라 기대 된다.