A strategic framework for the development and enhancement of safety culture in the artificial
tanning sector in Greece
Herein, a strategic framework for the development and enhancement of safety culture in the
artificial tanning sector in Greece is presented. This framework has been designed and promoted by
the competent national regulatory authority, which is the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE). The
aim is to ensure a common understanding regarding ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and artificial tanning
among artificial tanning professionals, stakeholders and the general public. The strategic framework
is founded on the recommendations of international organizations, EU requirements and the relevant
technical standards. It comprise...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - August 30, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: A Petri and E Karabetsos Source Type: research
Challenges assessing radiation risk in image-guided treatments —implications on optimisation of
radiological protection
In this study, endovascular aortic
repair treatments were investigated. Organ dose and effective dose were assessed using Monte Carlo
calculations together with a detailed specification of the exposure situation and patient size. The
resulting normalised organ dose and effective dose with respect to kerma-area product for patient
sizes and radiation qualities representative for the patient group were evaluated. The variability
and uncertainty were investigated and their possible impact on optimisation of radiation protection
was discussed.... (Source: Journal of Radiological Protection)
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - July 9, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: A Alm én, C Lundh and M Båth Source Type: research
Reanalysis of risks of childhood leukaemia with distance from overhead power lines in the UK
Our previous study of childhood leukaemia and distance to high-voltage overhead power lines in the
UK has been included in an international pooled analysis. That pooled analysis used different
distance categories to those we did, which has focussed attention on the effect of that choice. We
re-analyse our previous subjects, using finer distance categories. In the 1960s and 1970s, when we
principally found an elevated risk, the risk did not fall monotonically with distance from the power
line but had a maximum at 100 –200 m. This weakens the evidence that any elevated risks are related
to magnetic fields, and slight...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - July 9, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: J Swanson and K J Bunch Source Type: research
Photon energy readings in OSL dosimeter filters: an application to retrospective dose estimation for
nuclear medicine workers
This work investigates the applicability of using data from personal monitoring dosimeters to assess
photon energies to which medical workers were exposed. Such determinations would be important for
retrospective assessments of organ doses to be used in occupational radiation epidemiology studies,
particularly in the absence of work history or other information regarding the energy of the
radiation source. Monthly personal dose equivalents and filter ratios under two different metallic
filters contained in the Luxel+ ® dosimeter were collected from Landauer, Inc. from 19 nuclear
medicine (NM) technologists employed ...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - July 9, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Daphn ée Villoing, Cari M Kitahara, Christopher Passmore, Steven L Simon and R Craig Yoder Source Type: research
Derivation of new diagnostic reference levels for neuro-paediatric computed tomography examinations
in Switzerland
Purpose. Definition of new national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for volume computed
tomography dose index (CTDI vol ) and dose length product (DLP) for neuro-paediatric CT examinations
depending on the medical indication. Methods . Paediatric cranial CT data sets acquired between
January 2013 and December 2016 were retrospectively collected between July 2016 and March 2017 from
eight of the largest university and cantonal hospitals that perform most of the neuro-paediatric CTs
in Switzerland. A consensus review of CTDI vol and DLP was undertaken for three defined anatomical
regions: brain, facial bone, and pet...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 20, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Franca Wagner, Julie Bize, Damien Racine, R égis Le Coultre, Francis Verdun, Philipp R Trueb and Reto Treier Source Type: research
Dosimetric and microdosimetric analyses for blood exposed to reactor-derived thermal neutrons
Thermal neutrons are found in reactor, radiotherapy, aircraft, and space environments. The purpose
of this study was to characterise the dosimetry and microdosimetry of thermal neutron exposures,
using three simulation codes, as a precursor to quantitative radiobiological studies using blood
samples. An irradiation line was designed employing a pyrolytic graphite crystal or —alternatively—a
super mirror to expose blood samples to thermal neutrons from the National Research Universal
reactor to determine radiobiological parameters. The crystal was used when assessing the relative
biological effectiveness for dicen...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 20, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: F Ali, J Atanackovic, C Boyer, A Festarini, J Kildea, L C Paterson, R Rogge, M Stuart and R B Richardson Source Type: research
Establishment of detailed respiratory tract model and Monte Carlo simulation of radon progeny caused
dose
As radon is one of the most important natural radiation sources, its radiation hazard has always
been a concern. α and β particles emitted by short-lived radioactive radon progeny nuclides could
result in a high local dose and induce radiation damage to the respiratory tract. A detailed
respiratory tract model needs to be built and dose distribution in the respiratory tract should be
studied to reflect the characteristics of energy deposition caused by radon and its progeny.
Therefore, in the present work, a dosimetric study was conducted on the respiratory tract and
non-uniform dose distribution in the bronchial r...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 20, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Hongyu Zhu, Junli Li, Rui Qiu, Yuxi Pan, Zhen Wu, Chunyan Li and Hui Zhang Source Type: research
Considerations on the use of the terms radiosensitivity and radiosusceptibility
The separate use of the terms ‘radiosensitivity’ and ‘radiosusceptibility’ has been suggested to
describe variability in the risk of, respectively, adverse tissue reactions (deterministic effect)
following radiotherapy and radiation-induced cancer (stochastic effect). The aim of this note is to
present arguments against such distinction. We feel that it is premature to make a concrete final
judgement on these definitions because of the limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying
individual sensitivity to both radiation-related cancers and radiation-related tissue injury.
Moreover, the exclusive applica...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 20, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Andrzej Wojcik, Simon Bouffler, Michael Hauptmann and Preetha Rajaraman Source Type: research
Past and present work practices of European interventional cardiologists in the context of radiation
protection of the eye lens —results of the EURALOC study
This paper investigates over five decades of work practices in interventional cardiology, with an
emphasis on radiation protection. The analysis is based on data from more than 400 cardiologists
from various European countries recruited for a EURALOC study and collected in the period from 2014
to 2016. Information on the types of procedures performed and their annual mean number, fluoroscopy
time, access site choice, x-ray units and radiation protection means used was collected using an
occupational questionnaire. Based on the specific European data, changes in each parameter have been
analysed over decades, while co...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 11, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Joanna Domienik-Andrzejewska, Olivera Ciraj-Bjelac, Panagiotis Askounis, Peter Covens, Octavian Dragusin, Sophie Jacob, Jad Farah, Emilio Gianicolo, Renato Padovani, Pedro Teles, Anders Widmark and Lara Struelens Source Type: research
Virtual reality-based adaptive dose assessment method for arbitrary geometries in nuclear facility
decommissioning
This paper presents an improved and efficient virtual reality-based adaptive dose assessment method
(VRBAM) applicable to the cutting and dismantling tasks in nuclear facility decommissioning. The
method combines the modeling strength of virtual reality with the flexibility of adaptive
technology. The initial geometry is designed using three-dimensional computer-aided design tools,
and a hybrid model composed of cuboids and a point-cloud is generated automatically according to the
virtual model of the object. In order to improve the efficiency of dose calculation while retaining
accuracy, the hybrid model is converte...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 11, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Yong-kuo Liu, Nan Chao, Hong Xia, Min-jun Peng and Abiodun Ayodeji Source Type: research
Medical imaging dose optimisation from ground up: expert opinion of an international summit
As in any medical intervention, there is either a known or an anticipated benefit to the patient
from undergoing a medical imaging procedure. This benefit is generally significant, as demonstrated
by the manner in which medical imaging has transformed clinical medicine. At the same time, when it
comes to imaging that deploys ionising radiation, there is a potential associated risk from
radiation. Radiation risk has been recognised as a key liability in the practice of medical imaging,
creating a motivation for radiation dose optimisation. The level of radiation dose and risk in
imaging varies but is generally low. Th...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 11, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Ehsan Samei, Hannu J ärvinen, Mika Kortesniemi, George Simantirakis, Charles Goh, Anthony Wallace, Eliseo Vano, Adrian Bejan, Madan Rehani and Jenia Vassileva Source Type: research
Natural levels of polonium-210 in urine
This paper presents a review and analysis of available data on background levels of polonium-210 in
urine. It was established that 819 measurements could be considered to correspond to natural
background levels, excluding a large number of values identified by the original investigators as
potentially due to an artificial source or due to recognised enhancement of dietary intake. Almost
550 measurements were extracted from studies reported in the literature; additional measurements
were contributions of previously unpublished data by authors of more recent papers. The majority of
the measurements (462) were single sa...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 11, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Alan Hodgson Source Type: research
Neutron flux measurements on a mock-up of a storage cask for high-level nuclear waste using 2.5 MeV
neutrons
In this study, a neutron generator (NG) producing neutrons
of 2.5 MeV was employed to simulate neutrons produced in spent nuclear fuel. Different
configurations of shielding layers of steel and polyethylene were positioned between the target of
the NG and a NE-213 detector. The results of the measurements of neutron and γ radiation and the
corresponding simulations with the code MCNP6 are presented. Details of the experimental set-up as
well as neutron and photon flux spectra are provided as reference points for such NG investigations
with shielding structures. (Source: Journal of Radiological Protection)
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 6, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: H Saur í Suárez, F Becker, A Klix, B Pang and T Döring Source Type: research
Dosimetric factors for diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures in a non-reference pregnant phantom
This study evaluates the impact of using non-reference fetal models on the fetal radiation dose from
diagnostic radionuclide administration. The six-month pregnant phantoms including fetal models at
the 10th and 90th growth percentiles were constructed at either end of the normal range around the
50th percentile and implemented in the Monte Carlo N-Particle code version MCNPX 2.6. This code has
then been used to evaluate the 99m Tc S factors of the target organs of interest, as this is the
most commonly used radionuclide in nuclear medicine procedures. Substantial variations were observed
in the S factors between the...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 6, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Laleh Rafat-Motavalli, Hashem Miri-Hakimabad and Elie Hoseinian-Azghadi Source Type: research
Usefulness of cancer-free survival in estimating the lifetime attributable risk of cancer incidence
from radiation exposure
Risk projection models estimating the lifetime cancer risk from radiation exposure are generally
based on exposure dose, age at exposure, attained age, gender and study-population-specific factors
such as baseline cancer risks and survival rates. Because such models have mostly been based on the
Life Span Study cohort of Japanese atomic bomb survivors, the baseline risks and survival rates in
the target population should be considered when applying the cancer risk. The survival function used
in the risk projection models that are commonly used in the radiological protection field to
estimate the cancer risk from medi...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - June 6, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Songwon Seo, Dal Nim Lee, Young Woo Jin, Won Jin Lee and Sunhoo Park Source Type: research
