Health physics最新文献

{"title":"Performance Evaluation of Electronic Radon Monitors Available to the General Public.","authors":"Alexander Lemieux, Pawel Mekarski, Hailey Adams, Kishan Chaudhary, Rishi Patni, Brian Bjorndal, Justin Suys, Dimpal Chauhan, Ian Lawson","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001986","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001986","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, consumer-grade electronic radon monitors (ERMs) have become increasingly popular for measuring radon in residences and public buildings. Many of these devices are designed for use by the general public, with features and price points that make them accessible alternatives to passive detection methods such as alpha track detectors. However, the influx of new devices into the market and the absence of independent performance evaluations have raised concerns about the reliability of manufacturer claims. This study evaluated the performance of 15 different consumer-grade ERMs at prices less than $400 Canadian (CAD) and which were readily available through online marketplaces under radon exposure conditions ranging from 110 to 2,400 Bq m -3 . Short-term (2- to 3-wk) tests were conducted in radon chambers at Health Canada and Radiation Safety Institute of Canada facilities. Long-term (13-wk) tests were conducted at the underground low-background counting room at SNOLAB. Testing revealed two distinct groups of high- and low-performance ERMs, with absolute mean differences (AMDs) either less than 22% or ranging from 28-238%, compared to reference devices. Long-term testing showed that most ERMs demonstrated improved accuracy with prolonged exposures. This study also highlights the impact of several environmental and technical factors on ERM performance and emphasizes the need to consider performance indicators beyond accuracy. These findings underscore the critical need for independent third-party testing to validate the performance of ERMs, alongside the establishment of robust standards and regulatory frameworks to ensure the reliability of radon measurements, protect public health, and foster consumer confidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"374-387"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482360/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143990361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of Effective Dose and Fetus Dose Conversion Factors for CT Scans in Pregnant Patients: A Simulation Study Using the NCICT Program.","authors":"Supawitoo Sookpeng","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001984","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001984","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Computed tomography (CT) imaging is an essential tool for diagnostic purposes but exposes patients, including those who are pregnant, to ionizing radiation, potentially impacting fetal health. Accurate dose estimation is necessary to manage these risks effectively. This study aimed to determine conversion factors for effective dose and uterus dose for CT imaging in pregnant patients, adjusted for gestational stages and various scan regions. The National Cancer Institute dosimetry system for computed tomography (NCICT) simulated photon interactions in hybrid phantoms representing pregnant patients at different gestational stages. A CT scanner model was used across eight gestational stages and for seven different scan regions. Dose length product, effective dose, and uterus dose values were recorded, and conversion factors were calculated for estimating effective dose and fetus dose. The study generated gestational age-specific conversion factors, which varied based on CT scan region. The results reveal a reduction in radiation dose with advancing gestational age, particularly in abdomen and pelvis scans, emphasizing the importance of gestation-specific dose adjustments. The study offers valuable conversion factors for improved radiation dose management in pregnant patients, reducing unnecessary exposure risks, and improving diagnostic practices in CT imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"406-410"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144011766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dose Assessment for Wood Fuels and Their Ashes Available in Austria.","authors":"Viktoria Herzner, Christian Katzlberger, Christoph Pfeifer, Martin Weigl-Kuska","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002018","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological risk to the public due to the use of wood ash as a fertilizer in gardens. Dose assessment is a process in radiation protection that involves determining the amount of radiation to which a person or population has been exposed. It helps to evaluate potential health risks more effectively to ensure that radiation exposure remains within safe limits. Three pathways were considered: inhalation of ash, ingestion of locally produced food fertilized with ash, and direct ingestion of ash. It was assumed that a 0.01 cm, 0.5 cm, or 1-cm-thick layer of ash is used for fertilization per year and that half of the vegetables consumed annually come from one's own garden. The dose assessment for a member of the public older than 17 y using the highest concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr measured in 27 wood (logs, chips, briquettes, and pellets) ash samples and fertilization with 0.01 cm of ash results in a calculated dose of 3.02 ± 0.24 μSv y-1. The primary exposure pathway is the ingestion of locally produced foods fertilized with wood ash. Besides radionuclides, ash also contains concentrated non-combustible components, including potentially harmful minerals, salts, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. These substances are found in particularly higher concentrations in ash from wood pellets and briquettes than in log and chip ash, so its use as fertilizer---especially in vegetable gardens---should be carefully considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"129 5","pages":"388-398"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482363/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tooth Geometry-dependent Sensitivity Variations in L-band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Tooth Dosimetry: A Parametric Approach Based on Quasi-tooth Models Mimicking Human Maxillary Central Incisors.","authors":"Jeonghun Oh, Chang Uk Koo, Kwon Choi, In Jung Kim, Jong In Park, Sung-Joon Ye","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001971","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>L-band in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tooth dosimetry is a rapid, non-invasive method for determining the ionizing radiation dose of individuals. Tooth positioning and geometry are the dominant factors influencing EPR intensity. However, the delineation of the geometric parameters and their influence on EPR intensity is still unclear. This induces limitations in the availability of dosimetry for triage and leads to the imperfect consideration of geometric variations affecting EPR intensity. This study aimed to analyze the dosimetric sensitivity variations for each geometric parameter separately. Using finite element analysis, model-based parametric analyses were performed on five geometric parameters: labial enamel thickness (τlab), enamel area (Aen), aspect ratio (RA), horizontal curvature (CH), and vertical curvature (CV). The distributions of these parameters were investigated using micro-CT images from 12 human maxillary central incisors. A quasi-tooth model was proposed to mimic the tooth geometry based on the geometric parameters. The quasi-tooth model well simulated the sensitivity variations observed in the micro-CT derived tooth model. The sensitivity showed a strong linear correlation with the three geometric parameters (τlab, CH, and CV), whereas Aen exhibited a plateau around its average value (75 mm2), and no clear trend was observed for RA. After normalization, τlab, CH, and CV were identified as the dominant contributors to sensitivity variations, whereas Aen and RA had less influence. Considering the correlation between τlab and Aen (r = 0.67, p = 0.017), previous geometric correction methods using Aen may have accounted not only for the direct influence of Aen but also for the indirect correction of τlab. These results demonstrate the principles and limitations of previous geometric correction methods and imply the need for an enhanced method that incorporates multiple parameters for L-band in vivo EPR tooth dosimetry.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"129 5","pages":"339-350"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Occupational Exposure in Some Radiology Departments in Ghana.","authors":"K O Akyea-Larbi, Gustav Gbeddy, Edith Amoatey, Philip Manteaw, F Otoo","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001973","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Medical workers account for about 75% of all workers exposed to ionizing radiation; therefore, occupational radiation protection is still a challenge in clinical practices and, consequently, measures should be put in place to optimize radiation in clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the occupational radiation dose for staff in some selected radiology departments in Ghana as a precursor for optimization studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 68 occupationally exposed workers (OEWs) radiation dose history for 5 facilities have been analyzed. This study is a retrospective study that involves the assessment of the dose records of occupational exposed workers in five radiology departments in the Greater Accra region of Ghana from the Radiation Protection Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) dose records history. The OEWs included in the study were radiographers/technologists, radiologist, physicians, medical physicists, and nurses. These records were collected and assessed for a period of 5 years (2019-2023). TLDs are worn under the lead aprons to estimate Hp (10) or deep dose and on aprons for Hp (0.07) or skin dose.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 68 OEWs' dose histories for 5 facilities have been analyzed. It was observed that the average annual effective dose for all workers throughout the study period ranged from 0.29 ± 0.07 mSv to 0.41 ± 0.05 mSv. The variations in the mean annual dose for the OEWs for the facilities in the study could be due to the number of OEWs that were monitored and the type and quantity of equipment at the facility during the year under review.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The occupational radiation dose for OEWs in some selected radiological departments in Ghana have been evaluated. The facility with the highest number of OEWs recorded relatively higher mean annual effective dose. The annual effective doses were lesser than the yearly occupational dose limit of 20 mSv as recommended by national and international guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"413-418"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143482999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Y-90 Treatment Dose Delivery Uncertainty from Measurement Uncertainties.","authors":"Tianliang Gu","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001975","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this note was to study the measurement uncertainties at each step of Yttrium-90 radioembolization. We studied the measurement uncertainty contribution from the dose calibrator accuracy during the initial dose assay, the survey meter accuracy, and the operator's reading uncertainties during the dose rate measurements. The propagation of these uncertainties was calculated to determine the final dose delivery uncertainty for various prescribed doses. The percentage of final dose delivered could be affected significantly by the uncertainties associated with operation at each step of dose assay and dose rate measurements, especially for low prescribed doses.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"402-405"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143771711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HEALTH PHYSICS SOCIETY . 2025 AFFILIATE MEMBERS.","authors":"","doi":"10.1097/01.HP.0001169492.22631.5c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/01.HP.0001169492.22631.5c","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":"129 5","pages":"420"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unusual Encounters in Medical Health Physics and Nuclear Medicine: Learning From the Unexpected.","authors":"Kimyli Lemieux, Bryan Lemieux, Olwen Burton, M Elizabeth Oates, Xingyu Nie, Georgette Lauersdorf, Riham El Khouli, Elizabeth Cheatham, Blaine Mischen, Jie Zhang","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001974","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper presents six case studies highlighting real-world incidents in nuclear medicine, focusing on issues such as ra-dioactive contamination, equipment malfunctions, and safety risks. These cases illustrate the challenges faced in maintaining patient and staff safety during complex procedures, underscoring the importance of rapid response and clear communication among healthcare teams. Each case reveals the need for effective contamination control strategies, robust safety protocols, and staff preparedness to handle unexpected situations. The responses to these incidents emphasize the value of continuous staff training and adherence to best practices to minimize risks. This paper also discusses the importance of process improvements and protocol refinements, particularly in managing contamination, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and maintaining clinical operations. Lessons learned from these cases offer practical guidance for enhancing contamination control measures, optimizing safety practices, and reducing disruptions to treatment workflows. Finally, this paper emphasizes the importance of preparedness, adaptability, and continuous learning in maintaining a high standard of safety in nuclear medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"351-358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Radioactive Material Released in the Harborview Research and Training Building and Some Implications for Emergency Response.","authors":"Stephen V Musolino, Frederick T Harper, Daniel J Blumenthal, Jon Schwantes, Edgar C Buck, Kevin P Carney, David L Chichester, Thomas V Holschuh, Joshua J Kane, Daniel J Murray","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001978","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>On 2 May 2019, during the 137 Cs source recovery operation, a source capsule in a research irradiator containing approximately 77.1 TBq was breached. Based on a geometric reconstruction analysis of the damage to the capsule, approximately 46.3 GBq (0.04%) was impacted by the chop saw (grinder) inside a mobile hot cell on the loading dock at the University of Washington Harborview Research and Training (HRT) Building. A very small fraction of the material impacted, less than 1%, was released from the mobile hot cell and then to the rest of the HRT Building. The objectives of this project were to assess the accidental release of 137 CsCl and its implications related to emergency response methods and the ramifications of 137 CsCl transport. The phenomenology of this event was also compared with past alkali halide dispersal events. The vast number of measurements and samples collected by the remediation contractors, the Department of Energy's Nuclear Emergency Support Team, and the small number of retrospective samples collected by the authors informed the analysis. The techniques included (1) autoradiography and electron microscopy of samples collected from the HRT Building and the irradiator, (2) 3D visualization of deposition on surfaces and within the ventilation system, and (3) a study of the damage to the source capsule to evaluate the Cs particle size and particle composition due to the grinding accident. Subsequently, the cesium contaminant transport through the numerous pathways in the building was reconstructed to assess the deposition on surfaces as a function of particle size. The implications for emergency response are relevant to data quality and management. A Data Quality Objective guides data collection methods so that they have appropriate accuracy and precision for the intended application. Recommendations were made with respect to the sample collection protocols and archiving of samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"359-373"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143994251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward a Scheme for Evaluating the Performance of Continuous Particulate Air Monitor Quantitative Methods.","authors":"William Evans","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001966","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000001966","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There has long been a need for an objective assessment of the performance of quantitative methods used for continuous particulate air monitors. These methods attempt to estimate the input to the monitor, the airborne radioactivity concentration (or its time integral), from its output, the detector response. This evaluation should include consideration of both the \"tracking ability\" of each method (i.e., its ability to follow a physically realistic time-varying concentration), as well as its ability to reduce the inherent random variability of its estimates. These two factors are in conflict, in the sense that optimizing one will worsen the other. A prototype scheme for this performance evaluation is presented, which uses a simulation of a fixed-filter monitor response to a known concentration profile and then finds an evaluation score using the residuals between that profile and the method's estimates as generated from the monitor response.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"399-401"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143630059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}