Health physics最新文献

{"title":"Smart Planning for Radioactive Source Transport Advanced Tools for Increased Safety and Efficiency.","authors":"Rajiv Khadka, Xingyue Yang, Kevin Kenney, John Koudelka","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002042","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>End-of-life (EOL) management of high-activity radioactive sources is made uniquely challenging by the inherent risks associated with storage and transportation of these sources, the complex logistics involved, and the strict requirements for regulatory compliance. Traditional methods lack comprehensive tools for accurate site assessments and precision planning for the transportation of radioactive sources. They also frequently fail to provide the adaptability required to consider diverse operational environments, resulting in inefficiencies and potential safety concerns. This paper introduces a novel software solution developed to address these issues by integrating advanced technologies such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-based 3D environment modeling, smart dynamic route planning, and customizable measurement functionalities. This software enables detailed terrain visualizations, facilitating thorough environmental assessments and enabling users to virtually navigate, analyze, and plan site-specific operations. Among the key features are a user-centric interface for virtual navigation, precise site measurement tools for site evaluations, interactive visualizations that highlight potential operational hazards, dynamic route planning capabilities, and real-time collision detection to promote safe workflows. By demonstrating the effectiveness of this tool through real-world application, the present work underscores the tool's potential to revolutionize radioactive source EOL management by improving operational efficiencies, minimizing risk, and advancing the state of practice to achieve suitable and secure radioactive material handling.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"725-738"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108433/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113002","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":"Effect of Water-absorbent Polymers on Iodine Volatilization Control during the Heat Drying of Radioactive-iodine-containing Wastewater.","authors":"Masahiro Hirota, Tamaki Otani, Kodai Nishi, Shogo Higaki","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002069","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The accidental ingestion of radioactive iodine is known to increase the risk of thyroid cancer and thyroid dysfunction; hence, strict radiation safety measures are required when handling it. In a previous study, we demonstrated that absorbing radioactive-iodine-containing wastewater using a water-absorbent polymer with cyclic oligosaccharides that selectively capture iodine, followed by natural drying, effectively separates at least 80% of the iodine from the wastewater. However, because natural drying requires approximately 2 wk, faster processing is essential to improve the efficiency of this wastewater treatment. Hence, we propose a method for quickly separating iodine from wastewater via heat drying. This study aimed to compare radioactive iodine volatilization levels between samples subjected to heat-drying- and natural-drying-based iodine and water separation. Na 125 I was added to purified water and artificial urine to prepare simulated waste liquids containing iodine at concentrations equivalent to those in the urine of patients undergoing radioactive iodine treatment. The prepared simulated waste liquids were poured into containers containing a superabsorbent polymer, dried in a thermostatic dryer set at 100 °C for 9 h, and subsequently stored for 90 d. The iodine residual rate in the simulated waste liquids was determined by measuring 125 I radioactivity. At the end of the heat-drying process, the iodine residual rates in the simulated waste liquids prepared with purified water and artificial urine were 0.452 and 0.783, respectively. When absorbed in 1 g of superabsorbent polymer, the residual rates increased to 0.956 and 0.952, respectively. Over the following 82 d, the residual rates decreased by approximately 10%. Thus, by absorbing radioactive-iodine-containing wastewater into a highly water-absorbent polymer and then applying heat drying, iodine can be effectively separated from the wastewater while limiting its volatilization to less than 15%.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"718-724"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965903","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":"Organ Dosimetry in Radionuclide Therapy: Biokinetics of 131 I and Dose with a Healthy Thyroid and after Thyroidectomy Using MCNP6.","authors":"Claudia Villalpando-Hernández, Fernando De La Torre Aguilar, Fernando Mireles-García, Eric Reyes-Rivera, Carlos Ríos-Martínez, José Luis Pinedo-Vega","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002044","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An accurate internal dosimetry is important in 131 I radionuclide therapy. In patients who have undergone a thyroidectomy, organs other than the thyroid absorb higher doses as the radionuclide is transported through the body because most of the thyroid gland is removed, and it cannot retain the 131 I. The primary objective of this study is to compare the absorbed doses in at-risk organs due to intake of 131 I after thyroidectomy vs. a healthy thyroid scenario. The biokinetic model of internal dosimetry for healthy thyroid as proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in Publication 137 and a radiation transport simulation in Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 (MCNP6) were used. From the biokinetic model, average activities of 131 I over a 30 h period were obtained, and these activities were used as source terms in MCNP6 simulations transporting gamma rays and beta particles to estimate absorbed doses in at-risk organs. The use of average activities is a new approach proposed in this study. Once the internal dosimetry model for a healthy thyroid was complete and functional, it was adapted for the scenario following thyroidectomy. This involved changing the transfer coefficients connected with the thyroid in the biokinetic model to constants proposed by Taprogge et al. in 2021 . With this adjusted model, average activities of 131 I over a 30-h period were obtained again and used as source terms in MCNP6 simulations of a patient following thyroidectomy, and from this simulation, absorbed doses in at-risk organs were estimated. These coefficients had not been used to estimate organ doses using MCNP. The 131 I activity in the thyroid gland was found to be 20.4% of the initial administered dose in the scenario with a healthy thyroid vs. 0.64% following thyroidectomy. After thyroidectomy, all organs other than the thyroid absorbed higher radiation doses compared to the scenario with a healthy thyroid. The results of this study allow comparison of the absorbed doses between the scenarios of a healthy thyroid and after thyroidectomy, showing substantial differences between the modeled scenarios, which underscores the need to consider the larger context when assessing radiological impact on at-risk organs during 131 I therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"648-654"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933029","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":"Statistical Uncertainty of Inhalation Dose Coefficients: Impact of Particle Deposition in ICRP 66 Human Respiratory Tract Model.","authors":"D Margot, E M Mate-Kole, L D Cochran, C Jelsema, M Graffigna, L Buchbinder Shadur, A Kalinowski, S A Dewji","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002047","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inhaled radioactive materials can pose a long-term health concern, as the material can be incorporated into the body's metabolic pathways and remain in organs and tissues for extended durations. During the retention period, the radioactive material may localize in a source organ and irradiate adjacent target organs and tissues. Distribution of these materials changes over time, requiring biokinetic modeling to evaluate their movement through various tissues and organs. The evolving distribution depends on multiple inputs characterizing the inhaled material, such as particle size and size distribution, particle density, aspect ratio, specific radionuclide, the chemical form, and solubility. In addition, biological parameters such as breathing rate, breathing type (nasal or nasal/oral), respiratory system morphometry, tidal volume, functional residual capacity, and anatomical dead space all influence material transport. These aerosol properties and physiological characteristics of the respiratory tract jointly define a range of initial conditions that influence the time-dependent distribution of radioactive material. To evaluate both uncertainty in the initial conditions of inhalation exposure and the final output (committed effective dose) from biokinetic models, a Python-based software tool, Radiological Exposure Dose Calculator (REDCAL), was developed to propagate uncertainty within the human respiratory tract model. Focusing on deposition fraction uncertainty, the primary objective was to characterize the initial activity distribution across respiratory regions as a function of anticipated particle sizes and distributions. The impact of the deposition fraction uncertainty was propagated to committed effective dose coefficients for selected radionuclides in a companion publication. For each particle size, a lognormal distribution, characterized by its geometric mean as defined within ICRP Publication 66, serves as the basis for introducing uncertainty into the physical processes governing deposition in various lung regions. This study addresses the deposition process and examines how uncertainty in deposition mechanisms affects activity distribution in the airways, ultimately presenting the expected range and standard deviation of deposited activity as a function of particle size.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"690-701"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145862832","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":"The Application of Wargaming in the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Phase to Improve Urgent and Early Phase Response Planning and Decision Making.","authors":"Kevin Buchanan, Lauren Bergman, Dominique Nsengiyumva","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002043","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective decision-making in a nuclear emergency is an essential element of achieving the goals of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR). Within the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 7, preparedness goals are stated generally as having adequate capabilities in place for an effective response. Past nuclear accident experience has demonstrated the complexities involved in urgent and early phase protective action decision-making which is characterized by a distinct lack of information resulting in poor or inappropriate decisions that do more harm than good. The Operational Planning Process (OPP) has been developed by many professional militaries around the world as a means of dealing with equally complex situations. In this work we explore a component of the OPP, wargaming, and apply it to the preparedness phase of a nuclear emergency to validate response planning. The work demonstrates the usefulness of the activity at improving urgent and early phase decision-making and decision-making tool development. The concept effectively addresses several lessons learned from past nuclear incidents as well as continued observations calling for improved tools to better integrate a scientific and technical understanding into a justified and optimised, all hazards emergency response environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"739-751"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146010064","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":"Development and Clinical Implementation of an Integrated Information System for Occupational Radiation Exposure.","authors":"Kengo Tanaka, Rikuta Ishigaki, Misaki Kamogawa, Noboru Niki, Yoshiki Kawata","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002038","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conventional occupational radiation exposure monitoring relies on cumulative dose data from personal dosimeters without providing information on when, where, or under what conditions exposure occurs. This lack of context limits analysis of causal factors, evaluation of protective behaviors, and the effectiveness of safety education. This study aimed to develop and clinically implement an integrated information system for occupational radiation exposure by combining dose data, spatiotemporal movement records, and angiography-related radiation information. We also assessed its utility and potential for improving radiation safety management. The system was implemented for 1 mo in a clinical angiography suite. It integrated (1) personal digital dosimeters recording dose and time, (2) Bluetooth Low Energy beacons tracking healthcare workers' positions and movements, and (3) Radiation Dose Structured Reports providing exposure details. Data were synchronized to reconstruct when, where, and under what conditions exposure occurred. The system identified high-risk positions near x-ray tubes (Beacon IDs 1-3), where exposure was greatest. Avoidance behaviors were also detected, such as movement to low-risk areas (e.g., Beacon ID 8) before irradiation. We successfully developed, implemented, and evaluated the system, demonstrating its utility for improving radiation safety management. The insights gained support targeted interventions and the refinement of safety protocols, with potential for broader use in diverse radiation-controlled settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"639-647"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965886","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 Response Accuracy and Correction Factors of OSL Dosimeters in Diagnostic Radiology: Revealing Dependencies with Different Beam Qualities.","authors":"H Sekkat, A Khallouqi, M Haddioui, M Talbi, A Halimi, O El Rhazouani","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002045","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study establishes a robust and clinically applicable calibration protocol for optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) in diagnostic radiology, with the aim of improving the accuracy of patient dose assessment. A total of 144 OSLDs were systematically irradiated under controlled conditions to assess their dosimetric response across a wide range of tube voltages (40-150 kVp) and square field sizes (10 × 10 cm² to 30 × 30 cm²). The dosimeters exhibited a sensitivity variation of ±6.6%, with an average background dose of 0.0185 mGy. The experimental data revealed a high dependence of OSLD response on photon energy, with dose values increasing by a factor of 11.5, from 0.1393 mGy at 40 kVp to 1.6072 mGy at 150 kVp for a constant field size of 10 × 10 cm². A pronounced non-linear dose escalation was observed in the mid-kVp range (70-100 kVp), where dose measurements increased by 72-90% as field size expanded. Energy and geometry-specific correction factors were derived, showing significant variation with field size, reaching maximum values of 9.81 for the 30 × 30 cm² field at 150 kVp and 7.43 for the 10 × 10 cm² field under the same conditions. Additionally, notable discrepancies were observed between experimentally derived effective beam energies and reference values reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), highlighting the need for localized calibration standards. These findings contribute to the standardization of OSLD calibration protocols in diagnostic radiology and support their implementation for accurate patient dose monitoring in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"655-666"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146105341","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":"Radiation Protection Policy in a Nuclear Era -Recommendations from Health Physicists in Response to EO 14300.","authors":"Emily A Caffrey, Charles A Wilson, Amir A Bahadori, Shaheen A Dewji","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002050","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002050","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"715-717"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108421/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145964919","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":"Tissue Substitutes for the Livermore Torso Phantom Suitable for a Continuous Spectrum of Low-energy Photons.","authors":"Henry Spitz, Jimmy Stringer, Samuel Glover, Mary Kathryn Hoffman, Ethan Howell","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002051","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Substitute materials that accurately reproduce the radiological properties of human tissues are required for direct in vivo measurement of internally deposited radioactive materials to estimate associated health risk, especially for the respiratory tract. The Livermore torso phantom, the de facto standard for calibrating detector systems that measure radioactive materials deposited in the lungs, liver, and thoracic lymph nodes, was designed with tissue substitute materials that match the density and attenuation coefficient exhibited by natural human tissue when exposed to single low-energy x rays associated with the decay of plutonium. In this study, we evaluated the radiometric tissue equivalence of new tissue substitutes for muscle, rib, sternum, lung, and cartilage that are suitable for a continuous low photon energy spectrum from approximately 30 to 120 keV. The formulation for each of the tissue substitutes was developed using a novel method that determines the optimized quantity of base material and additives to produce a material that best matches the density and photon transmission exhibited by the natural human tissue present in the thoracic cavity. Measurements of the mass attenuation coefficient (i.e., ) from approximately 30 keV up to 120 keV for each substitute tissue were within 8% or better to expected values calculated using the photon cross section database XCOM from the National Institute for Standards and Technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"702-714"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146105164","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":"Radiation Protection Concerns with Returning Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Patients.","authors":"James Kyle Underwood, Kevin Nelson, Zach Peckham, Glenn Sturchio","doi":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002053","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HP.0000000000002053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The radiopharmaceutical therapy field is experiencing a surge of novel treatments and expanded uses for existing treatments, broadening the range of patients that can be treated. This expansion presents new challenges for managing patient release due to new patient populations with additional comorbidities, increasing the incidence of patients requiring care shortly after administration. This paper outlines the challenges and potential solutions for managing readmitted radiopharmaceutical therapy patients. It discusses the importance of having radiation protection policies and procedures in place for staff who may be unfamiliar with radiation. The paper also highlights the need for just-in-time training and radiation monitoring equipment for care staff, as well as the development of a notification system within the electronic health record to ensure staff can safely care for these patients. Preparing for these eventualities is essential for implementing a radiopharmaceutical therapy program that is ready for the expansion of existing and novel treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":12976,"journal":{"name":"Health physics","volume":" ","pages":"752-758"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147443343","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}