{"title":"Effects of organ dose modulation applied to a part of the scan range on radiation dose in computed tomography of the body.","authors":"Yusuke Inoue, Hiroyasu Itoh, Koji Koizumi, Saori Sekimoto, Hirofumi Hata, Hiroki Miyatake, Takuro Yamane, Kohei Mitsui","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6d76","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6d76","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In computed tomography (CT), organ dose modulation (ODM) reduces radiation exposure from the anterior side to reduce radiation dose received by the radiosensitive organs located anteriorly. We investigated the effects of ODM applied to a part of the scan range on radiation dose in body CT. The thorax and thoraco-abdominopelvic region of an anthropomorphic whole-body phantom were imaged with and without ODM. ODM was applied to various regions, and the tube current modulation curves were compared. Additionally, the dose indices were compared with and without ODM in thoracic and thoraco-abdominopelvic CTs in 800 patients. ODM was applied to the thyroid in male patients and to the thyroid and breast in female patients. In phantom imaging of the thorax, the application of ODM below the scan range decreased the tube current, and that to the breast showed a further decrease. Decreased tube current was also observed in phantom imaging of the thoraco-abdominopelvic regions with ODM below the scan range, and the application of ODM to the whole scan range, thyroid, breast, and both thyroid and breast further reduced the tube current in the region to which ODM was applied. In patient imaging, the dose indices were significantly lower with ODM than without ODM, regardless of the scan range or sex. The absolute reduction in dose-length product was larger for thoraco-abdominopelvic CT (male, 43.2 mGy cm; female, 59.7 mGy cm) than for thoracic CT (male, 30.8 mGy cm; female, 37.6 mGy cm) in both sexes, indicating dose reduction in the abdominopelvic region to which ODM was not applied. In conclusion, The application of ODM in body CT reduces radiation dose not only in the region to which ODM is applied but also outside the region. In radiation dose management, it should be considered that even ODM applied to a limited region affects the dose indices.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141914435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Z Daraktchieva, C B Howarth, J M Wasikiewicz, C A Miller, D A Wright
{"title":"Long-term comparison and performance study of consumer grade electronic radon integrating monitors.","authors":"Z Daraktchieva, C B Howarth, J M Wasikiewicz, C A Miller, D A Wright","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad66db","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad66db","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study reports the performance of 7 types of consumer grade passive Electronic Radon Integrating Monitors, ERIM (AlphaE, AER Plus, Canary, Corentium Pro, Radon Scout Home, Ramon and Wave) and passive etched track radon detectors. All monitors and passive radon detectors were exposed side by side for 2 periods of 3 months under controlled conditions in the UKHSA radon chamber and in a stainless steel container to an average radon concentration of 4781 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>and 166 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>, respectively. The performance of each individual monitor was compared with Atmos 12DPX and AlphaGUARD P30 reference instruments. The performance of the monitors was evaluated by estimating the biased, precision and measurement errors of each type. It was found that UKHSA passive radon detectors showed excellent performance (measurement error < 10%) at both higher and lower exposures. The AlphaE, Canary and Ramon showed excellent performance, with measurement error <10%, when they were exposed to radon concentrations between 4000 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>and 6000 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>in the UKHSA radon chamber. However, when the monitors were exposed to radon levels below the UK radon Action Level of 200 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>, the only ERIM which had a measurement error <10% was the Radon Scout Home. All other monitors showed a significant decrease in their performance with measurement errors ranging between 20% and 50%. The calibration factor, which is the ratio between the measured value (background is subtracted) and the reference value, was also studied. It was found that the calibration factors of individual monitors changed significantly. Calibration measurements in 2019 and in 2023 found that the percentage change varied between -46% and +63%. This shows the importance of initial and regular calibration, and maintenance of the monitors.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141762187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Consideration of the conversion factor from air dose rates to individual external dose per hour after the Fukushima accident-individual external dose measurements of a TEPCO employee in Fukushima prefecture over a 9 year period.","authors":"Toshihiro Ueno, Toshiaki Ishii, Keizo Uchiyama, Tadahiko Ando, Motofumi Saisu, Koichi Takizawa, Yuji Endo","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5f36","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5f36","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) in 2011 resulted in the dispersion of radioactive materials throughout the surrounding area and an increase in the air dose rate was even confirmed in Fukushima City, which is located approximately 60 km northeast of FDNPP. A Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Holdings employee, who has lived and worked in Fukushima City since the FDNPP accident, measured individual external doses, GPS data, and his activities in Fukushima Prefecture over a 9 year period beginning in 2014. This data provides valuable information about the area. The data show the following results. (i) Comparison of the air dose rate at the home location to the individual external dose per hour at the home shows that the average conversion factor has increased over the 9 years and exceeded 0.3 since 2019, indicating an overall relatively good correlation. (ii) Individual external doses measured in the office on the fourth floor of a concrete structure in Fukushima City have not changed significantly from 2014 to 2022, when air dose rates showed a decrease. (iii) Outdoor individual external doses, such as those measured when commuting on foot, have a relatively strong correlation with air dose rates from airborne monitoring with the conversion factor of about 0.6. The conversion factor do not differ significantly from 2014 to 2022.In this study, the individual external dose data is applicable to the TEPCO measurer and is not necessarily representative of all residents of Fukushima City. However individual external dose data for 9 consecutive years will be useful for estimating individual external doses from air dose rates, and estimating annual additional exposure doses, if even some of them are applicable to similar life patterns and lifestyles.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141535801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gernot Schmid, Pia Schneeweiss, Rene Hirtl, Tobias Jhala, Theodoros Samaras
{"title":"Numerical assessment of induced electric fields in a worker's hand with commonly used metallic implants under exposure to low frequency magnetic fields.","authors":"Gernot Schmid, Pia Schneeweiss, Rene Hirtl, Tobias Jhala, Theodoros Samaras","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad66dc","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad66dc","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The European Union's Workers' Directive 2013/35/EU on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields specifies action levels (ALs) for external electric and magnetic fields, which should protect against induced tissue-internal electric field strength<i>E</i><sub>i</sub>above the exposure limit values, the latter being defined in order to prevent tissue stimulation at low frequencies. However, although 2013/35/EU explicitly calls for the protection of 'workers at particular risk' (including workers with metallic implants), the AL specified in the Directive have been derived under the assumption that there are no metallic parts present inside the body. Therefore, in the present work, we analysed the situation of a worker's hand and forearm bearing metallic implants (Herbert screw and volar radius plate) used for osteosynthesis after the most common bone fractures of the hand/forearm, exposed to low frequency magnetic fields. The uniform exposure of the whole hand and forearm as well as the exposure to a specific and widely used device, a deactivator for single-use labels of acousto-magnetic electronic article surveillance systems, were considered based on numerical computations using a high-resolution anatomical hand and forearm model. The results obtained indicated that the maximum induced electric field strength averaged in a volume of 2 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm cube was higher in the presence of the metallic implants by a factor of up to 4.2 for bone tissue and 2.3 for soft tissue compared with the case without an implant. Hence, it is obvious that the local induced electric field strengths may be substantially increased by the implants. The extent of this increase, however, is highly dependent on the implant's position inside the body, the implant's geometry, and the field distribution and orientation with respect to the anatomical structure and the implant.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141762188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"X-ray spectrometry for calculating conversion coefficients from air kerma to operational quantities in radiation protection.","authors":"Johann Plagnard, Jérémie Lefèvre","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6777","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the conversion coefficients from air kerma to operational quantities for radiation protection, using x-ray spectrometry for the narrow-beam qualities below 300 keV as defined by ISO 4037-1. By employing custom spectral correction algorithms combined with modern cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor detectors, we effectively corrected spectral distortions caused by detection processes, ensuring more reliable measurements. These measurements are crucial for meeting radiation protection standards. The study also analyses the sources of uncertainty associated with the determination of conversion coefficients, thereby providing improved accuracy and reproducibility in photon dosimetry.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141762189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Frosio, Samuel Thomas, Janis Endres, Holger Eberhardt, Baptiste Louis, Tiberio Cabianca, Iain Brown, Matthew Foster, Nabil Menaa, Philippe Bertreix
{"title":"Transfer functions for<i>Q<sub>A</sub></i>/<i>Q<sub>B</sub></i>international regulatory limits for the safe transport of radioactive materials.","authors":"Thomas Frosio, Samuel Thomas, Janis Endres, Holger Eberhardt, Baptiste Louis, Tiberio Cabianca, Iain Brown, Matthew Foster, Nabil Menaa, Philippe Bertreix","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6453","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad6453","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper presents a proposed revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency transport regulations, related to the<i>A</i><sub>1</sub>and<i>A</i><sub>2</sub>limit values used to determine the radioactive transport classification. Based on the '<i>Q</i>system', a novel methodology was introduced to derive<i>Q<sub>A</sub></i>and<i>Q<sub>B</sub></i>values related to scenarios involving external exposure from a distant source. These values are key parameters that respectively represent the total effective dose and total equivalent dose to the skin, from all primary and secondary particles contributing to radiation exposure. The International Working Group (WG<i>A</i><sub>1</sub>/<i>A</i><sub>2</sub>) is established and associated with the TRANSSC Technical Expert Group on Radiation Protection. A review of the<i>A</i><sub>1</sub>and<i>A</i><sub>2</sub>values is performed in response to identified limitations within the existing<i>Q</i>system. The followed approach is based on Monte Carlo simulations that enabled the development of transfer functions aimed at reducing computational time and increasing the flexibility of dose evaluations for any radionuclide with known particle emission spectra. This method allows updating the<i>Q<sub>A</sub></i>and<i>Q<sub>B</sub></i>values to account for future data evolutions (decay data, fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients) and standardizing the calculation of regulation limits across all referenced radionuclides and scenarios related to external exposure. The transfer functions are established using three Monte Carlo simulation codes-FLUKA, Geant4, and MCNP-and address the previous limitations of the '<i>Q</i>system', reflecting the latest International Commission for Radiation Protection recommendations and improvements in calculation techniques. The results of the WG show consistent agreement across the codes, with minor discrepancies observed at low primary energies due to statistical uncertainties and different handling of stopping power for electrons/positrons in the codes. This revised approach aligns with current standards and recommendations, ensuring that the radiological consequences of transport accidents are acceptable for the new<i>A</i><sub>1</sub>and<i>A</i><sub>2</sub>limits from a radiological protection perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141635519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of radon mitigation methods: 10-year review.","authors":"E Kouroukla, T D Gooding, H S Fonseca","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad58e8","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad58e8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to the radon gas within a building can result in an increased risk of lung cancer. To minimise the health risk, indoor radon concentrations can be reduced using well-established mitigation methods. The performance of various radon reduction methods, their combination as well as other factors that can impact the efficiency of radon mitigation, were analysed using data collected from approximately 2800 dwellings that had installed radon mitigation techniques during the period 2007-2017. As demonstrated previously (Hodgson 2011), active methods are the most effective at reducing high concentrations of radon to below the Action and Target Levels (200 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>and 100 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>respectively). Reduction factors of up to 5.5 using single active methods and 8.3 using a combination of active methods were estimated in this study. For indoor radon levels greater than 1 000 Bq m<sup>-3</sup>, the Active Sump remained the most efficient technique, with the Active Underfloor Ventilation being the second most effective method. Passive methods alone or in combination with other passive methods offered moderate reductions at high radon concentration. Of the passive methods, Underfloor Ventilation was found to have the highest performance with a reduction factor of 1.8. The conclusions of this study should be used to update guidance for stakeholders including householders, contractors, radon awareness campaigns and the UKradon.org website.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141421687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of ethical values across the ICRP's system of radiological protection.","authors":"Nicole E Martinez, Friedo Zölzer","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad61f3","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad61f3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2018, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) released Publication 138, which highlights the ethical values foundational to the system of radiological protection. Additional work, both within and beyond the ICRP, has proposed or recommended ethical values associated with applications of the system in different areas, perhaps most notably in medical, veterinary, and environmental radiological protection. There are also existing ethical frameworks not specifically related to radiological protection that are nonetheless relevant to its practice; for example, the Beauchamp and Childress principles of biomedical ethics are of particular significance when it comes to medical uses of radiation and radioactivity. At first glance, it may seem as if there are unique or isolated sets of ethical values that need to be applied depending on the circumstance. Yet while each area of application will indeed have its own unique aspects and associated value judgements, there are consistent and complementary relationships between these ethical values. This paper reviews the work of the ICRP related to ethics, including brief historical context, and highlights the similarities and differences between sets of ethical values with emphasis on medical, veterinary, and environmental applications of radiological protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141591895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergio Ramos-Avasola, Lusin Ponce, Karla Leon, Claudio Cuellar-Fritis, Marvin Querales
{"title":"Efficacy of radiation attenuating caps in reducing radiation doses received at the cerebral level in interventional physicians: a systematic review.","authors":"Sergio Ramos-Avasola, Lusin Ponce, Karla Leon, Claudio Cuellar-Fritis, Marvin Querales","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5e8e","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5e8e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background.</i>Anecdotal reports are appearing in the scientific literature about cases of brain tumors in interventional physicians who are exposed to ionizing radiation. In response to this alarm, several designs of leaded caps have been made commercially available. However, the results reported on their efficacy are discordant.<i>Objective.</i>To synthesize, by means of a systematic review of the literature, the capacity of decreasing radiation levels conferred by radiation attenuating devices (RADs) at the cerebral level of interventional physicians.<i>Methodology.</i>A systematic review was performed including the following databases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Science Direct, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), WOS, WHO International Clinical Trials Register, Scielo and Google Scholar, considering original studies that evaluated the efficacy of RAD in experimental or clinical contexts from January 1990 to May 2023. Data selection and extraction were performed in triplicate, with a fourth author resolving discrepancies.<i>Results.</i>Twenty articles were included in the review from a total of 373 studies initially selected from the databases. From these, twelve studies were performed under clinical conditions encompassing 3801 fluoroscopically guided procedures, ten studies were performed under experimental conditions with phantoms, with a total of 88 procedures, four studies were performed using numerical calculations with a total of 63 procedures. The attenuation and effectiveness of provided by the caps analyzed in the present review varying from 12.3% to 99.9%, and 4.9% to 91% respectively.<i>Conclusion.</i>RAD were found to potentially provide radiation protection, but a high heterogeneity in the shielding afforded was found. This indicates the need for local assessment of cap efficiency according to the practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141499463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helene Clogenson, Charlotte De Marne, Katia Desplobain, Amélie Le Gouge, Marc Laffon, Serge Maia
{"title":"Monitoring of surgical staff x-ray exposure in the operating room with DosiBadge.","authors":"Helene Clogenson, Charlotte De Marne, Katia Desplobain, Amélie Le Gouge, Marc Laffon, Serge Maia","doi":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5f37","DOIUrl":"10.1088/1361-6498/ad5f37","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Surgical procedures involving the use of x-rays in the operating room (OR) have increased in recent years, thereby increasing the exposure of OR staff to ionizing radiation. An individual dosimeter makes it possible to record the radiation exposure to which these personnel are exposed, but there is a lack of compliance in the wearing of these dosimeters for several practical reasons. This makes the dose results obtained unreliable. To try to improve the rate of dosimeter wearing in the OR, the Dosibadge project studied the association of the individual dosimeter with the hospital access badge, forming the Dosibadge. Through a study performed at the Tours University Hospital in eight different ORs for two consecutive periods of 3 months. The results show a significant increase in the systematic use of the dosimeter thanks to the Dosibadge, which improves the reliability of the doses obtained on the dosimeters and the monitoring of personnel. The increase is especially marked with clinicians. Following these results and the very positive feedback to this first single-centre study, we are then planning a second multicentre study to validate our proof of concept on different sites, with the three brands of individual dosimeters used in France i.e. dosimeters supplied by Dosilab; Landauer and IRSN.</p>","PeriodicalId":50068,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radiological Protection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141535802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}