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A Novel Shielding Device for Cardiac Cath Labs. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-19 Lancer Smith
This research evaluates the effectiveness of a large specialized cardiac catheterization laboratory shielding device (SCCLSD) placed perpendicular to the patient compared to traditional shielding methods in reducing occupational exposure to scattered x rays, contributing to the ongoing enhancement of radiation safety in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) setting. An experimental setup involving
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The Effects of Abnormal Exposure on Individual Dose Monitoring with TLD Dosimeter. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-19 Yanling Yi,Michael G Stabin
Objectives: To analyze the effects of normal x-ray inspection, machine washing, and machine drying on thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements during external individual monitoring and to provide suggestions for determining individual monitoring measurements under the mentioned abnormal situations. In this study, we focused on three abnormal situations: x-ray inspection, machine washing, and
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MPPD: A User-Friendly Posture Deformation Program for Mesh-Type Computational Phantoms. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-04 Haegin Han,Jaehyo Kim,Sungho Moon,Gahee Son,Bangho Shin,Hyeonil Kim,Suhyeon Kim,Chansoo Choi,Chan Hyeong Kim
Recently, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) released adult Mesh-type Reference Computational Phantoms (MRCPs), which have great advantage in high deformability. Previous studies have exploited their high deformability to investigate the dosimetric influence of varying statures and postures, demonstrating significant variations in radiation doses. However, the previous studies
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Effects of High Temperature and High Humidity on the Degree of Ocular Damage Caused by 60 GHz Millimeter Wave Exposure. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-02 Masami Kojima,Takafumi Tasaki,Toshio Kamijo,Aki Hada,Yukihisa Suzuki,Masateru Ikehata,Hiroshi Sasaki
Millimeter waves (MMW) are pervasive in society; however, studies on the biological effects of MMW exposure are usually performed in laboratory settings not reflecting global environmental diversity. We investigated the effects of a 6-min exposure to 60 GHz MMW (wavelength, 5.0 mm) at incident power densities of 200 and 300 mW cm-2 in eyes (exposed right eyes vs. unexposed left eyes) under various
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Assessing Radiation Fallout in Public Zones near the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS): A Recent Study. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-02 Krishnakumar Divakar Nangeelil,Haven Searcy,Beverly Parker,Zaijing Sun
A comprehensive radiological study was conducted in the surrounding public zones of the Nevada National Security Site to identify traces of resuspended radioactivity and heavy elemental contamination that might have resulted from various activities. The study used passive and active nuclear methods, specifically gamma spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis, respectively. Passive
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Estimate of the Deterministic Neutron RBE for Radiation-induced Pseudo-Pelger Huët Cell Formation. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-09-02 R E Goans,C J Iddins,R E Goans
Using archival peripheral blood slides from radiation accident patients, we have recently described the pseudo-Pelger Huët anomaly (PPHA) in neutrophils as a new radiation-induced biomarker, useful for dosimetry not only immediately after a radiation incident but also potentially helpful as a tool in retrospective dosimetry. In conjunction with the Radiation Accident Registry at the Radiation Emergency
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Uranium in Drinking Water and Bladder Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Michigan. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-08-05 Perpetua Uduba, Lissa Soares, Tesleem Babalola, Melissa Slotnick, Aaron Linder, Jaymie R Meliker
Uranium is naturally occurring in groundwater used for drinking; however, health risks from naturally occurring concentrations are uncertain. Uranium can cause both radiological and chemical toxicity following ingestion. Bladder and kidneys receive a dose when uranium is excreted into the urine. Investigate the association between uranium in drinking water and bladder cancer risk in a case-control
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Effect Of Protective Eyewear on Physicians' Lens Exposure during Fluoroscopy. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-08-05 Takahira Hitomi, Kudo Takashi, Ideguchi Reiko
The ICRP 2011 Seoul Statement recommended a reduction in the dose limit for lens exposure to 100 mSv for 5 y and 50 mSv for 1 y. Based on this recommendation, the dose limit for lens exposure was lowered in Japan with the revision of the Ionization Regulations, which took effect in April 2021. In the present study, lens doses were measured during fluoroscopic procedures performed in four departments
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Optimizing Regulatory Reviews for Clinical Protocols that Use Radiopharmaceuticals: Findings of the University of Pennsylvania Radiation Research Safety Committee. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-08-02 Sylvia S Rhodes, Janelle E Jesikiewicz, Nikhil Yegya-Raman, Kavya Prasad, Alexandra Dreyfuss, David A Mankoff, Neil K Taunk
Institutional radiation safety committees review research studies with radiation exposure. However, ensuring that the potential patient benefit and knowledge gained merit the radiation risks involved often necessitates revisions that inadvertently delay protocol activations. This quality-improvement study analyzed protocols, identified factors associated with approval time by a radiation safety committee
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The Relationship Between Cancer and Radiation: A New Paradigm: Erratum. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-08-01
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Uranium Mine Proposed Experimental Design for Natural Background Gross Gamma Exposure Rates, Post Remediation Final Status Survey Sampling Density, and Radiological Water Quality Modeling for a Worst-case Catastrophic Failure, Coles Hill, Virginia. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-7-26 David B Weyant, Jaewan Yoon
Completely randomized experimental design statistical modeling techniques were employed to analyze exposure rate measurements for evaluating hypothetical natural background post uranium mill operations at Coles Hill, Virginia uranium milling processes. The proposed Coles Hill Uranium Mine is situated upstream of the Banister River. This River is nearly homogenous throughout the reach length used in
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Overt Scientific Bias and Clandestine Acts by Trusted Scientists: The Flawed Application of the Linear No-threshold Model. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-7-26 John J Cardarelli
The Health Physics Society (HPS) released a video documentary on the history of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model in April 2022. It exposed many scientific and ethical failings of many leaders, influential scientists, and organizations that have resulted in the current system of radiological protection. Since then, the society received many comments; most were supportive, while a few criticized the
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Uranium Body Clearance Kinetics-A Long-term Follow-up Study of Retired Nuclear Fuel Workers. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-26 Ibtisam Yusuf, Edvin Hansson, Mats Eriksson, Patric Lindahl, Håkan B L Pettersson
Nuclear industry workers exposed to uranium aerosols may risk kidney damage and radiation-induced cancer. This warrants the need for well-established dose and risk assessments, which can be greatly improved by using material-specific absorption parameters in the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the slow dissolution rate (ss, d-1), a parameter that is
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Conversion of Site-Specific Meteorological Data for use in CAP-88 PC. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 B G Fritz, J A Peterson
CAP-88 PC is a commonly used radiological atmospheric dispersion model. This US EPA-approved model is used to demonstrate compliance with atmospheric emission regulations for radionuclides. While the model includes a large library of meteorological data for use across the United States, there are applications when users may wish to use onsite meteorological data as an input to the CAP-88 PC model.
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Minimum Detectable Intakes and Doses for Uranium Bioassays-Comparison between Alpha Spectrometry and ICP-MS. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 B Rosenberg, A Johnson, C G Potter, C L Antonio
Naturally occurring uranium complicates monitoring for occupational exposures. There are several retroactive methods that can be used to monitor for occupational exposures, with benefits and drawbacks to each. Analysis of uranium in urine by mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry is compared, and methods of determining an occupational exposure are presented. The minimum detectable concentrations
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Methods to Track Effective Doses from Airborne Radioactive Emissions for Compliance with 40 CFR 61, SUBPART H. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 Amber M Harshman, William L McCarter
US Department of Energy national laboratories can play an integral role in not only the advancement of science but also in the treatment of various medical conditions through research and development activities conducted at radioisotope production facilities. A project has been underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2016 whose mission is to produce and supply the radioisotope 227Ac, which
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Assessing the Mental Model State of Emergency Responders in the Context of Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Incidents: A Multi-state Study. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 Angela E Leek, Nir Keren, Mack C Shelley, Warren Franke, Gretchen A Mosher, Stephen A Simpson, Timothy Rice, H Emily Hayden
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Technicians' notions of mental model, or cognitive representations of their understanding and beliefs regarding Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs) incidents, have not been previously explored. A prior study developed an Expected Mental Model State (EMMS) framework specific to RDD incident response for HAZMAT technicians. The work herein presents the development of a
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A Survey of Mean Glandular Doses and Suggestions on National Diagnostic Reference Levels for Digital Mammography in China. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 Hui Xu, Baorong Yue, Jinsheng Cheng, Jun Deng, Yinping Su, Qiaoqiao Zhao, Ke Xue, Zechen Feng, Yantao Niu, Quanfu Sun
The primary purpose of this study was to report the mean glandular doses and to determine the national diagnostic reference levels for digital mammography based on data between 2016 and 2018 in China. The data from 19,076 mammograms (4,769 examinations) by random sampling from 118 digital mammography systems were compiled. Exposure factors included age, compressed breast thickness, kVp, mAs, target/filter
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Indoor Radon Concentrations in Severe Cold Area and Cold Area and Impact of Energy-saving Design on Indoor Radon in China. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-25 Yunyun Wu, Yanchao Song, Changsong Hou, Hongxing Cui, Bing Shang, Haoran Sun
This study investigated indoor radon concentrations in modern residential buildings in the Cold Area and Severe Cold Area in China. A total of 19 cities covering 16 provinces were selected with 1,610 dwellings measured for indoor radon concentration. The arithmetic mean and geometric mean of indoor radon concentration were 68 Bq m-3 and 57 Bq m-3, respectively. It was found that indoor radon concentrations
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Modeling Plutonium Decorporation in a Female Nuclear Worker Treated with Ca-DTPA after Inhalation Intake. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-22 Sara Dumit, Maia Avtandilashvili, Stacey L McComish, Guthrie Miller, Jasen Swanson, Sergey Y Tolmachev
The present work models plutonium (Pu) biokinetics in a female former nuclear worker. Her bioassay measurements are available at the US Transuranium and Uranium Registries. The worker was internally exposed to a plutonium-americium mixture via acute inhalation at a nuclear weapons facility. She was medically treated with injections of 1 g Ca-DTPA on days 0, 5, and 14 after the intake. Between days
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Modeling Fallout from Nuclear Weapon Detonations: Efficient Activity and Dose Calculation of Radionuclides and Their Progeny. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-18 Arjan van Dijk, Michiel de Bode, Astrid Kloosterman, Marte van der Linden, Jasper M Tomas
The purpose of this paper is to present a practical method for quick determination of potential radiological doses and contaminations by fallout from nuclear detonations, or other releases, that includes the contributions from all nuclides. We precalculate individual (total) activities of all radionuclides from any initial cocktail and all their ingrowing progeny at a set of pinpoints in time with
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Regional Workshop on Optimization of Protection in Pediatric Interventional Radiology in Latin American and Caribbean Countries. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-08 Carlos Ubeda, Eliseo Vano, María Del Rosario Perez, Raúl Ramirez, Alejandro Nader, Patricia Miranda, José Miguel Fernandez, Mar Pérez-Peña
The purpose of this article is to describe the activities developed within the framework "Regional Workshop on Optimization of Protection in Pediatric Interventional Radiology in Latin American and Caribbean countries," developed between October 16th and 19th of the year 2023 in the city of San José, Costa Rica. The workshop was carried out as part of a joint work between the Pan American Health Organization
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Development of a Nuclear Safety and Security Integration Assessment Tool for Research Reactors and Associated Facilities. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-08 Theodore Thomas, Jason Harris
Nuclear safety and security are essential elements of radiation protection. Integration of nuclear safety and security provides a means to identify conflict and synergy points. Research has not been performed to enable integrated practices at the facility level. A tool was developed through research to help staff and regulators assess the level of integration practiced within a research reactor. This
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The Concentration of Uranium-238 in Soil Samples from the Central Maysan Governorate Determined Using ICP-MS. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-05 Anaheed Ahmed, Thaer M Salman, Mostafa A Algrifi
In this particular investigation, 30 surface soil samples taken from various locations across the Middle Omara governorate in southeastern Iraq were analyzed using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), and several of these, as far as the researchers know, had never been analyzed previously. The results are presented and compared with those from a different study. The studied soil samples
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Absolute Method for Measuring Environmental Radioactive Materials Using Imaging Plates. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-01 Mori Yutaro, Isobe Tomonori, Takei Hideyuki, Yoshimura Yosuke, Ide Yasuwo, Sugaya Keito, Sajyrau Gudetyjum, Sakae Takeji
We had previously developed a measurement method using an imaging plate (IP) to evaluate and address surface contamination caused by the release of radioactive materials during the Fukushima nuclear accident. The measurement units for the surface contamination density were in relative values [described as relative luminescence levels measured in luminescence arbitrary units (LAU)], but the evaluation
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Bisphosphonate Liposomes for Cobalt and Strontium Decorporation? Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-21 Géraldine Landon, Guillaume Phan, François Fay, David Suhard, David Broggio, Raphaël Bô, Céline Bouvier-Capely, Elias Fattal
During a nuclear/radiological incident or an accident involving internal intakes with radioactive cobalt or strontium, the recommended treatments, consisting of the administration of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid for 60Co and calcium gluconate for 90Sr, are of low specificity, and their effectiveness can be enhanced. In this manuscript, a liposomal formulation was developed to deliver potential
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An Estimation of the Monetary Value of the Person-Sievert Useful for Occupational Radiological Protection within the Healthcare System of Sweden. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-21 Andreas Engström, Mats Isaksson, Reza Javid, Per-Anders Larsson, Charlotta Lundh, Magnus Båth
The As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle includes taking into account economic and societal factors. To consider these factors, decision-aiding techniques such as cost-benefit analysis were introduced by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 50 y ago. Over the years, developments in health economics have led to new ways of deriving the concept of a value of a statistical
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Research on Detection Efficiency of Imaging Plates for Alpha Particles Using Two Types of Imaging Plate. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-18 Fengdi Qin, Zhengzhong He, Zhongkai Fan, Kejun Lu, Haoxuan Li, Yizhe Luo, Xiyu Yang, Tianyu Deng, Xiangminng Cai, Cong Sun, Jian Shan
Imaging plates can measure isotopes with alpha decay (such as radon and its progeny, americium, and so on). However, the detection efficiency of imaging plates is affected by alpha particle energy, types of imaging plates, and the overlapping effect. In this study, simulations were performed to analyze the relationship between detection efficiency and these three influence factors. The research findings
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Andragogic Improvements in Radiation Safety Training. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-18 Chandler Cotton, Charles Wilson, Robert Heath, Emily Caffrey
At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines are performed daily. A growing number of minor but preventable incidents related to radiation safety have brought up concerns related to the effectiveness of the training program. A comprehensive literature review was performed to summarize post-COVID
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Risk Assessment for Nuclear Terrorism Probability and Its Application on a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-18 Joeun L Kot, Jason T Harris
Radiation protection contains the key elements of nuclear safety and security. Despite the overlap between nuclear safety and security, their objectives differ fundamentally, focusing on unintentional accidents and intentional malicious events, respectively. As such, the Potential Facility Risk Index (PFRI), originally created for security purposes, has evolved into an approach that combines conventional
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Has Health Physics Contributed to an 80-Y False Narrative about the Trinity Nuclear Test? Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-17 Joseph J Shonka
This paper discusses the various analyses of the Trinity Nuclear Test, including how they might apply to the issue of infant mortality. This paper was first drafted as a response to a letter by Rice, who commented on my earlier letter on that issue. My earlier letter commented on the National Cancer Institute's 2020 series of papers in the October Issue of Health Physics on the impact of the Trinity
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Prediction Model for Defects in Lead and Lead-free Aprons. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-17 Pieter-Jan Kellens, An De Hauwere, Sandrine Bayart, Klaus Bacher, Tom Loeys
Personal radiation protective equipment (PRPE) is prone to defects in the attenuating layers, resulting in inadequate protection. Hence, quality control (QC) of PRPE is needed to assess its integrity. Unfortunately, QC of PRPE is laborious and time consuming. This study aimed to predict the QC outcome of PRPE without x-ray imaging based on readily available predictors. PRPE QC data of a general hospital
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Evaluation of a novel General Education Courses on Radiation Protection for Undergraduates. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-30 Ting Liang, Chao Zhang, Feng Gao, Guihua Hou
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a general education course titled "The Basis of Radiation Protection" in building and strengthening undergraduate awareness of radiation safety and cultivating innovative individuals with reasonable knowledge structures and strong practical abilities. Methods: All students from 2021 to 2022 enrolled in the core general education course "The Basis of Radiation
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Comparison of MCNP and Microshield Dose Savings Determinations for Remote Methods of Transuranic Contamination Characterization. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-26 Justina A M Freilich,Camille J Palmer
The maturation of robotic and remote systems presents opportunities to expand the use of technologies that have typically been restricted to high-dose/high-risk nuclear work for moderate- or low-risk work to further reduce radiation exposure to workers. This study quantifies the potential dose savings achieved through the use of robotic techniques for characterizing transuranic-contaminated waste items
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A Compendium of Radiation Safety Practices That Can Complement Organizational Worker Well-being Initiatives. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-26 R J Emery,J M Gutierrez,M K Zwick
Organizations are learning that efforts to protect the health and safety of their workers from risks both at work and outside of work yield great dividends in the form of increased productivity, morale, and reduced healthcare costs. This realization has given rise to a variety of worker well-being initiatives that span far beyond the typical boundaries of traditional workplace health and safety programs
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HAZMAT Technician-level Emergency Response: A Mental Model Framework for Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Incidents. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-26 Angela E Leek, Nir Keren, Daniel Blumenthal, William Irwin, Stephen Musolino
This research examines the cognitive frameworks used by HAZMAT technicians when responding to incidents involving Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs), which are conventional explosive devices with radioactive materials incorporated. The objective is to introduce the Expected Mental Model State (EMMS) as a comprehensive evaluation tool for assessing and enhancing the expertise and situational awareness
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Investigating the Effects of Tube Current and Tube Voltage on Patient Dose in Computed Tomography Examinations with Principial Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis: Phantom Study. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-24 Güneş Açıkgöz
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tube current and tube voltage choices on patient dose in adult and pediatric CT protocols by qualitative analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and statistical analysis.Dose length product (DLP), Effective mAs (Eff. mAs), and volume-weighted CT dose index (CTDIvol) dose descriptors were obtained from 16 adult and
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Validity of the 1984 Interim Guidelines on Airborne Ultrasound and Gaps in the Current Knowledge. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-20 Ken Karipidis, Jacques Abramowicz, Akimasa Hirata, Jens Kuhne, Timothy G Leighton, Gunnhild Oftedal, Jan Radosz, Martin Röösli, Rodney Croft, Eric van Rongen, Nigel Cridland, Anke Huss, Guglielmo d'Inzeo, Carmela Marino, Soichi Watanabe
Airborne ultrasound is used for various purposes both in industrial and public settings, as well as being produced as a by-product by a range of sources. The International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) published interim guidelines on limiting human exposure to airborne ultrasound in 1984, based on the limited scientific evidence that was available at that time. In order to investigate whether
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Decontamination of Actinide-contaminated Injured Skin with Ca-DTPA Products Using an Ex Vivo Rat Skin Model. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-20 Anne Van der Meeren, Karine Devilliers, Nina Griffiths, Anne-Sophie Chaplault, Martine Defrance, Gaëtan Ducouret, Michaël Pasteur, Pierre Laroche, François Caire-Maurisier
Skin contamination by α-emitting actinides such as plutonium and americium is a risk for workers during nuclear fuel production and reactor decommissioning. Decontamination of skin is an important medical countermeasure to limit potential internal contamination, particularly in the case of injured skin. Current recommendations include undressing of the victim followed by skin washing using soap or
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Tissue Dose-rate Kernels for Bremsstrahlung Exposure from Internal Electron Emitters. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-13 David L Boozer, David M Hamby
Radionuclides emitting high-energy beta rays are frequently employed for therapeutic purposes in the field of medicine. However, it is widely recognized that such radionuclides have the potential to generate in vivo bremsstrahlung radiation. This research study focused on investigating the dose rate of bremsstrahlung radiation emanating from a radioactive source embedded in a patient. To accomplish
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Protecting Our Own: A Method for Reducing Breast Radiation Exposure in Healthcare Workers. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-06 Lauren Zammerilla Westcott, Gerald O Ogola, Chet R Rees
Standard lead aprons do not protect the female breast adequately from radiation exposure, which has been associated with breast cancer in healthcare workers. A novel lead shield was designed to reduce radiation to the breast, axilla, and thyroid (BAT). A procedure room was simulated with an anthropomorphic phantom representing the operator. Dosimeters were positioned on the outer quadrant of each breast
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Neutron Activation Analysis Based on AB-BNCT Treatment Room. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-26 Yunzhu Cai, Shaoxian Gu, Ningyu Wang, Fengjie Cui, Wei Liu, Tianhang Li, Zhangwen Wu, Chengjun Gou
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an ideal binary targeted radiotherapy for treating refractory tumors. An accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) neutron source has attracted more and more attention due to its advantages such as higher neutron yield in the keV energy region, less gamma radiation, and higher safety. In addition to 10B, neutrons also react with other elements in the treatment room during
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Consequences of Violating Conditions of Counting Statistics Are Not Severe When Measuring Radon Progeny Concentrations with the Thomas and Kusnetz Methods. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-16 Phillip H Jenkins
When analyzing samples of radon progeny using the Thomas or Kusnetz methods, we violate one of the conditions of counting statistics because we use counting times that are not short compared with the half-lives of the radionuclides. The result is that we overestimate the uncertainties of the counts if we use counting statistics without correction. In this work, I describe the method by which I adjusted
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Replace the Linear No-threshold Model with a Risk-informed Targeted Approach to Radiation Protection. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Rodican P Reed
The linear no-threshold (LNT) model may be useful as a simple basis for developing radiation protection regulations and standards, but it bears little resemblance to scientific reality and is probably overly conservative at low doses and low dose rates. This paper is an appeal for a broader view of radiation protection that involves more than just optimization of radiation dose. It is suggested that
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A Review of Recent Low-dose Research and Recommendations for Moving Forward. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Charles Wilson, Grace G Adams, Pooja Patel, Kiran Windham, Colby Ennis, Emily Caffrey
The linear no-threshold (LNT) model has been the regulatory "law of the land" for decades. Despite the long-standing use of LNT, there is significant ongoing scientific disagreement on the applicability of LNT to low-dose radiation risk. A review of the low-dose risk literature of the last 10 y does not provide a clear answer, but rather the body of literature seems to be split between LNT, non-linear
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The Impact of the Linear No-threshold Hypothesis on Litigation. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Alan Fellman, Dave Wiedis
As the basis of radiation safety practice and regulations worldwide, the linear no-threshold (LNT) hypothesis exerts enormous influence throughout society. This includes our judicial system, where frivolous lawsuits are filed alleging radiation-induced health effects caused by negligent companies who subject unwitting victims to enormous financial and physical harm. Typically, despite the lack of any
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Society and Nuclear Energy: What Is the Role for Radiological Protection? Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Wade Allison
The harm that society expects from ionizing radiation does not match experience. Evidently there is some basic error in this assumption. A reconsideration based on scientific principles shows how simple misunderstandings have exaggerated dangers. The consequences for society are far-reaching. The immediate impact of ionizing radiation on living tissue is destructive. However, this oxidative damage
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Science-informed Policy Making for Protecting People and the Environment from Radiation. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 David Borrego, Jonathan S Nagata, Michael A Boyd, Sara D DeCair, Lauren R Matakas, Ellen W Wang, David J Pawel, Armin J Ansari
The process to arrive at the radiation protection practices of today to protect workers, patients, and the public, including sensitive populations, has been a long and deliberative one. This paper presents an overview of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) responsibility in protecting human health and the environment from unnecessary exposure to radiation. The origins of this responsibility
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Protracted Exposure to a Sub-background Radiation Environment Negatively Impacts the Anhydrobiotic Recovery of Desiccated Yeast Sentinels. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Michel R Lapointe, Taylor Laframboise, Jake Pirkkanen, T C Tai, Simon J Lees, Sergio R Santa Maria, Sujeenthar Tharmalingam, Douglas R Boreham, Christopher Thome
Experiments that examine the impacts of subnatural background radiation exposure provide a unique approach to studying the biological effects of low-dose radiation. These experiments often need to be conducted in deep underground laboratories in order to filter surface-level cosmic radiation. This presents some logistical challenges in experimental design and necessitates a model organism with minimal
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A Revised System of Radiological Protection Is Needed. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Bobby R Scott
The system of radiological protection has been based on linear no-threshold theory and related dose-response models for health detriment (in part related to cancer induction) by ionizing radiation exposure for almost 70 y. The indicated system unintentionally promotes radiation phobia, which has harmed many in relationship to the Fukushima nuclear accident evacuations and led to some abortions following
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If You Torture Your Data Long Enough, It Will Confess to Anything: On the Epidemiological Basis of the LNT Model. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-04-03 Yehoshua Socol
This note deals with epidemiological data interpretation supporting the linear no-threshold model, as opposed to emerging evidence of adaptive response and hormesis from molecular biology in vitro and animal models. Particularly, the US-Japan Radiation Effects Research Foundation's lifespan study of atomic bomb survivors is scrutinized. We stress the years-long lag of the data processing after data
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Theoretical Prediction of the 210Pb Burden in the Skeleton from Radon Exposure and Other Intake Routes. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-29 Jing Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Bin Wu, Xiangpeng Meng, Yu Wang, Jianping Cheng
The 210Pb burden in the skeleton is a measurement value suitable for the estimation of the cumulative exposure to radon, based on which the resultant risk of lung cancer can be derived. There have been a handful of studies that successfully measured 210Pb activity in the bones of volunteers who had chronic exposure to high concentrations of radon occupationally or in their residences. However, the
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Feasibility of Liver Transplantation after 90Y Radioembolization: Lessons from a Radiation Protection Incident. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Marine Soret, Jacques-Antoine Maisonobe, Philippe Maksud, Stéphane Payen, Manon Allaire, Eric Savier, Charles Roux, Charlotte Lussey-Lepoutre, Aurélie Kas
Radioembolization using 90Y is a growing procedure in nuclear medicine for treating hepatocellular carcinoma. Current guidelines suggest postponing liver transplantation or surgical resection for a period of 14 to 30 d after radioembolization to minimize surgeons' exposure to ionizing radiation. In light of a radiation protection incident, we reevaluated the minimum delay required between radioembolization
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High-rate Gamma Spectrometry Using a LaBr3(Ce) Scintillator with a Fast Pulse Shaping. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Tianyi Ren, Soo Hyun Byun
The performance of a LaBr3(Ce) gamma spectrometer at high count rates was investigated up to an input count rate of 1.3 Mcps. In order to make its pulse processing faster, a preamplifier provided by the detector manufacturer was eliminated, and the signal from the photomultiplier tube was fed directly to a digital pulse processing system. To accomplish both fast pulse processing and good energy resolution
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Saccharomyces Cerevisiae as a Model Organism for Retrospective Impedance Biodosimetry. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Amna Hassan, Kirk D Atkinson
Previous studies have shown that measuring changes in electrical impedance that follow radiation-induced suppression of metabolic activity in irradiated yeast cells can be used to determine radiation dose. The current work investigates the radiation response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by using metabolic activity of cells as a damage indicator. Impedance biodosimetry was examined as a method
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A Perspective from Ontario Tech University Industrial Research Chairs on 20 Years of Capacity Building in Health Physics and Radiation Science. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Edward Waller, Kirk Atkinson, Anthony Waker
Ontario Tech University (University of Ontario Institute of Technology) is one of Canada's newest universities, having been incorporated in 2002. In 20 y, the University has increased enrollment from a few hundred students to over 10,000. The University was designed to be "market driven" and as such offered courses that had high market demand. The Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science was one
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3D Printed Lung Phantom for Individual Monitoring. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Kevin Capello, Marilyn Tremblay, Aryanna Schiebelbein, Noah Janzen
The Human Monitoring Laboratory, Health Canada (HML), has used a 3D printer to re-engineer its Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) foam lung sets (manufactured by Radiology Support Devices, Inc., Long Beach, CA). The foam sets are currently the HML standard for calibrating and performance testing lung-counting systems in Canada. This paper describes the process of creating and validating
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Factors Influencing Effects of Low-dose Radiation Exposure. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Carmel Mothersill, Colin Seymour, Alan Cocchetto, David Williams
It is now well accepted that the mechanisms induced by low-dose exposures to ionizing radiation (LDR) are different from those occurring after high-dose exposures. However, the downstream effects of these mechanisms are unclear as are the quantitative relationships between exposure, effect, harm, and risk. In this paper, we will discuss the mechanisms known to be important with an overall emphasis
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Optimizing the Positioning of Detectors for Improved Counting Efficiencies Using Monte Carlo Simulations. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Kevin Capello, Ryan Moffat, Aryanna Schiebelbein
The Human Monitoring Laboratory (HML) at Health Canada updated its whole-body counter with four new electrically cooled HPGe detectors. To optimize the counting efficiency of the new system, Monte Carlo simulation was used to model the whole-body counter using a reference BOMAB male phantom. The resulting modeled counting efficiencies showed that the best position to install the four new detectors
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A Study on Geographic Correlation between Indoor Radon Exposure and Leukemia Incidence in Canada. Health Phys. (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-3-25 Jing Chen
In Canada, leukemia is diagnosed at a rate of 15 cases per 100,000 persons and accounts for about 3% of all new primary cancers. In this study, geographical correlation between residential radon exposure and leukemia incidence was investigated at a provincial level with more accurate long-term radon measurement data in 21,330 homes and 10-y (2000-2009) age standardized incidence rates per 100,000 population