Health Phys. Abstracts，Volume 118,Number 4

SUMMARYOFNCRP2019ANNUALMEETING,NCRPMEETINGTHECHALLENGEAT90:PROVIDINGBESTANSWERSTOYOURMOSTPRESSINGQUESTIONSABOUTRADIATION

Richard J. Vetter1, Jerrold T. Bushberg2, Fred A. Mettler Jr3

(1.Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905;2.Health and Medical Physics Consulting, Sacramento, CA;3.University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM)

Abstract:The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) held its 55thAnnual Meeting 1-2 April 2019 in Bethesda, Maryland. The 2019 meeting was a special year for NCRP as it marked the 90thAnniversary of the founding of the predecessor organization, US Advisory Committee on X-Ray and Radium Protection. Leaders for the scientific portion of the meeting were Fred A. Mettler, Jr., M.D. (Chair), University of New Mexico School of Medicine; Jerrold T. Bushberg, Ph.D. (Co-Chair), University of California Davis; and Richard J. Vetter, Ph.D. (Co-Chair), Mayo Clinic. The meeting was designed to explore important areas of inquiry associated with use of ionizing radiation relevant to radiation protection, addressing frequently asked questions and concerns from both members of the public and radiation professionals. The meeting was organized into six sessions plus three honorary lectures and a special presentation. This paper summarizes the scientific content of the six sessions and is based on the notes of the co-chairs and the slides of the speakers. The three honorary lectures are included as other papers in this issue.

Keywords: emergency planning; linear hypothesis; medical radiation; National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)

Health Phys. 118(4):335-348; 2020

SIXTEENTHANNUALWARRENK.SINCLAIRKEYNOTEADDRESS:FRONTIERSINMEDICALRADIATIONSCIENCE

C. Norman Coleman1,2

(1.Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis and Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD;2.Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC)

Abstract:On the occasion of the 90thanniversary of National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and its 55thanniversary since being Congressionally Chartered, the theme of “Providing Best Answers to Your Most Pressing Questions about Radiation” is most appropriate. The question proposed here is, “What are the new frontiers for the NCRP with its breadth of talent and expertise in the rapidly evolving era of precision medicine?” Three closely related themes are presented for new applications of radiation science for research and career opportunities: (1) introduction of the new concept of defining radiation dose in biological perturbations in addition to physical dose, particularly for cancer treatment; (2) assessment of early biomarkers of radiation injury for mass casualty exposure (biodosimetry) to guide triage and for clinical application to guide radiation therapy; and (3) proposal to expand opportunities for radiation professionals, including consideration of a new training program within NCRP’s “Where are the radiation professionals?” initiative that trains radiation oncologists as molecular radiation epidemiologists.

Keywords: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; nuclear terrorism; radiation emergency; radiation oncology

Health Phys. 118(4):349-353; 2020

THETHIRDANNUALTHOMASS.TENFORDETOPICALLECTUREHPSASKTHEEXPERTS:THEMOSTINTRIGUINGQUESTIONSANDANSWERS

Genevieve S. Roessler1, Fred Baes2, Kelly Classic3

(1.19890 Fish Lake Lane, Elysian, MN 56028-4431;2.Health Physics Society, Oak Ridge, TN;3.Health Physics Society, Rochester, MN)

Abstract:The Health Physics Society (HPS) conceived of the idea of an online “Ask the Experts” (ATE) feature in 1999 when the Society created its website. ATE features are popular now, but at that time it was a novel idea, so there was no assurance it would succeed. Now 20 y later, the HPS considers its ATE feature a success and the most valuable service the Society offers for the public. Nearly 13,000 questions have been submitted to the feature. They come both from members of the public and from health physicists. All have been answered personally by radiation safety experts. While it is important to answer questions personally, it is recognized that the most far-reaching impact of the feature is the written material on the ATE section of the website, which is provided for people searching for answers to their concerns and questions. Posted material includes frequently asked questions, summary papers on topics of interest, and links to other pertinent information. This is in addition to answers to a select group of submitted questions. To enhance the information search, all postings, including answers to questions, have headlines. These serve as keywords that facilitate website searches. The feature, managed by one lead editor, 20 topic editors, and more than 300 experts, draws over one million visitors per year. This statistic suggests that a substantial number of people are finding answers to their questions on the site and, therefore, do not need to submit personal questions. ATE editors have learned much about effective interaction with questioners, especially members of the public. Most important, answers should show compassion, present the bottom line first, be brief, and use plain language. Heavy reliance on peer-reviewed documents adds to the credibility of the information. Questions from the public cover a wide range of subjects; however, by far the most frequent deal with medical exposures, especially computed tomography procedures. Other questions deal with a wide range of concerns including products from Japan, granite countertops, radon, smoke detectors, luggage and whole-body scanners, and radiation exposure from airline travel. Another major concern is exposure to nonionizing radiation sources such as cell phones, radar, ultraviolet radiation, lasers, and power lines. Examples are provided of the most intriguing questions that have come to the ATE feature and the answers provided by the experts.

Keywords: education; Health Physics Society; National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; public information

Health Phys. 118(4):354-359; 2020

FALLOUTFROMNUCLEARWEAPONSTESTS:ENVIRONMENTAL,HEALTH,POLITICAL,ANDSOCIOLOGICALCONSIDERATIONS

André Bouville1

(1.National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (retired))

Abstract:The process of nuclear fission, which was discovered in 1938, opened the door to the production of nuclear weapons, which were used in 1945 by the United States against Japan in World War II, and to the detonation of >500 nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere by the United States, the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and France from 1946-1980. Hundreds of radionuclides, most of them short-lived, were produced in the atmospheric tests. The radioactive clouds produced by the explosions were usually partitioned between the troposphere and the stratosphere: the activity that remained in the troposphere resulted in local and regional fallout, consisting mainly of short-lived radionuclides and in relatively high doses for the populations residing in the vicinity of the test site, whereas the activity that reached the stratosphere returned to the ground with a half-life of ～1 y and was composed of long-lived radionuclides that contaminated all uncovered materials on Earth to a small extent and led to low-level irradiation of the world population for decades or more. The health effects resulting from exposure to radioactive fallout constitute, in most cases, small excesses over baseline rates for thyroid cancer and leukemia. An extra 49,000 cases of thyroid cancer would be expected to occur among the US population from exposure to radioactive fallout from the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests that were conducted at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s. In addition, there could be as many as 11,000 deaths from non-thyroid cancers related to fallout from all atmospheric tests that were conducted at all sites in the world, with leukemia making up 10% of the total. Public concern arose in part from the secrecy that surrounded the nuclear testing programs and, for a long time, the poor communication regarding the consequences of the tests, both in terms of radiation doses and of health effects. Sociological and political pressures contributed to the establishment of programs of compensation for radiation exposures and evidence of radiation-induced diseases in countries that incurred significant fallout from nuclear weapons testing.

Keywords: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; fallout; health effects; nuclear weapons tests

Health Phys. 118(4):360-381; 2020

UNCERTAINTYANALYSISOFCONSEQUENCEMANAGEMENTDATAPRODUCTS

Lainy D. Cochran, Aubrey C. Eckert, Brian Hunt, Terry Kraus1

(1.Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM)

Abstract:An interlaboratory effort has developed a probabilistic framework to characterize uncertainty in data products that are developed by the US Department of Energy Consequence Management Program in support of the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the probability distributions of input variables and the statistical methods used to propagate and quantify the overall uncertainty of the derived response levels that are used as contours on data products due to the uncertainty in input parameters. Uncertainty analysis results are also presented for several study scenarios. This paper includes an example data product to illustrate the potential real-world implications of incorporating uncertainty analysis results into data products that inform protective action decisions. Data product contours that indicate areas where public protection actions may be warranted can be customized to an acceptable level of uncertainty. The investigators seek feedback from decision makers and the radiological emergency response community to determine how uncertainty information can be used to support the protective action decision-making process and how it can be presented on data products.

Keywords: emergencies, radiological; dose assessment; radiation risk; analysis, statistical

Health Phys. 118(4):382-395; 2020

PHOTOPEAKEFFICIENCYANDCOINCIDENCESUMMINGFACTORSFORHPGEDETECTORSUSINGBULKSOURCES

Gharam A. Alharshan1

(1.Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract:In the field of gamma-ray spectroscopy with high-purity germanium detectors, used to measure the activity when the sample to be measured has low radioactivity, volumetric sources are widely used. To determine the sample activity, the full-energy peak efficiency is needed. Bulk sources are very common for low-level radioactivity measurements in activation analysis and environmental samples. The main problem with these measurements is that coincidence effects are large for close source-detector geometries. Ignoring these effects can lead to an error typically of a factor of 2 in the determination of60Co and88Y activity, which was used in this work in the calibration process. Extensive experimental readings have been carried out, and bulk gamma aqueous sources containing several radionuclides covering the energy range from 60 to 1,840 keV were used. By comparison, the experimental (present work) and theoretical (published) full-energy peak efficiency values are in good agreement; the overall percentage error is less than 6%.

Keywords: gamma radiation; radiation, ionizing; radiation safety; spectrometry, gamma

Health Phys. 118(4):396-401; 2020

SPECIFICGAMMA-RAYDOSECONSTANTSWITHCURRENTEMISSIONDATA

Douglas E. Peplow1

(1.Nuclear Nonproliferation Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Abstract:The specific gamma-ray dose constant represents the gamma effective dose rate due to a point source of unit activity of a given nuclide at 1 m. New tabulations of specific gamma-ray dose constants have been made using current gamma emission data from the SCALE 6.2.3 software package and International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 107, combined with the effective dose per fluence conversion coefficients (antero-posterior orientation) of International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 116. SCALE data cover 1,264 nuclides, and International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 107 data include 1,192 nuclides, with only 777 nuclides in common between the two sets.

Keywords: dose equivalent; gamma radiation; modeling; dose assessment; radioisotope

Health Phys. 118(4):402-416; 2020

DETERMINATIONOFTHEKINETICPARAMETERSFOR123IUPTAKEBYTHETHYROID,THYROIDWEIGHTS,ANDTHYROIDVOLUMESINPRESENT-DAYHEALTHY

JAPANESEVOLUNTEERS

Takashi Kudo1, Akihiro Inano2, Sanae Midorikawa3, Hitoshi Kubo4, Kino Hayashi5, Sawako Nakashima6, Chizu Fukushima6, Kazuya Maeda7, Noboru Oriuchi4, Shin Irie8, Shunichi Yamashita1, Hiroyuki Kusuhara7

(1.Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan;2.Clinical Research Center, Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima, Japan;3.Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan;4.Advanced Clinical Research Center, Fukushima Global Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan;5.Tokyo Metropolitan Government Medical Examiner’s Office, Tokyo, Japan;6.Clinical Research Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan;7.Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;8.Souseikai Hakata Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan)

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the kinetic parameters that determine the uptake rate of radioiodide in the thyroid over 24 h after administration and to estimate thyroid volumes/masses of present-day Japanese.Methods: We determined the thyroid uptake rate of123I in healthy male Japanese after oral administration (4.5-8.0 MBq) without iodine restriction. Masses of thyroid glands were collected in 2012-2016 during autopsies of 7,651 male and 3,331 female subjects. Volumes of thyroid glands were estimated by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in 52 male subjects.Results: The thyroid uptake rate of123I for 24 h was 16.1±5.4%. Kinetic model analysis was conducted to obtain the clearances (L h-1) for thyroid uptake and urinary excretion of123I (0.499±0.258 and 2.10±0.39 L h-1, respectively). The masses of thyroid glands were on average 19.8 g (95% confidence interval of 18.3-19.5 g) and 15.5 g (95% confidence interval of 14.7-16.2 g) in male and female subjects aged 19-52 y, respectively. Volumes of thyroid glands estimated by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were 17.5±5.2 and 14.2±5.3 mL, respectively. In healthy Japanese, there has been no significant change for at least 50 y in the thyroid uptake of radioiodide over 24 h or in its kinetic parameters. These Japanese-specific kinetic parameters will allow quantitative estimation of the radiation exposure from the Fukushima accident and its variance during the individual’s evacuation from or stay in Fukushima.

Keywords: excretion, urinary; iodine; pharmacokinetics; thyroid

他汀類藥物被研究應(yīng)用以來(lái)，全球有超過(guò)上億人口都在使用他汀類藥物治療相應(yīng)的癥狀，還有數(shù)千萬(wàn)人連續(xù)服用他汀類藥物已經(jīng)超過(guò)了6年，大量的研究結(jié)果表明多數(shù)患者服用他汀類藥物是處于安全狀態(tài)的。但是我們?nèi)匀徊荒芎鲆曀☆愃幬镌趹?yīng)用過(guò)程中的禁忌，例如當(dāng)他汀類藥物與貝特類藥物進(jìn)行同時(shí)服用時(shí)，會(huì)使患者增加肌病和肌溶解癥發(fā)生的危險(xiǎn)。根據(jù)美國(guó)食品管理局的調(diào)查研究表明，在上世紀(jì)90年代大約有40%的患者因?yàn)橥瑫r(shí)服用他汀類藥物和貝特類藥物，而出現(xiàn)肌溶解癥.著名的拜斯亭事件正是因?yàn)榛颊咄瑫r(shí)服用了立伐他汀和吉非羅齊而產(chǎn)生的嚴(yán)重后果。

Health Phys. 118(4):417-426; 2020

AMIXED-METHODSAPPROACHFORIMPROVINGRADIATIONSAFETYCULTUREINOPEN-SOURCEUNIVERSITYLABORATORIES

Caitlin M. Root1,2, Timothy A. DeVol1,3, Robert R. Sinclair4, Nicole E. Martinez1,3

(1.Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC;2.Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ;3.Center for Nuclear Environmental Engineering Sciences and Radioactive Waste Management (NEESRWM), Clemson University, Clemson, SC;4.Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC)

Abstract:The radiation safety culture of those working in university open-source radioactive material laboratories was assessed by conducting both surveys and behavioral observations. Baseline results (n=82, 89% response rate) of assessed safety culture categories indicated safety practices and safety compliance were the most in need of improvement. Specific training based on these results was provided to laboratory members at Princeton University, with creative signage and a safety newsletter posted in and around laboratories for reinforcement, in a targeted effort to improve the radiation safety culture. Signage posted utilized pop cultural memes and other engaging graphics designed to raise awareness of appropriate safety practices and the minimum laboratory attire expected while working in radioactive material laboratories. Postintervention results (n=38, 43% response rate) indicated improvement in 4 out of the 10 safety culture indicators considered as well as fewer instances of improper safety practices. Collaborative techniques and increased communication between researchers and radiation safety staff appear to have initiated an improvement in the radiation safety culture in open-source radioactive material laboratories at Princeton University.

Keywords: education; exposure, occupational; radiation protection; safety standards

Health Phys. 118(4):427-437; 2020

USEOFREDUCEDACTIVITYSEEDSINBREASTRADIOACTIVESEEDLOCALIZATION

Eric Brost1, Andrew Prather2, Himani Naik2, Mary Ellen Jafari2

(1.University of Minnesota, Department of Radiation Oncology, Minneapolis, MN;2.Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI)

Abstract:Radioactive seed localization procedures, using125I seeds of typical activity 3.7 MBq and higher, are performed to localize nonpalpable lesions in the breast for surgical excision and pathology analysis. This study evaluated the use and dosimetry of125I seeds of activity <3.7 MBq in radioactive seed localization procedures through retrospective health record review, Monte Carlo simulation, and experimental detection. An average seed strength at the time of specimen excision of 2.48 ± 0.629 MBq was used in 295 radioactive seed localization procedures at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, US. The average explanted seed activity served as a basis for Monte Carlo simulation of an125I IsoAid Advantage seed embedded in soft tissue, which scored the dose deposited to soft tissue. Tabulated values of the dose to postsurgical residual tissue as a function of explanted tumor radius were shown and compared with previously published results. Use of seeds of activity from 1.44 to 3.7 MBq at the time of excision did not adversely affect seed detection and excision. The absorbed dose to residual tissue calculated using Monte Carlo was an average of 1.4 times larger than previously published results when scaled to identical seed strengths. This study demonstrates that seeds of activity <3.7 MBq can be used for radioactive seed localization procedures with no loss in efficacy and a benefit of reduced radiation dose to patients. This is important because the estimated radiation dose to residual tissue is approximately 1.4 times higher than previously indicated.

Keywords:125I; dosimetry, internal; Monte Carlo; radiation dose

Health Phys. 118(4):438-442; 2020

RoboticDispersalTechniquefor35GBqof140LainanL-polygonPattern

Blake Beckman1, Anna Rae Green1, Laurel Sinclair2, Blaine Fairbrother1, Tim Munsie1, Dan White1

(1.Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Centre, Medicine Hat AB, Canada;2.Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada, Canadian Hazard Information Service Ottawa ON, Canada)

Abstract:In 2018, Defence Research and Development Canada, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, led a field trial of survey and mapping of a large dispersion of radioactivity using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The intent was to disperse140La material in a 3,200 m2L-polygon with an approximate activity level of 10 MBq m-2and to measure the radioactive material using sensors carried by UAVs. Due to the potential radiological hazard to personnel, the activity was approved only if Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) were able to completely handle and disperse the material remotely. One UGV was equipped with a traditional agricultural sprayer to disperse the material, and one UGV was equipped with a force feedback manipulator arm. Due to the freezing temperatures during dispersal, the 35 GBq of140La was dispersed non-uniformly as one sprayer boom failed to perform as tested. However, rough analysis of the electronic dosimetry on the UGV concluded that 99% of the material was dispersed on the ground. The dosimeter placed closest to the robot manipulator arm, used for dispersal of material, indicated a contact dose of 33.5 mSv. The electronic dosimeter placed where the driver would have sat on the sprayer vehicle if it were not unmanned indicated a dose of 22.3 mSv. Thus, the use of UGVs for material dispersion substantially reduced the external exposure to personnel. The use of UGVs eliminated the potential of internal exposure as well. The Radiation Safety Officer received the highest dose at approximately 3 μSv, with the majority of the exposure coming from the handling of the Type A container.

Keywords: operational topics; dosimetry; exposure, personnel; radiation protection

Health Phys. 118(4):448-457; 2020

SuggestedTrainingandExperienceQualificationsforHealthandSafetyOfficersDuringaRadiologicalIncident

P. Andrew Karam1

(1.Mirion Technologies, 5000 Highlands Pkwy, Suite 150, Smyrna, GA 30082)

Abstract:During the response to any large-scale emergency, it is not unusual for emergency response organizations to assign Health and Safety Officer (HSO) duties to a qualified person who is responsible for seeing to the health and safety of personnel from their organization during all phases of the emergency response. This would likely occur during response to radiological and/or nuclear emergencies. Most emergency responders, however, have little formal training (and even less experience) in radiation safety. Thus, during a radiological or nuclear emergency, these HSOs are likely to lack the training and experience to prioritize radiological hazards compared to other risks present at the scene. A properly structured training program that includes both classroom and practical training will help to address this lack and will help those who complete it to see to the safety of their charges, even during a complex radiological or nuclear incident.

Keywords: operational topics; education, health physics; emergencies, radiological; emergency planning

Health Phys. 118(4):458-461; 2020

UseofanImagingSpectrometerforCharacterizationofaCesiumDosimeterCalibrationFacility

Roger J. Champion, Robert M. Golduber, Kimberlee J. Kearfott1

(1.Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, 2355 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2109)

Abstract:Past investigations into the characterization of a space-constrained137Cs dosimetry calibration facility did not provide detailed positional measurements of gamma ray spectra. In this paper, a commercially available Compton imaging system, or imaging spectrometer, was used to accomplish this. This resulted in both spectral information and point of origin information for the measured gamma rays. The relationship between measured spectra and position was explored relative to a dosimetry phantom. The Compton equation was found to accurately describe the relationship for positions associated with larger scattering angles and was found to be less reliable for those associated with smaller angles.

Keywords: operational topics;137Cs; calibration; dosimetry, personnel

Health Phys. 118(4):462-469; 2020