BACKGROUND: Since the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), concerns have arisen in Japan regarding the presence of radionuclides in food. Moreover, exposure levels to ⁹⁰Sr and Pu isotopes in adults and those to ¹³⁴Cs+¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and Pu (where Cs, Sr, and Pu are cesium, strontium, and plutonium, respectively) in children have not been examined. Therefore, this study employed a duplicate portion approach to examine dietary exposure levels of radionuclides in adults and children following the FDNPP accident. METHODS: The study spanned fiscal years 2012-2014 and was conducted in 10 prefectures: Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Kochi. The participants provided portions of their meals for two non-consecutive days and completed questionnaires on the meal items. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ^239+240Pu, which are targets of standard limits for radionuclides in foods in Japan, were determined according to the Radioactivity Measurement Series. The daily intake was calculated based on the radionuclide activity concentrations in the duplicate portion samples, and the committed effective doses were estimated using dose coefficients for the ingestion of each radionuclide provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. RESULTS: Approximately 80 duplicate samples were obtained in each fiscal year, and 242 samples were collected. The highest summed activity concentration of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs was 11 Bq/kg, which was recorded in Date City (child) in 2013; this level was approximately one-ninth of the standard limit for general foods (100 Bq/kg). The committed effective dose from annual ingestion of the sample described above was 74 µSv, approximately 14 times lower than the maximum permissible level of 1 mSv/y. Pu was not detected and the ⁹⁰Sr activity concentrations were similar to those before the FDNPP accident. CONCLUSIONS For the samples examined in the present study, the ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ^239+240Pu dietary exposure levels were considerably lower than the regulatory levels and may not pose a health risk.
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ; Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis* ; Humans ; Japan ; Dietary Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Plutonium/analysis* ; Child ; Food Contamination, Radioactive/analysis* ; Strontium Radioisotopes/analysis* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Radiation Monitoring ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Radiation Exposure/analysis*

Objective: To analyze the thyroid condition and influencing factors of radiation workers, and to provide scientific basis for radiation protection management. Methods: In April 2020, 4308 radiation workers from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2019 were collected for occupational health examination in Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital, the data included basic information, Thyroid hormone level and thyroid color doppler ultrasound results. The thyroid status of radiation workers in different subgroups was compared. The influencing factors of Thyroid nodule were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Results: 616 radiation workers had abnormal thyroid gland (14.3%, 616/4308) . The main manifestations of thyroid gland abnormality were abnormal Thyroid nodule (5.1%, 220/4308) and abnormal TSH level (7.1%, 308/4308) . Compared with the male radiation workers, the abnormal rate of Thyroid nodule, T3 and Tsh in female radiation workers was higher (P<0.05) , and the abnormal rate of Thyroid nodule, T3 and T4 increased with the increase of working age (P<0.05) . Radiation Workers in non-rated medical institutions and private medical institutions had the highest detection rate of Thyroid nodule (P<0.05) , and there was no significant difference in thyroid abnormalities among Workers (P<0.05) . By multiple logistic regression analysis, Sex (female) , age and institution type (private) were all independent risk factors for Thyroid nodule (95% CI: 1.548~2.763、1.002~1.030, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Ionizing radiation can cause thyroid damage in radiation workers, so we should pay more attention to the radiation protection management of female, high age, private and district medical organizations, so as to protect the health of radiation workers.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Thyroid Nodule/epidemiology*

Objective To design a novel automatic dispensing and injecting system of positron radiopharmaceuticals,for precise dose dispensing,simplified operation,and reduction of occupational radiation exposure. Methods The automatic dispensing and injecting system was fabricated with tungsten alloy as the shielding material.The performance and radiation protection of the device were assessed. Results The total time of injection using the automatic dispensing and injecting system was about 60 s.The ratio of successful injection in stability test was 100%.The deviation of the dispensing dose with the system was ≤3%.With the tungsten alloy shield(40 mmPb of the cabinet,60 mmPb of the countertop,15 mmPb of the protective shield,and 50 mmPb of the inbuilt jar for radiopharmaceuticals),the average dose rate at 30 cm from the device was 1.44 μSv/h,and the radiation dose at the operator's extremity was reduced by 99%. Conclusions This automatic dispensing and injecting system of positron radiopharmaceuticals is easy to operate with precise dispensing dose.It is safe and meets the requirements of radiation protection.
Electrons ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation Protection ; Radiopharmaceuticals

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of color doppler ultrasound examination of thyroid in occupational health care of radiation-exposed physicians.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-four radiation-exposed physicians (observation group) and sixty-eight non-radiation-exposed physicians (control group) received color doppler ultrasound examination of thyroid using ALOKA SSD-4000 color doppler ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the results were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe anteroposterior diameters of the left lobe, right lobe, and isthmus of the thyroid in the observation group were significantly larger than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly larger internal diameters and peak blood flow velocities during systole of the right superior thyroid artery (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in detection rates of thyroid nodules and lymph nodes between the observation group and the control group (18.7% vs 13.2%, P > 0.05; 6.7% vs 1.5%, P > 0.05). The radiation-exposed physicians were exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation with a dose between 0.14 and 1.67 mSv/a.

CONCLUSIONThe color doppler ultrasound examination of the thyroid can detect early changes in the thyroid of radiation-exposed physicians exposed to long-term and low-dose ionizing radiation.

Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Occupational Health ; Physicians ; Radiation Exposure ; analysis ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; radiation effects ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Radon is likely the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. We estimated the lung cancer risk due to radon using common risk models. Based on national radon survey data, we estimated the population-attributable fraction (PAF) and the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to radon. The exposure-age duration (EAD) and exposure-age concentration (EAC) models were used. The regional average indoor radon concentration was 37.5 95 Bq/m3. The PAF for lung cancer was 8.3% (European Pooling Study model), 13.5% in males and 20.4% in females by EAD model, and 19.5% in males and 28.2% in females by EAC model. Due to differences in smoking by gender, the PAF of radon-induced lung cancer deaths was higher in females. In the Republic of Korea, the risk of radon is not widely recognized. Thus, information about radon health risks is important and efforts are needed to decrease the associated health problems.
Adult ; Demography ; *Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/*epidemiology/etiology ; Radon/*toxicity ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Smoking ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Influence of risk factors that cause the phototoxic maculopathy by welding arc in occupational welders.

METHODSWe examined randomly a group of 86 male occupational welders 172 eyes from some local metal manufacturing enterprise from August 2010 to December 2013. The ophthalmologic examination which the participants underwent thorough including the best visual acuity, fundus examination by the supplementary lens, fundus photography, and the high definition optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. All participants of this study underwent thorough the medicine examined by a specialist of occupational who prior to the OCT. All the subjects were divided into groups according to age, protection degrees , length of service, operating time . The incidences of phototoxic maculopathy were compared within groups. The subjects was divided randomly into the lutein group and the placebo group. The examination including the best visual acuity, serum lutein concentrations, macular pigmentoptical density (MPOD), Contrast and glare Sensitivity.

RESULTS(1) The total incidence of phototoxic maculopathy is 32.0%. (2) The incidences of phototoxic maculopathy in the strict protection group, the randomed protective group and the nonprofessional protection group were respectively 21.4%, 36.7%, 53.6%. The incidence in the strict protection group was lower than the other two groups, the incidence was the highest in the nonprofessional protection group, and the difference was statistically significant. (3) The longer length of service, and operating time , the more incidence of phototoxic maculopathy develop. (4) The lutein group prior to the placebo group at the best visual acuity, serum lutein concentrations, macular pigmentoptical density (MPOD), Contrast and glare Sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONThe risk factors of phototoxic maculopathy in male occupational welders are the length of service, operating time, protection degrees and the lutein assistantly. The incidence of phototoxic maculopathy occurs regardless of age.

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Light ; adverse effects ; Lutein ; analysis ; Macula Lutea ; radiation effects ; Macular Pigment ; analysis ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Radiation Injuries ; Retinal Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; radiation effects ; Welding

Agriculture ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Radiation Dosage ; Radon ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Seasons

Brachytherapy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medical Staff, Hospital ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation Monitoring

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of radar radiation on sperm quality.

METHODSA total of 348 infertile seamen were divided into 4 experimental groups according to their different lengths of exposure to radar radiation: Group 1 (n = 128) exposed for 12-36 months, Group 2 (n = 58) 37-72 m, Group 3 (n = 47) 73-108 m, Group 4 (n = 19) 109 m or more and Group 5 (n = 96) 48 m or more but free from the exposure for 6 months by then. Another 35 non-marine normal males were recruited as Control Group 1, and the first four experimental groups (n = 252) were taken as Control Group 2. Semen samples were collected from the subjects and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control, sperm concentration, sperm motility and the percentage of grade a sperm were significantly lower (P < 0.01), and the percentages of grade d and abnormal sperm significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the experimental groups. In Group 5, obvious recovery was noted in sperm morphology (P < 0.01) and motility (P < 0.05), but significant differences were seen with the normal control group in sperm concentration (P < 0.05), sperm motility and the percentage of grade a and b sperm and that of abnormal sperm (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONRadar radiation damages sperm quality, as shown in the reduction of sperm motility and elevation of sperm abnormality. Cease from the exposure may effect an easy recovery in sperm morphology.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Naval Medicine ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Radar ; Semen ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields (ELFEMFs) emitted from 380 kV transmission lines on some leukocyte differentiation antigens in dairy cows.

METHODSThe study was carried out in 5 cows exposed to 1.98-3.28 microT of ELFEMFs and in 5 control cows exposed to 0.2-0.7 microT of ELFEMFs. Following haematological and immunologic parameters were measured in both groups: WBC, CD45R, CD6, CD4, CD8, CD21, and CD11B leukocyte antigen expression.

RESULTSSome of the haematological and immunologic parameters under investigation were similar in both groups. However, CD8 (T lymphocyte surface antigen) was higher in the exposed group (1.35 +/- 0.120 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.14 x 10(3)/mL). Furthermore, the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.84 +/- 0.05 and 2.19 +/- 0.16 for exposed and not exposed cows respectively) and circadian rhythm were different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONExposure to ELFEMFs is responsible of the abnormal temporal variations and distribution of some haematological and immunological parameters in dairy cows.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Cattle ; Circadian Rhythm ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Female ; Leukocytes ; immunology