Radiation Environment and Medicine
Vol.10, No.2

Radiation Environment and Medicine Vol.10, No.2 cover
  • Publisher : Hirosaki University Press
  • Language : English
  • ISSN : (print) 2423-9097 , (online) 2432-163X
  • Release : August, 2021
  • Issue : Hirosaki University Press
  • pp. 55-121

Articles

Review

Researches and Activities on Radon/Thoron and NORM for Past 30 Years in Japan

View article content

  • Takeshi Iimoto1*, Shinji Tokonami2, Hidenori Yonehara3, Sadaaki Furuta4 and Michikuni Shimo5

  • 1Division for Environment, Health and Safety, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
    2Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    3Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA), 5-18-7, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
    4PESCO Co., Ltd. 2-5-12 Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0021, Japan
    5Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho,Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan

Abstract

This review paper introduces the concepts and backgrounds of several outstanding activities and researches, selected by us, on radon/thoron and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) for the past 30 years in Japan. The content covers regulations on safety management of radioactive residues based on the graded approach; the development of a radon/thoron measurement tool and its worldwide use; experiences on large-scale inter-comparison calibration tests for radon/thoron laboratories, and on editing review books for experts and beginners; and improvement of public literacy on radiation. We believe Japan has been one of the leading countries in radon/thoron and NORM researches and related activities. We hope the experiences and knowledge of Japan will continue to support and help the next generation’s development of researches and activities in fields relating to radon/thoron and NORM around the world.

Regular Article

Changes on Distribution of Absorbed Dose Rate in Air Related with Infrastructure Projects on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

View article content

  • Kazumasa Inoue1*, Masahiro Fukushi1, Tan Van Le2, Nguyen Hoang Vu3, Mizuho Tsukada1, Mai Ichihara1, Yoshiaki Taguchi1 and Hiroaki Sagara1

  • 1Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan
    2TAM ANH General Hospital at Ho Chi Minh City, 2B Pho Quang Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City 736515, Vietnam
    3University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang street, district 5, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

Abstract

The absorbed dose rate in air was measured all over Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam after infrastructure projects were undertaken, and changes on dose rates related with these projects were evaluated. The median (range) absorbed dose rate in air for the whole island was 48 nGy/h (19 – 110 nGy/h);as a consequence, dose rate was increased 1.3 times compared to that before infrastructure projects. In the dose rate distribution map, the impacts on dose rate related with constructions of hotels, resorts and roads were clearly displayed. Phu Quoc Island was a sensitive area to changes of absorbed dose rates in air because the original radiation level was low.

Regular Article

Background Radiation and Cancer Excluding Leukemia in Kerala, India –Karunagappally Cohort Study

View article content

  • Jayalekshmi Padmavathy Amma1,2, Rekha A Nair1, Raghu Ram K. Nair3*, David G Hoel4, Suminori Akiba3, Seiichi Nakamura3 and Keigo Endo3

  • 1Regional Cancer Center Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
    2Natural Background Radiation Cancer Registry, Karunagappally, Kerala, India
    3Health Research Foundation, Kyoto Japan
    4Medical University of South Carolina, the United States of America

Abstract

The coastal belt of Karunagappally, Kerala, India is known for high natural background radiation (HNBR) from thorium-containing monazite sand. A cohort of all residents in Karunagappally was
established in the 1990s to evaluate the health effects of HNBR. Following the cohort of 149,585 residents aged 30-84 for 19.1 years on average, approximately 2,851,688 person-years of observation were accumulated. The cumulative radiation dose for each individual was estimated based on outdoor and indoor dosimetry of each household, taking into account sex- and age-specific house occupancy factors. Using Karunagapally cancer registry, 6,804 cancer cases excluding leukemia were identified by the end of 2017. Poisson regression analysis of cohort data stratified by sex, attained age, follow-up periods and the original/additional subcohorts estimated an excess relative risk of cancer excluding leukemia as -0.05 Gy-1 (95% CI: -0.33, 0.29) when adjusted for education, bidi smoking, tobacco chewing, and alcohol drinking in a statistical model. In site-specific analyses, no cancer site was significantly related to cumulative radiation dose. Leukemia was not significantly related to HNBR, either

Note

The Clinical Usefulness of Water/Iodine Material Density Measured by DE-CT

View article content

  • Kazuki Hasegawa1, Ryo Saga1*, Yuta Sato2, Mitsuki Tanaka3, Ryo Katagishi4, Masahiko Aoki3 and Yoichiro Hosokawa1

  • 1Department of Radiation Sciences, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Department of Medical Radiation Technology, Teine-Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-8555, Japan
    3Department of Radiation Oncology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
    4Department of Radiology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, 53 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8563, Japan

Abstract

Dual energy-computed tomography (DE-CT) can discriminate between materials using the material density obtained by two types of X-ray energies. This study investigated the
characteristics of the water density value (WDV) used as a prognostic indicator. WDV with any contrast medium concentration was measured using a bottled diluted contrast medium. In
addition, we studied retrospective reviews of 117 patients who underwent DE-CT between 2013 and 2018 and compared them with WDVs before and after contrast enhancement (CE). The WDVs
were obtained from the abdominal aorta and superior vena cava. In the ex-vivo study, the WDV decreased slightly by of 0-10% contrast medium concentration, however, it increased gradually
above 10%. The number of patients whose WDV of the CT image increased after CE-CT were 28 in the arteries and 50 in the veins. The results suggested that the concentration of the contrast
medium was over 10% in arteries and veins. The differences between WDVs in arteries and veins obtained from CT images were very small, with or without CE. Therefore, it was revealed that
WDV was less affected by the difference in arteries and veins, or by using contrast medium.

Note

Dose Assessment on the Mean Absorbed Estimates Derived from the Simple Approach Method Applying Marinelli-Quimby’s Formula for Ambient Risk Organs to Thyroid Uptake in the Administered 131I Radiopharmaceutical of Graves’ Disease Using PHITS and ICRP Reference Computational Voxel Phantom

View article content

  • Erika Matsumoto-Kawaguchi1, Minoru Sakama2*, Kenʼichi Fujimoto3 and Hitoshi Ikushima2

  • 1Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
    2Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
    3Faculty of Engineering and Design, Kagawa University, 2217-20 Hayashicho, Takamatsu 761-0396, Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to report a simple approach dosimetric tool for ambient risk organs/tissues (targets) to thyroid uptake (source) for 131I radiopharmaceutical of Gravesʼ disease. The dosimetric tool introduced in this study is based on the mean absorbed dose estimates and calculations by the Monte-Carlo code in radiation transport of particle heavy ion transport code system (PHITS), which is incorporated with Marinelli-Quimbyʼs formula in clinical use on therapeutic nuclear medicine using the International Com-mission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reference adult male computational voxel phantom. More-over this feature can perform those dose estimates without fully calculating specific absorbed fractions (SAFs) or S-values relative to the radiation transport and energy deposition from source within targets, in-stead using the main absorbed dose (334.5500 Gy) of thyroid uptake determined by Marinelli-Quimbyʼs formula and precomputed dose ratio tables derived from PHITS between the thyroid uptake and ambient risk targeted organs/tissues (spleen, liver, pancreas, and thymus) and also easily working on 2D and 3D display procedure for radiation transport and energy deposition distribution mappings on ParaView and ANGEL (the latter is installed in PHITS) applications. To investigate the validation of our proposed simple approach dosimetric tool, we have compared it with different methods (PHITS direct method, ICRP Pub.53, IDACDose2.1, and OpenDose) to the mean absorbed dose estimates in the thyroid gland and those ambient risk targeted organs/tissues. We have found that it is in generally good agreement with those dose estimate results obtained in our proposed simple approach and others, and also represents that the PHITS calculation coupled with the Marinelli-Quimbyʼs formula is quite reliable enough to with-stand an absorbed dose estimate tool for other uptake
organs/tissues working on sources themselves. It would seem that the proposed dosimetric tool has allowed any attending physician and medical physicist to provide easy and simply absorbed dose estimates for every normal and risk ambient organs/tissues to thyroid uptake in the administrated 131I radiopharmaceutical in therapeutic nuclear medicine on Gravesʼ disease.

Report

Car-borne Survey for a Black Shale Area and Influence of Snowfall on Absorbed Dose Rate in Air of a Coastal Area

View article content

  • Yuki Tamakuma1,2, Masahiro Hosoda1,2*, Yasutaka Omori3, Hiroyuki Nagahama4, Tetsuo Ishikawa3, Michikuni Shimo5and Shinji Tokonami1

  • 1Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    3Department of Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    4Department of Earth Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
    5Division of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, 1-98, Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake-shi, Aichi 470-1192, Japan

Abstract

A car-borne survey of absorbed dose rate in air (referred to as “dose rate”) was conducted on Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture located in the northeastern part of Japan in the early
spring; measurements were made using a 2-in.×2-in. NaI(Tl) scintillation counter. The influence of snowfall on the dose rate was evaluated, and the relationship between the distribution of the
dose rate and surface geology was also discussed. The dose rates were seen to increase due to snowfall, although the radon concentration which would be related to its progeny concentration
was reported to be relatively low in winter to spring. This might be because of the continental air masses containing high concentrations of radon and its progeny which come from the Asian
continent to Japan in winter. The dose rates were found to be high in the middle and eastern parts of the peninsula and low in the southern and northwestern parts. The results indicate the
correspondence between the distributions of dose rates and surface geology at the high dose rate areas.

Report

Human Resource Development for Cytogenetic Biodosimetry at Hirosaki University

View article content

  • Tomisato Miura1*, Kosuke Kasai2, Yu Abe3, Yohei Fujishima1, Valerie Goh Swee Ting2,4, Ryo Nakayama2, Kai Takebayashi1, Naomi Sasaki1, Kentaro Ariyoshi5, Akifumi Nakata6, Takakiyo Tsujiguchi7, Katsuhiro Ito8, Hiroyuki Hanada8 and Mitsuaki A. Yoshida1,9

  • 1Department of Risk Analysis and Biodosimetry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    3Department of Radiation Biology and Protection, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
    4Department of Radiobiology, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
    5Center for integrated Science and Humanities, Fukushima Medical University, 10-6 Sakaemachi, Fukushima 960-8031, Japan
    6Department of Life Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Hokkaido University of Science, Sapporo, 7-Jo 15-4-1 Maeda, Teine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-8590, Japan
    7Department of Radiation Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    8Department of Disaster and Clinical Care Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
    9Institute of Chromosome Life Science, 11-5-409, Fukuokachuo 2-Chome, Fujimino-shi, Saitama 356-0031, Japan

Abstract

Hirosaki University has been designated by the Nuclear Regulation Authority as an Advanced Radiation Emergency Medical Support Center (AREMSC) and as a hospital which accepts radiation emergency medical patients in Japan. In radiation emergency medicine, blood analysis is required to check the patientʼs health and estimate radiation dose. As the medical staff in Nuclear Emergency Core Hospitals and Nuclear Emergency Medical Cooperative Institutions do not have much experience in requesting biodosimetry laboratories for chromosome analysis, they are often unsure about which blood collection tubes to use and how blood should be stored after collection. Thus, AREMSC in Hirosaki University has prepared and provided guidelines for blood collection, management and shipping. Furthermore, AREMSC in Hirosaki University has also been developing young human resources as one of AREMSCs in Japan. AREMSC in Hirosaki University has
provided training materials for developing human resources in biological dose evaluation, which is one of the main missions in AREMSC. This article introduces an overview of the guidelines for blood collection, management and shipping, and an excerpt of training materials in cytogenetic biodosimetry at AREMSC in Hirosaki University.

Report

Meeting Report on “The 6th Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health by Young Scientists (ESRAH2019)”

View article content

  • Kazuki Hasegawa1, Yoshitaka Kitayama1, Eka Djatnika Nugraha1,2, Yoshie Yachi3, Shingo Naijo3, Tamao Miyao3, Ryosuke Seino3, Yuki Shiroto1, Takakiyo Tsujiguchi1, Toshiya Nakamura4*, Hiroyuki Date3 and Ikuo Kashiwakura1

  • 1Department of Radiation Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences,66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Centre for Technology of Radiation Safety and Metrology (PTKMR), National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), JI. Lebak Bulus Raya No. 49, Jakarta, Indonesia
    3Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0812, Japan
    4Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan

Abstract

This is a report on the sixth Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health by Young Scientists (ESRAH2019) held at Hirosaki University in Japan on September 14, 2019. Nuclear power plants
play a major role in catering to Japanʼs energy demand, and therefore, emergency response and coordination in case of radiation-related accidents are essential for nuclear facilities. In the wake
of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant followed by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the establishment of a radiation emergency response system is currently underway, and it also takes into consideration the research on the effects of radiation on human tissues. Further to this, human resources with knowledge about radiation who can respond to
radiation accidents in an emergency should be trained further. The ESRAH has been held jointly by Hirosaki University and Hokkaido University since 2014. This symposium aims to provide
young researchers the latest developments and knowledge on radiation by inviting eminent researchers from across the globe and promoting the exchange of ideas among young researchers
from various radiation fields. At ESRAH2019, four educational lectures by eminent researchers from Ireland, Indonesia, Hungary, and Italy and 30 poster discussions by young researchers were
held. The young researchers were provided a meaningful opportunity to build an international research network

Report

Virtual Meeting Report: “The 3rd Workshop on Radiation Research and its Related Issues and the 7th Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health by Young Scientists (ESRAH2020)”

View article content

  • Yoshiaki Sato1†, Kazuki Hasegawa1†, Mizuki Sakamoto1, Yoko Suzuki1, Valerie Swee Ting Goh2, Eka Djatnika Nugraha1,3, Ryo Nakayama2, Tomoki Koiwa1, Ryoju Negami1, Kazuki Narumi1, Chutima Kranrod4,5, Chanis Pornnumpa6, Takakiyo Tsujiguchi1 and Toshiya Nakamura2*

  • 1Department of Radiation Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    2Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    3Centre for Technology of Radiation Safety and Metrology (PTKMR), National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), JI. Lebak Bulus Raya No. 49, Jakarta 12440, Indonesia
    4Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
    5Natural Radiation Survey and Analysis Research Unit, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
    6Department of Applied Radiation and Isotope, Faculty of Sciences, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Abstract

The virtual meeting of the 3rd workshop on Radiation Research and Its Related Issues and the 7th Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health by Young Scientists (ESRAH2020) Joint Symposium was held online during November 21–23, 2020. This symposium brought together diverse researchers and graduate students (3 lecturers, 13 oral presenters, and 52 attendees), who
had lively exchanges of opinions on various issues related to radiation. In addition to the lectures on radiological research under the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), radionuclides in food, and radiological emergency response, there were poster presentations by graduate students and young researchers. In this report, we summarize the lectures and oral sessions, and describe our experience of holding a virtual symposium, which was our first such attempt, necessitated owing to the COVID-19 restrictions.