CADORmed: a tool for internal dose assessment.

CADORmed is a free bespoke Excel® tool for committed effective dose assessment using latest dose coefficients from ICRP OIR publications. The field of application of CADORmed is special monitoring, and it is not available for the dose assessment of chronic exposure. Calculations are made according to EURADOS guidelines and principles (EURADOS report 2013-1).

Bioassays in workers exposed to long time random intakes.

Workers who are occupationally exposed to radioactive aerosols are usually subjected to periodic controls of internal contamination by performing bioassays (whole body or partial body monitoring and measurement of excreta samples). The intakes are also estimated by using Static Air Samples (SAS). These measurements are used to estimate the radioactive intakes of the workers.

Bioassay and alpha spectrometry in indirect monitoring of Spanish workers exposed to enriched uranium.

Workers at risk of exposure to uranium compounds should be monitored and their internal exposure quantified in terms of committed effective dose E(50) in mSv. In vitro bioassay methods can quantify uranium in urine and faeces at low activity levels. Alpha spectrometry (AS) is the most common method used for monitoring alpha-emitting radionuclides in internal dosimetry services.

INTERNAL DOSIMETRY TOOL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND USE OF NEW ICRP/OIR MODELS: A CAESIUM STUDY.

In case of accidental intake of radioactive material, the dose assessment requires information on the radionuclide distribution in the body. Measurements of retention or excretion are compared with model's predictions to estimate the intake. The reference models for internal dosimetry purposes are those proposed by ICRP and have been recently updated in the 'Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides (OIR)' series.

Comparison between multicomponent and simultaneous dual-task exercise interventions in long-term nursing home residents: the Ageing-ONDUAL-TASK randomized controlled study.

Background: the potential benefits of dual-task interventions on older adults living in long-term nursing homes (LTNHs) from a multidimensional perspective are unknown. We sought to determine whether the addition of simultaneous cognitive training to a multicomponent exercise program offers further benefits to dual-task, physical and cognitive performance, psycho-affective status, quality of life and frailty in LTNH residents. Design: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Measurements and Monte Carlo Simulations of 241Am Activities in Three Skull Phantoms: EURADOS-USTUR Collaboration.

An international intercomparison was organized by Working Group 7, Internal Dosimetry, of the European Radiation Dosimetry Group in collaboration with Working Group 6, Computational Dosimetry, for measurement and Monte Carlo simulation of Am in three skull phantoms. The main objectives of this combined exercise were (1) comparison of the results of counting efficiency in fixed positions over each head phantom using different germanium detector systems, (2) calculation of the activity of Am in the skulls, (3) comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with measurements (spectrum and counting efficiency), and (4) comparison of phantom performance. This initiative collected knowledge on equipment, detector arrangements, calibration procedures, and phantoms used around the world for in vivo monitoring of Am in exposed persons, as well as on the Monte Carlo skills and tools of participants.

Monitoring and Dose Assessment for Children Following a Radiation Emergency-Part II: Calibration Factors for Thyroid Monitoring.

Past radiological and nuclear accidents have demonstrated that monitoring a large number of children following a radiological and nuclear emergency can be challenging, in accommodating their needs as well as adapting monitoring protocols and applying age-specific biokinetics to account for various ages and body sizes. This paper presents the derived calibration factors for thyroid monitoring of children of all ages recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection using four selected detectors at given times following a short-term (acute) intake of I by inhalation. These calibration factors were derived by Monte Carlo simulations using the models of various detectors and pediatric voxel phantoms.

THE EURADOS WORK TOWARDS A REVIEW ON RETROSPECTIVE DOSIMETRY AFTER INCORPORATION OF RADIONUCLIDES.

Biological dosimetry methods are well established and validated for providing dose estimates following external radiation exposures. In contrast, interpreting biological dosimetry data in cases of internal exposures is still challenging. In this context, a joint collaboration between two Working Groups (WG) of European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS), WG10 on 'Retrospective Dosimetry' and WG7 on 'Internal Dosimetry', was initiated with the aim to address the main issues related to the advantages and limitations of biological and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry in cases of internal and mixed internal/external exposures.

Managing Internal Radiation Contamination Following an Emergency: Identification of Gaps and Priorities.

Following a radiological or nuclear emergency, first responders and the public may become internally contaminated with radioactive materials, as demonstrated during the Goiânia, Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents. Timely monitoring of the affected populations for potential internal contamination, assessment of radiation dose and the provision of necessary medical treatment are required to minimize the health risks from the contamination. This paper summarizes the guidelines and tools that have been developed, and identifies the gaps and priorities for future projects.

Developing a physiologically based approach for modeling plutonium decorporation therapy with DTPA.

Purpose: To develop a physiologically based compartmental approach for modeling plutonium decorporation therapy with the chelating agent Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Ca-DTPA/Zn-DTPA).

Materials And Methods: Model calculations were performed using the software package SAAM II (©The Epsilon Group, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA). The Luciani/Polig compartmental model with age-dependent description of the bone recycling processes was used for the biokinetics of plutonium.

Comparison of two leg phantoms containing (241)Am in bone.

Three facilities (CIEMAT, HMGU and HML) have used their in vivo counters to compare two leg phantoms. One was commercially produced with (241)Am activity artificially added to the bone inserts. The other, the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries' (USTUR) leg phantom, was manufactured from (241)Am-contaminated bones resulting from an intake.

The CONRAD approach to biokinetic modeling of DTPA decorporation therapy.

Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) is used for decorporation of plutonium because it is known to be able to enhance its urinary excretion for several days after treatment by forming stable Pu-DTPA complexes. The decorporation prevents accumulation in organs and results in a dosimetric benefit, which is difficult to quantify from bioassay data using existing models. The development of a biokinetic model describing the mechanisms of actinide decorporation by administration of DTPA was initiated as a task in the European COordinated Network on RAdiation Dosimetry (CONRAD).

Summing coincidence errors using 152Eu lungs to calibrate a lung-counting system: are they significant?

The use of a lung phantom containing 152Eu/241 Am activity can provide a sufficient number of energy lines to generate an efficiency calibration for the in vivo measurements of radioactive materials in the lungs. However, due to the number of energy lines associated with 152Eu, coincidence summing occurs and can present a problem when using such a phantom for calibrating lung-counting systems. A Summing Peak Effect Study was conducted at three laboratories to determine the effect of using an efficiency calibration based on a 152Eu/241 Am lung phantom.