Gonad, bone marrow and effective dose to the population of more than 90 towns and cities of Iran, arising from environmental gamma radiation

Since 1996 the assessment of environmental gamma radiation dose in residential areas of Iranian towns and cities has been accomplished for 10 counties. As a practical method and based on the results of a pilot study, in order to attribute the final results to the whole residential area of a town five stations were selected for every town. The location of individual station was studied closely to comply with recommended conditions in the literature. RDS-110 was employed to measure gamma dose rate for one hour. Average annual dose rates plus conversion coefficients were employed to estimate gonad, bone marrow, equivalent and effective dose. Minimum and maximum annual bone marrow and gonad dose equivalent attributed to environmental gamma are 0.24 mSvy[-1] [for both tissues] and 1.44 and 1.46 mSvy[-1], respectively. Average gonad and bone marrow doses for North Khorasan, Boshehr and Hormozgan provinces were less than the corresponding values for normal area

[Osteoporosis; diagnosis and treatment]

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic disorder which is increasing all over the world. It is associated with age and sex, therefore the highest prevalence of the disease is seen in post menopausal women. Increase in life expectancy and number of old people will cause significant rise in the prevalence of osteoporosis in future. In our country according to Tehran survey, prevalence of osteoporosis in 60-69 yr. women in spine and hip region is 52.4% and 5.9% and in the same age range in men is 9.4% and 3.1%, respectively. Osteoporosis is thus a problem of the world in second half of the present century specially in Asia, so prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease is imperative for health improvement. One of the most important complications of osteoporosis is fracture of spine and femur neck which increases mortality and morbidity. More than 90% of hip and femur neck fractures occur in 50 yr old or above, and 80% of them are women. Osteoporotic fractures incur high cost for the patient and community. Major risk factors of osteoporosis are: age, low bone density, history of fragility fracture and history of familial osteoporosis. Today the diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on bone density measurement. Osteoporosis is a mulitfactorial disorder and its prevention and treatment are difficult. Most of the treatments available for treatment of osteoporosis recent have antiresorptive effects which reduce bone distruction. Some of these drugs also decrease pathologic fractures. New drugs increasing bone formation are coming up. However in all kinds of treatments existance of sufficient calcium and vitamin D reserve is necessary for efficacy of medications that could be provided by nutrition or supplements