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Background Based on numerous epidemiological studies, radionuclide 131I can result in thyroid disease. Objective To study the contamination level of thyroid 131I in 131I treatment associated radiation workers in nuclear medicine departments in Shanghai. Methods Based on a general survey on basic situation of nuclear medicine in Shanghai, the level of internal exposure of radiation workers involved in 131I treatment was assessed with questionnaires and on-site monitoring. A portable γ spectrometer was used for on-site detection, the intake and annual effective dose were estimated according to the measurement results. Physical examination reports were collected for radionuclide positive workers, and chromosome testing was performed. Results There were 579 nuclear medicine workers and 175 were engaged in 131I treatment in Shanghai. 131I was detected in thyroid of 18 workers, with a detection rate of 10.3%. Among them, the detection rates of thyroid 131I in nurses and cleaners were 23% and 25% respectively. The mean measured activity of thyroid 131I was 306.1 Bq and the maximum measured activity was 3716.9 Bq (nurse). The maximum intake was estimated at 37544 Bq and the median was 786.4 Bq. The average annual committed effective dose was 1.22 mSv and the maximum value was 14.87mSv. The chromosomal aberration rates of all detected workers were negative, and all blood indicators were normal except one with low hemoglobin. Conclusion The annual dose of nuclear medical staff engaged in 131I treatment does not exceed the national standard limit, but the internal exposure of nurses and cleaners should not be ignored. On the basis of strengthening protection and decontamination, routine internal exposure monitoring should be carried out.
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Objective@#This study aimed to evaluate the association between occupational radiation exposure and changes in thyroid hormone levels among medical radiation workers.@*Methods@#This retrospective cohort study included 2,946 radiation workers from 20 Guangzhou hospitals. Data on general characteristics, participant radiation dosimetry, and thyroid function test results [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid hormone (T4)] were extracted from dosimetry and medical records. The generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the trend of changes in thyroid hormone levels over time and was adjusted for age, gender, and occupation.@*Results@#The average annual effective dose was very low and showed a general downward trend. During the follow-up period, changes in T3 and T4 levels among radiation workers were -0.015 [95% confidence interval ( @*Conclusion@#Thyroid hormone secretion might be affected even in low-dose radiation exposure environments.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , China , Cohort Studies , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Radiation Exposure/adverse effects , Retrospective Studies , Thyroid Hormones/radiation effectsABSTRACT
As compulsory standards in occupational health, the diagnostic criteria for occupational diseases are the main basis for the diagnosis of occupational diseases. According to the Occupation Disease Classification and Catalogue in China, there are currently 13 kinds of legal occupational radiation diseases in China. There are 14 supporting diagnostic criteria, including the GBZ 104-2017 Diagnosis of Acute Radiation Sickness from Occupational External Exposure, GBZ 99-2002 Diagnostic Criteria for Subacute Radiation Sickness from External Exposure, GBZ 105-2017 Diagnosis of Chronic Radiation Sickness from Occupational External Exposure, GBZ 96-2011 Diagnostic Criteria for Radiation Sickness from Internal Exposure, GBZ 106-2020 Diagnosis for Occupational Radiation Diseases of Skin, GBZ 97-2017 Judgment Standard for Occupational Radiogenic Neoplasms, GBZ 100-2010 Diagnostic Criteria for External Radiation Bone Injury, GBZ 101-2020 Diagnosis for Occupational Radiation Thyroid Disease, GBZ 107-2015 Diagnosis for Occupational Radiation Induced Gonad Disease, GBZ 102-2007 Diagnostic Criteria of Combined Radiation-blast Injury, GBZ 103-2007 Diagnostic Criteria of Combined Radiation-burn Injury, GBZ 95-2014 Diagnostic Criteria for Occupational Radiation Cataract, GBZ 108-2002 Diagnostic Criteria for Acute Uranium Intoxication and GBZ 112-2017 General Guideline for Diagnosis of Occupational Radiation Diseases. Compared with previous criteria, some of the new criteria changed a lot in terms of diagnostic conditions, included diseases, dose threshold and calculation methods for etiological probability. The science and practicability improved continually, which is conducive to standardize the diagnosis of occupational radiation diseases.
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Objective@#To establish the national occupational radiation disease reporting system and learn about the incidence of occupational radiation sickness in radiation workers.@*Methods@#In accordance with the relevant regulations, standards and literatures available in China, the system was designed and implemented to survey the requirements of diagnosis institutions of occupational radiation sickness and administrative departments.@*Results@#The system was initially established with expectant functions. The system functional modules consisted of case reporting, case information enquiry, statistical analysis and system management. The diagnosis institutions of occupational radiation sickness had used the system to report the cases diagnosed in 2017.@*Conclusions@#The system achieved the standardized case reporting for the institutions of occupational radiation sickness, and provided scientific data for the health surveillance of radiation workers and decisions of governments.
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Objective To establish the national occupational radiation disease reporting system and learn about the incidence of occupational radiation sickness in radiation workers. Methods In accordance with the relevant regulations, standards and literatures available in China, the system was designed and implemented to survey the requirements of diagnosis institutions of occupational radiation sickness and administrative departments. Results The system was initially established with expectant functions. The system functional modules consisted of case reporting, case information enquiry, statistical analysis and system management. The diagnosis institutions of occupational radiation sickness had used the system to report the cases diagnosed in 2017. Conclusions The system achieved the standardized case reporting for the institutions of occupational radiation sickness, and provided scientific data for the health surveillance of radiation workers and decisions of governments.
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Objective To analyze the changes in distribution of occupational radiation cases reported from 2013 to 2017 in China and learn about the occupational health risks of radiation workers.Methods Descriptive analyses were made of regional distribution,disease category distribution,occupation category distribution and exposure mode distribution of these cases,according to the reports (2013-2017) of occupational radiation sickness from " Occupational Health of Radiation Workers Management System".Results There were 54 diagnostic radiology agencies for occupational radiation sickness in China that covered all provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities except Tibet and Production and Construction Corps of Xinjiang.A total of 106 new cases were reported from 2013 to 2017.Most of the cases were radiogenic neoplasm (43.40％),and chronic radiation sickness were from external exposure (16.98％) and radiation cataract (16.04％).Most of the cases (70.75％) were engaged in medical application and a small part of the cases (13.21％) engaged in industry application.Chronic exposure (80.19％) was the most frequent form of exposure mode,but acute exposure (5.66％) was very few.A part of cases (14.15％) were reported without exposure mode.Conclusions The morbidity of occupational radiation sickness declined generally in China and occupational health management of key workers should be strengthened continuously.
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BACKGROUND: Occupational radiation exposure causes certain types of cancer, specifically hematopoietic diseases like leukemia. In Korea, radiation exposure is monitored and recorded by law, and guidelines for compensation of radiation-related diseases were implemented in 2001. However, thus far, no occupation-related disease was approved for compensation under these guidelines. Here, we report the first case of radiation-related disease approved by the compensation committee of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, based on the probability of causation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old man complained of chronic fatigue and myalgia for several days. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient was a diagnostic radiographer at a diagnostic radiation department and was exposed to ionizing radiation for 21 years before chronic myeloid leukemia was diagnosed. His job involved taking simple radiographs, computed tomography scans, and measuring bone marrow density. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first approved case report using quantitative assessment of radiation. More approved cases are expected based on objective radiation exposure data and the probability of causation. We need to find a resolution to the ongoing demands for appropriate compensation and improvements to the environment at radiation workplaces.