Evaluation of mental health for national nuclear radiation emergency rescuers / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To estimate the mental health status and personality traits of the nuclear radiation emergency rescuers, allowing to provide reference basis for improving their mental health.Methods:Totally 52 nuclear radiation emergency rescuers were selected as the subjects. The symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Cattell′s 16 personality factor scale (16PF) were used to assess their mental health status and personality traits. The results obtained from the survey of these rescuers were compared with those obtained using Students′ t-test, One-Way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis. Results:The average scores of multiple factors and positive items of the SCL-90 were significantly lower in the rescuers than in the norm ( t=-4.77 to -2.04, P<0.05), and the positive rate was 21.15%. The symptom checklist 90 subscales such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive and depression were found in the rescuers. Rescuers received high scores in the following components among the 16 factors of Cattell: less intelligent-more intelligent, emotionally stable. Rescuers also received low scores in the following components among the 16 factors of Cattell: tough-minded-tender-minded, trusting-suspicious. Life satisfaction, educational degree and Cattell′s 16 PF were significantly associated with the factors of SCL-90( r=-0.569 to 0.627, P<0.05). Conclusions:The rescuers are better than ordinary Chinese people in psychological health. Mental health-related factors such as literacy, life satisfaction, and personality traits should be taken into account when selecting team members and conducting psychological interventions.

The role of institutions of radiological health in the response system for nuclear or radiological emergencies / 中国辐射卫生

Medical rescue bases for nuclear or radiological emergencies are mostly composed of institutions that have obtained the qualification of radiological health technical service (Class A) or the qualification of radiation-induced disease diagnosis. Institutions of radiological health have accumulated the technical capabilities of radiation monitoring, contamination detection, dose estimation, and health effects evaluation in their daily work, which can play an important role in the response to nuclear or radiological emergencies and realize the “combination of non-emergency and emergency use” in capacity building. It is suggested that institutions of radiological health at all levels should continue to take advantage of their strengths, improve their capabilities through participating in radiation monitoring projects, and actively participate in the assessment of assay capabilities of institutions of radiological health, so as to provide personnel and technical reserves for the health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies.

Introduction of guidelines for iodine thyroid blocking / 中国辐射卫生

During a radiological or nuclear emergency, iodine thyroid blocking is an urgent protection action to prevent or reduce the absorption of radioactive iodine by thyroid. Although potassium iodide (KI) administration is recommended by WHO guidelines for iodine prophylaxis following nuclear accidents and is also widely implemented in most national guidelines, the scientific evidence for the guidelines lacks as the guidelines are mostly based on expert opinions and recommendations. This paper introduces the development and revision of WHO guidelines for iodine thyroid blocking published in 1989 and 1999, as well as the revision methods and main recommendations of the guidelines published in 2017, which supports the use of iodine thyroid blocking during a radiological or nuclear emergency.

Physical dose estimation for an accidental exposed person in industrial γ-ray flaw detection / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To estimate the physical dose of an over exposed person working for industrial radiography.Methods:The main exposure parameters were obtained. The exposure duration was 8 min. The exposure pattern was external exposure by isotropic point radioactive source. The radioactive activity was 2.183 TBq. In the present calculation, the Chinese reference adult voxel phantom was used, and the Monte Carlo simulation was performed using the program based on the secondary development of Geant4 to obtain the absorbed dose of each part of the victim.Results:The dose distribution in the victim′s hands was obtained. The doses to most areas of the palm were 2-10 Gy, and the doses to the fingers were 10-20 Gy. The equivalent doses to 23 tissues or organs of the exposed person were estimated to be in the range of 0.012-0.207 Gy.Conclusions:The physical dose estimation method could evaluate rapidly the local dose distribution of the victim′s key exposed body parts, and thus provide an important reference for medical treatment.

Discussion on establishment and management of national health emergency team for nuclear radiation emergency / 中国辐射卫生

Objective To study the personnel composition, task, equipment and management of the national health emergency teams for radiological or nuclear emergency. Methods According to the responsibility and task division of the health emergency team for nuclear radiation emergencies, the national medical rescue team for nuclear radiation health emergency was established and equipped, and the management work such as training and exercise was carried out based on the potential scenario during a nuclear or radiological emergency. Results The national health emergency team for radiological or nuclear emergency was composed of professionals in the fields of radiation protection and monitoring, medical treatment, internal and external contamination treatment, food and drinking water testing, management personnel and logistics support personnel. Training and exercises is an important means to determine whether the technical capability and the equipment of the team are reasonable. Conclusion Standardized equipment and management of the emergency teamscouldensure the rapid response and efficient implementation of nuclear radiation health emergency work in all kinds of natural disasters and public health emergencies.

Psychological first aid during severe nuclear power plant accident / 中国辐射卫生

The past three severe nuclear power plant accidents showed that the social psychological impact on the public is the most serious consequence of severe nuclear power plant accidents. When a severe nuclear power plant accident occurs, individuals / groups in the affected area may experience various stress reactions. Timely and effective psychological first-aid can help the victims to survive the crisis effectively and actively respond to the current life. Referring to the World Health Organization guide psychological first aid: guide for field workerand other national guidance, this paper introduces how emergency rescue personnel carry out emergency psychological assistance in case of severe nuclear accident.

The use of operational intervention levels in response to nuclear emergency / 中国医学装备

Objective: To discuss the purposes and methods of determining and employing operational intervention levels in preparedness and response for a nuclear emergency. Methods:According to the safety standards and technical reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and combined with specific conditions in China, the operational intervention levels suitable for applying in China are analyzed. Results: The newly published IAEA technical report provided special operational intervention levels for emergency at a light water reactor. The recommended values are practical that our country can use for reference. Conclusion: It is suggested that the related branches for response to nuclear emergency in China establish feasible operational intervention levels by referring to the IAEA reports and taking into account the special conditions of nuclear facilities in China, in order to improve the capability of medical response to nuclear emergency.