ABSTRACT
The accreditation of the Competent Incorporation Measuring Body at Jülich includes incorporation monitoring by means of direct measurements of the body activity as well as by means of indirect determination of the body activity by radiochemical analysis of excreta samples. In both testing areas, it proved to be very useful to have a flexible scope. In particular, the associated freedom in choosing testing procedures supports the continual improvement process of the laboratory. The modification of existing methods as well as the development and introduction of new procedures makes an immediate reaction to changed requirements feasible. At Jülich the use made out of the flexible scope included, e.g. the introduction of mathematical calibration in whole-body counting and the automation of sample preparation in radiochemical analysis. Advantages of the new procedures and modified methods include on the one hand the reduction of processing times, downtimes and hazard potentials on the other hand enhanced detection limits and improved cost-efficiency. In the result, it can be recommended to other qualified testing laboratories to go for a flexible scope.
Subject(s)
Radiometry/standards , Accreditation/standards , Calibration , Computer Simulation , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Germany , Humans , Laboratories/standards , Monte Carlo Method , Photons , Quality Control , Radiation Protection/methods , Radiometry/instrumentation , Radiometry/methodsABSTRACT
The systematic quality assurance (QA) and control of testing methods in incorporation monitoring consists of continual measures for internal QA and additional measures such as external laboratory controls. This includes among other aspects accuracy, precision and descriptions of the methods as well as the representation and timely availability of analytic results of measurements and internal dose assessment. At the officially recognised incorporation measurement office at Jülich, QA is performed for direct measurements (whole-body counter), indirect measurements with radiochemical testing methods of excretion samples and internal dose assessment.
Subject(s)
Laboratories/standards , Quality Control , Radiation Monitoring/standards , Radiation Protection/standards , Radiometry/standards , Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis , Germany , Humans , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Radiation Monitoring/methods , Radiation Protection/methods , Radiometry/methods , Reproducibility of Results , Uranium/analysis , Whole-Body CountingABSTRACT
In 1987, a worker was internally contaminated with 137Cs as a result of an accident during the handling of high temperature reactor fuel element ash. In the long-term follow-up monitoring an unusual retention behaviour was found. The observed time dependence of caesium retention does not agree with the standard models of ICRP Publication 30. The present case can be better explained by assuming an intake of a mixture of type F and type S compounds. However, experimental data can be best described by a four-exponential retention function with two long-lived components, which was used as an ad hoc model for dose calculation. The resulting dose is compared with doses calculated on the basis of ICRP Publication 66.
Subject(s)
Accidents, Occupational , Air Pollutants, Occupational/pharmacokinetics , Air Pollutants, Radioactive/pharmacokinetics , Cesium Radioisotopes/pharmacokinetics , Lung/chemistry , Radioactive Hazard Release , Strontium Radioisotopes/pharmacokinetics , Whole-Body Counting , Administration, Inhalation , Follow-Up Studies , Germany , Half-Life , Humans , Models, Theoretical , Occupational Exposure , Phantoms, Imaging , Radiation DosageABSTRACT
Results of more than ten years of experience in the determination of metals in mussels and algae collected in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea are presented. The various elements determined here are Hg, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Cu, Na, K, S, P, Zn, Mn, Fe, Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Tl, Ni, Co using techniques such as cold vapor AAS, INAA, hydride generation AAS, electrothermal AAS, ICP-AES, IDMS and stripping voltammetry. The results indicate the occurrence of three groups of elements with respect to long-term tendencies of their concentrations. In the first group, the concentrations in both mussels and algae varied in the same manner; in the second group no change was observed in either matrix while in the third group, the concentrations of elements changed in an opposite manner.
Subject(s)
Bivalvia/chemistry , Ecosystem , Elements , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Phaeophyceae/chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Animals , Linear Models , Oceans and Seas , Species Specificity , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The preservation and protection of the environment has become a major challenge of our times since this has to be compatible with the ecological needs. The concept of Environmental Specimen Banking (ESB) acquires importance in providing the data base for deeper insight into ecochemical processes. Methodological development and preparation of reference materials (RMs) are also essential to such studies. Systematic efforts are to be made to acquire a good number of reference materials to be useful for analysis of toxic as well as essential components. Our experience has shown that it is possible to procure worthy and scientifically valuable specimens from soils and leafy food substances. Exploring preparation of suitable specimens from a country such as India might be a worthy exercise since it is possible to obtain clean specimens in this part of the world. Analytical data for determination of some trace and major elements in prepared RMs are presented.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Metals/analysis , Plants/chemistry , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Specimen Handling , Tissue Banks , Reference Standards , Spectrophotometry, Atomic/methods , Trace Elements/analysisABSTRACT
The practice of using parent-child interviews to determine whether children have been sexually abused by the parent is called into question. The relevant literature is reviewed, and practical and ethical reasons for eschewing such interviews are discussed. Three case examples in which parent-child interviews were attempted or employed are described and discussed.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual/legislation & jurisprudence , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Ethics, Medical , Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence , Interview, Psychological , Parent-Child Relations , Child , Child Custody/legislation & jurisprudence , Child, Preschool , Fear , Female , Humans , Male , Self DisclosureABSTRACT
Child sexual abuse is common and damages the body image. Child sexual abuse survivors may request body-image surgery. Seven patients are described in whom child sexual abuse sequelae complicated body-image surgery. Two patients viewed their surgeons as similar to sexual abusers. Yet two patients were clearly, and two possibly, helped by the surgery. Surgeons can detect and manage such patients by (1) having a child sexual abuse therapist on hand for consultation, (2) adding "abuse" to the medical history form, (3) recommending to known or suspected child sexual abuse patients preoperative therapy or a self-help book, (4) obtaining specific permission for any body contact, (5) stating belief in abuse, if revealed, (6) explaining the surgery in unusual detail, (7) recognizing the high-risk child sexual abuse groups, and, (8) declining to operate on the angry child sexual abuse patient.
