Basic Safety Standards Research Articles

Comparative analysis of Russian and international approaches to radiation safety related to exposure to natural sources of radiation

The paper presents results of comparative analysis of the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation with the recommendations and requirements of international organizations in relation to the exposure of population and workers to natural sources of radiation. It is shown that the approaches to radiation safety related to exposure to natural sources of radiation in the Russian regulatory documents are somewhat more consistent with the provisions of the EU Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom than with the recommendations of the IAEA Basic Safety Standards. Analysis of requirements of Russian and international documents is the first step on the way to assess the possibility of implementation of recommendations of international organizations into the Russian regulatory documents and to develop the proposals on harmonization of requirements for control of the exposure of population and workers to natural sources of radiation.

Patient dose and dose monitoring in Interventional Radiology

Synopsis:Throughout the past decades, diagnostic and interventional radiology have been known as major sources of radiation dose exposed to the world population. The International Basic Safety Standard (BSS) issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) clearly outlines key activities in radiation protection from medical exposure. Those activities include justification, optimization, and limitation of dose. The BSS requires optimization of protection and safety for each medical exposure. Key components of optimization include patient dosimetry and Dose Reference Levels (DRLs). Patient dose monitoring and audit have been used as tools for optimization and required by either regulation or accreditation such as the Joint Commission (JCI). The speaker aims to provide information regarding the concept of dosimetric parameters in fluoroscopic guided procedures in interventional radiology and cardiology, and the use of dose management software in radiological practice. How to start up the dose monitoring and audit in interventional cardiology, JCI compliance issues, DRLs and audit systems. Benefits of the dose management software in a purpose of national dose index registry will also be discussed. Synopsis: Throughout the past decades, diagnostic and interventional radiology have been known as major sources of radiation dose exposed to the world population. The International Basic Safety Standard (BSS) issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) clearly outlines key activities in radiation protection from medical exposure. Those activities include justification, optimization, and limitation of dose. The BSS requires optimization of protection and safety for each medical exposure. Key components of optimization include patient dosimetry and Dose Reference Levels (DRLs). Patient dose monitoring and audit have been used as tools for optimization and required by either regulation or accreditation such as the Joint Commission (JCI). The speaker aims to provide information regarding the concept of dosimetric parameters in fluoroscopic guided procedures in interventional radiology and cardiology, and the use of dose management software in radiological practice. How to start up the dose monitoring and audit in interventional cardiology, JCI compliance issues, DRLs and audit systems. Benefits of the dose management software in a purpose of national dose index registry will also be discussed.

On the issue of the development of legislative and regulatory provision of the radiation safety of the public

After the publication of ICRP Publication 103 in 2007 and IAEA Basic Safety Standard “Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. General safety requirements Part 3” in 2014, there is an ongoing process in the Russian Federation on the harmonization of the norms of the radiation safety and basic rules on the provision of the radiation safety with the international requirements. According to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation № 585 “On the establishment of the basis of the governmental policy in the field of the provision of nuclear and radiation safety in the Russian Federation in the period up to 2025 and the future perspective” and the Plan of the execution of the “basis of the governmental policy…”, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation №139-r, 02.02.2019, a work has been initiated on the development of the changes and additions into the Federal State Laws № 170-FZ “On the use of the nuclear energy” and № 3-FZ “On the radiation safety of the public”. For the successful execution of the mission it is necessary to develop joint inter-agency workgroups with the parallel development of the changes and additions to the № 170-FZ. №3-FZ, NRB and OSPORB.

National Radon Action Plans in Europe and Need of Effectiveness Indicators: An Overview of HERCA Activities.

Protection of the population and of workers from exposure to radon is a unique challenge in radiation protection. Many coordinated actions and a variety of expertise are needed. Initially, a National Radon Action Plan (NRAP) has been developed and implemented by some countries, while it is currently recommended by international organizations (e.g., World Health Organization) and required by international regulations, such as the European Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom and the International Basic Safety Standards on Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources, cosponsored by eight international organizations. Within this framework, the Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) have organized activities aimed at sharing experiences to contribute toward the development and implementation of effective NRAPs. Two workshops were held in 2014 and 2015, the latter on radon in workplaces. As a follow-up to these, an online event took place in March 2021, and a second specific workshop on NRAP is planned for June 2022. These workshops were attended by experts from the competent authorities of European countries, relevant national and international organizations. The experience of several countries and the outcomes from these workshops have highlighted the need for adequate indicators of the effectiveness and progress of the actions of NRAPs, which could also be useful to implement the principle of optimization and the graded approach in NRAPs. In this paper, the activities of HERCA to support the development and implementation of effective NRAPs are described and some examples of effectiveness indicators are reported, including those already included in the NRAP of some European countries.

Some issues with the International Basic Safety Standards – A time for reflection

Abstract The International Atomic Energy Agency has statutory functions for the development of radiation safety standards. Its basic safety standards have, for many years, been based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, taking account of the information on the biological effects of radiation exposure provided by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The latest version – the International Basic Safety Standards – was published in its final form in 1996, and, since then the Agency has been assisting with their implementation in a large number of States. The experience gained, combined with a more general reflection on these Standards, has led to the identification of a number of issues that will need to be considered in any future revision. A number of these issues arise largely through an insufficient recognition of the problems associated with turning the principles of protection into regulatory style requirements, which, out of necessity, need to be legally precise, but at the same time, enforceable. Some of these issues are discussed here.

Neue Regelungen für den Schutz von Mensch und Umwelt bei natürlichen Strahlenquellen

Abstract Die Richtlinie 96/29 EURATOM des Rates vom 13. Mai 1996 zur Festlegung der grundlegenden Sicherheitsnormen für den Schutz der Gesundheit der Arbeitskräfte und der Bevölkerung gegen die Gefahren durch ionisierende Strahlung fordert von Mitgliedsländern Strahlenschutzmaßnahmen bei natürlichen Strahlenquellen, auch wenn deren Radioaktivität nicht genutzt wird, wenn die natürliche Strahlenexposition erheblich erhöht ist. Diese Forderung wird in der neuen Strahlenschutzverordnung (StrlSchV) in nationales Recht umgesetzt, die dafür einen eigenen Regelungsbereich enthält. Da die Einwirkungsmöglichkeiten auf die natürlicherweise vorhandenen Strahlenquellen wesentlich geringer sind als bei der Anwendung der Radioaktivität oder der ionisierenden Strahlung unterscheiden sich die Regelungen in mancher Hinsicht. Die Regelungen beschränken sich auf solche Handlungen, die für Beschäftigte oder Personen der Bevölkerung zu Strahlenexpositionen von mehr als 1 mSv fuhren. Die Regelungen wenden sich vor allem an den Arbeitgeber. Sie definieren seine Verantwortung für diesen Teil des Gesundheits- und Arbeitsschutzes. Umfangreiche behördliche Genehmigungen und Überwachungen werden vermieden.

A method for the calculation of annual limits on intake

Abstract The German Radiation Protection Ordinance issued in 1989 – as well as ICRP Publication 30 – included tables of annual limits on intake (ALIs). These are secondary limits derived to indicate those intake values which are not allowed to be exceeded within a year to meet the primary annual dose limits. The latest ICRP Publications dealing with doses for workers give no ALIs any more and also the IAEA Basic Safety Standards and the Council Directive of the European Commission do not list such values. And also the new Radiation Protection Ordinance as well as the federal gazette with dose coefficients do not include such values any more. However, it may be that they will be included as guiding levels in the calculation principles for the assessment of internal doses. This paper will give reasons why there are no ALIs given any more, it will show how ALIs could be calculated, it will show the influence of additional dose restrictions for female workers of child-bearing age, and it will discuss if radiation protection for the unborn child would be fulfilled if the dose limits of the radiation protection ordinance are met.

On harmonization of radon maps

Background: Maps are important tools for geographic visualization of the state of the environment with respect to resources as well as to hazards. One of the hazards is indoor radon (Rn), believed to be the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. In particular, as part of Rn mitigation policy and in compliance with the European Basic Safety Standards, EU Member States have to declare areas with elevated indoor Rn concentration levels. However, as this is done by national authorities according to individually chosen criteria, the resulting maps are not easily comparable.
 Objective: We aim to identify causes for the lack of compatibility of maps and suggest solutions for the problem.
 Design: This study draws from experiences of recent research projects, literature, and personal involvement of the authors in the discussions.
 Results: An overview is given on causes and effects of lack of compatibility between maps. Existing experiences are reported. Options for defining lack of compatibility and for identifying it are discussed. Methods for harmonization, that is, remediating lack of compatibility, are addressed.
 Conclusions: The difficulty of harmonization increases with the aggregation level of data which support maps. Harmonization is the more difficult, the higher aggregated the data are which support maps. In particular, harmonization of radon priority area maps is technically non-trivial, and theoretical efforts as well as practical tests will have to be undertaken.

Radon levels in dwellings and workplaces: a comparison with data from some European countries

Background: According to 2013 European Basic Safety Standards (EU BSS), legal and administrative consequences of having an area declared as radon priority area (RPA) concern workplaces (WP) and public buildings, as well as dwellings (DW). However, RPAs in many cases are defined as higher levels of indoor radon in DW. The reason is that most data are available for DW. So far, indoor radon data for WP (except for schools) and public buildings are scarce.
 Objective: The objective of this study was to compare indoor radon levels in DW and WP in a given area and to evaluate whether they have different distributions and different average levels.
 Design: Austria, Finland, Germany, and Italy provided indoor radon data on DW and WP.
 Data related to WP were aggregated in the same grid, as already done for data on DW, to update the European Indoor Radon Map. Based on 10 km × 10 km grid cells, the same statistics are computed for both datasets. Thus, two structurally equal datasets for each country were generated to be statistically compared.
 Results and conclusions: Generally, there are numerous indoor radon data on DW than data on WP. Statistical analysis suggests that in all the countries, indoor radon levels – in terms of arithmetic mean (AM) of the natural logarithm-transformed data – in WP and DW are statistically different (P < 0.05), as well as from those referring to schools. The difference in distributions is neither attributable to the effect of geology nor to the effect of different sample sizes.
 The correlation between aggregated data is positive in the sense that if the mean (over grid cells) radon concentration increases in DW, it increases in WP as well. Compared with DW, in all countries indoor radon levels in WP seem to be statistically different, but the results are not enough to draw final conclusions: on-purpose designed surveys could be a useful tool to better understand this phenomenon.

Radon mapping in Piedmont (North-West Italy): a radio-geo-lithological approach

Background: In this work a radon mapping method implemented in Piedmont, an Italian Region in the Northern part of the country, is presented and discussed.
 Methods: The method is based on a “mixed approach”, combining together an experimental approach, based on a large set of experimental radon measurements performed with nuclear track detectors, and an empirical model, based on the geo-lithological characteristics of soils and rocks. This approach was named as “radio-geo-lithological” because the identification of geo-lithological units was defined considering not only the usual geological classification of the territory but also the radioactivity content of the most widespread rocks and soils of Piedmont.
 Results and Conclusion: This method allowed to classification of all municipalities of Piedmont (1181), thus permitting the identification of the Radon Priority Areas, a provision required by the new Italian law (Legislative Decree 101/2020), implementing the European Basic Safety Standards (Euratom Directive 59/2013).

Residents' and Family Perspectives of Involuntary Healthcare Facility Closure and Relocation

AbstractOlder adults who receive care in a healthcare facility certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services receive services mandated and regulated by state and federal policy to ensure that basic quality and safety standards are met. Termination of certification due to ongoing care deficiencies results in the involuntary relocation of residents receiving Medicare or Medicaid services to another healthcare facility. If a facility ultimately closes, all residents are displaced. Facility decertification happens infrequently, but when it does occur, it affects both residents and their families. Few studies have examined resident input and the role that family plays in the relocation process. The purpose of this study was to explore residents' and families' perceptions of the relocation process and its effect on residents' health and wellbeing. The study sample included 27 residents and 93 family members from two facilities that lost their certification. Semi‐structured, audio‐recorded interviews conducted with participants either in‐person or by telephone focused on perceptions of relocation processes, relocation challenges and stressors, and physical and mental effects on residents. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using an open coding process to identify common themes and patterns in the data. Four interrelated, overarching themes emerged from the analysis: 1) awareness of need to relocate; 2) notification of need to relocate; 3) involvement in relocation decisions; and 4) relocation stressors. Neither residents nor families were satisfied with the relocation process and offered multiple suggestions to guide policy and practice to improve their involuntary relocation experiences.

Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Distribution Pattern and Radiological Risk from Rocks in Precambrian Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

A gamma spectrometric analysis of rock samples collected from the Precambrian Oban Massif, southeastern Nigeria, was performed to determine some primordial radioelements’ activity concentrations: U-238, Th-232, and K-40, and their associated radiological hazards. The mean activity of the primordial radionuclides was determined to be 1073.06 ± 0.65, 160.74 ± 1.32, and 250.76 ± 0.91 Bq·kg−1 for 40K, 238U, and 232Th, respectively, showing that they are inhomogeneously distributed, with activity changing with the rock type and location. The activity concentrations are highest in biotite garnet schist, quartz diorite, and biotite gneiss rock domains. The mean values of the radiological hazards are 0.08 Bq·kg−1 (alpha index), 2.15 Bq·kg−1(gamma index), 2.06 Bq·kg−1(internal) and 1.63 Bq·kg−1 (external4.30 Bq·kg−1(representative level index6), 602.23 Bq·kg−1, (radium equivalent), 780 nGy·h−1 (total absorbed dose rate), 270.91 nGy·h−1 (indoor), 509.78 nGy·h−1 (outdoor), 624.99, 1329.07 and 1954.06 mSv·yr−1 (outdoor, indoor and total annual effective dose equivalent, respectively), 6448.40 (cumulative excess lifetime cancer risk) and 248.94–3761.47 Bq·kg−1 (annual gonadal dose equivalent). These results are higher than their various permissible limits (except at Ako Community) and suggest that rocks in the area may be unsuitable for constructing dwelling places. It is strongly advised that basic safety standards and precautionary measures recommended by the European Commission should be strictly adhered to while dealing with these rocks.

Radon hazard vs. radon risk - On the effectiveness of radon priority areas

The detrimental health effects of radon have been acknowledged by national and international legislation such as the European Union Basic Safety Standards (EURATOM-BSS Article 103/3) which requires member states to delineate radon priority areas. These radon priority areas are conventionally based on the concept of hazard by using indoor radon concentration or geogenic radon potential for its delineation. While this approach is efficient for finding many affected buildings with limited resources and, hence, reducing the individual risk, it is probably inefficient for reducing the collective risk if hazard and risk areas differ. In this study we map collective radon risk for Germany by linking information of geogenic radon hazard with exposure (residential building stock). The resulting map of affected residential buildings reveals distinct spatial contrasts compared to the hazard-based map. Further, an analysis based on hypothetical hazard zones elucidates that in Germany the vast majority of affected buildings (i.e., above threshold concentration) are located outside of areas of high and very high hazard. Consequently, in Germany, a radon policy focusing on areas of very high hazard only and within these areas on high concentration buildings only would presumably have no significant effect on the reduction of the total number of radon attributable lung cancer fatalities, i.e. less than 1% of annual radon attributable lung cancer fatalities. We conclude that for reducing the collective risk significantly, also complementary measures are of particular relevance.

Recording of Falls in Elderly Fallers in Northern Greece and Evaluation of Aging Health-Related Factors and Environmental Safety Associated with Falls: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Elderly falls constitute a global problem with huge social and economic aspects. Fall risk factors are both intrinsic (physical and psychological) and extrinsic (related with environmental safety). Aim To record both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and their correlation in elderly fallers in order to suggest specific guidelines for their medical care and environmental modification inside and outside the home. Method The study involved 150 elderly fallers (median age 70 (67-74)), who completed a record containing information on known risk factors related to their health status, as well as information on the conditions and causes that led to the fall. Each fall was considered an independent event, while measurements were performed regarding balance, strength, their functional ability, and the fear of a possible fall. Descriptive analysis and frequency analysis were used to record the health and activity status of the participants as well as the fall-related environmental factors. Severity of each fall event across a variety of locations was examined using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. Multiple linear regression was applied to examine the effect of the mean values of functional tests and medical records on the number of fall events. Results In the span of 12 months, a total of 304 fall events were recorded. Regarding location, 77.6% occurred indoors; more frequent were the bedroom (28.6%) and the bathroom (28%). The interior stairs (10.5%), the kitchen (4.9%), and the living room (3.3%) were the less frequent locations. Concerning danger, falling on the interior stairs caused the longest hospitalization, followed by the kitchen and the bathroom. Extrinsic factors that led to both indoor and outdoor falls were the administration of psychotropic medication, poor space ergonomics, lack of basic safety standards, and poor lighting conditions. Vision problems and dizziness resulted in more falls than other intrinsic factors. Furthermore, reduced performance in the FICSIT-4 test and the 30-Second Chair Stand Test, as well as high scores in the CONFbal–GREEK questionnaire and the Short FES-I, shows a linear relationship with an increased number of falls. Conclusions Ergonomic interventions can help prevent indoor elderly falls. Poor construction and lack of adequate lighting mainly cause outdoor falls. Regular eye examinations, management of vertigo, improvement of the balance and strength of the lower limbs, and reduction of fear of impending falls are the intrinsic factors that help prevent falls the most.

RadoNorm – towards effective radiation protection based on improved scientific evidence and social considerations – focus on RADON and NORM

RadoNorm aims to manage risks from exposures to radon and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) to promote effective radiation protection based on improved scientific evidence and social considerations. It supports the European Member States and the EU Commission (EC) in implementing the Basic Safety Standards for protection against ionising radiation hazards at the legislative, executive, and operational levels (Directive 2013/59/EURATOM). The project is grounded on (1) implementation of multidisciplinary and innovative research and technologies, (2) integration of education and training, and (3) dissemination of project results targeting a broad stakeholder community including the public, regulators, and policymakers. The objectives are achieved through scientific research-related topics (exposure, dosimetry, biology, epidemiology, societal aspects), cross-cutting topics (education and training, dissemination, ethics) and project management. The project will yield guidelines at legal, executive and operational levels. It will enable consolidated and harmonised decision-making in the field of radiation protection, considering societal aspects and sustainable knowledge transfer. The project contributes to EC activities to strengthen radiation protection in a consistent and joint manner, as has already been done through the establishment of radiation protection platforms, the promotion of projects (e.g., DoReMi, OPERRA) and the partnership CONCERT-EJP. The outcomes may also impact future recommendations.

Is Electronic Health Record Safety a Paradox?

Is Electronic Health Record Safety a Paradox?

The Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety—30 years of international coordination of radiation protection and safety matters

The Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety (IACRS) was constituted in 1990, as a forum for collaboration and coordination between international bodies with regards to radiation safety. It consists today of representatives of eight intergovernmental member organizations (the European Commision, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Labour Office, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/ Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA), Pan American Health Organization, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the World Health Organization) and five observer non-governmental organizations (International Commission on Radiological Protection, International Commission on Radiation Units & Measurements, International Electrotechnical Commission, International Radiation Protection Association and International Organization for Standardization). The IACRS provides a platform for interaction between these relevant international bodies to contribute to a common understanding of the scientific basis and legal framework for the application of the system of radiation protection, towards global harmonisation of radiation safety standards. The IACRS played a key role in the development of the International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) in 1996 and in its revision in 2014. Further, an IACRS specific Task Group—chaired by the IAEA—fosters the implementation of the BSS in a consistent and coherent manner in all Member States of the United Nations. The IACRS operates via a standing secretariat jointly provided by the IAEA and OECD/NEA and is chaired by one of its member organizations on a rotating basis for periods of about 18 months. This approach has proved to be effective and was the foundation for ensuring continuity of the work of the committee and at the same time allowing a rotating leadership for all member organizations. Currently, the IACRS is chaired by the WHO. The International Radiation Safety Framework under which the IACRS works is structured around four main areas: (a) science; (b) principles; (c) standards; and (d) practice. This paper presents briefly the mandates, roles and functions of the various international bodies that are relevant to the four above mentioned areas of work, discusses how these bodies coordinate their actions and complement each other to enhance radiation protection and safety worldwide and describes their contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper also provides an overview of the main accomplishments of the IACRS since its inception 30 years ago, and an outlook on key challenges for its future activities.

Metrology for radiation protection: a new European network in the foundation phase

Abstract. More than 23 million workers worldwide are occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and all people in the world are exposed to environmental radiation. The mean exposure, that is the mean annual dose of per person, is dominated by medical applications and exposure to natural sources. Due to recent developments in healthcare, e.g. the increasing application of ionising radiation in medical imaging with relative high doses like CT, and modern high dose applications (for example CT angiography), the exposure due to medical application has risen. Additionally, the changes in living conditions increase the exposure to natural radioactivity also: More living time is spent in buildings or in an urban environment, which causes higher exposure to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in building materials and higher exposure to radon. The level of radon activity concentration in buildings is far higher than in the environment (outdoor). This effect is often amplified by modern energy-efficient buildings which reduce the air exchange and thus increase the radon indoor activity concentration. In summary both medical application of ionizing radiation and natural sources are responsible for the increase of the mean annual exposure of the population. The accurate measurement of radiation dose is key to ensuring safety but there are two challenges to be faced: First, new standards and reference fields are needed due to the rapid developments in medical imaging, radiotherapy and industrial applications. Second, direct communication channels are needed to ensure that information on best practice in measurements reaches effectively and quickly the people concerned. It is therefore necessary to allow for an international exchange of information on identified problems and solutions. Consequently, a European Metrology Network (EMN) for radiation protection under the roof of EURAMET is in the foundation phase. This network EMN for Radiation Protection is being prepared by the project EMPIR 19NET03 supportBSS. The project aims to prepare this EMN by addressing this issue through the identification of stakeholder research needs and by implementing a long-term ongoing dialogue between stakeholders and the metrology community. The EMN will serve as a unique point of contact to address all metrological needs related to radiation protection and it will relate to all environmental processes where ionising radiation and radionuclides are involved. A Strategic Research Agenda and two roadmaps are in development, covering the metrology needs of both the Euratom Treaty and the EU Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM pinning down the basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, long-term knowledge sharing, and capacity building will be supported and a proposal for a sustainable joint European metrology infrastructure is under way. This will significantly strengthen the radiation protection metrology and support radiation protection measures. The final goal of the network project is a harmonised, sustainable, coordinated and smartly specialised infrastructure to underpin the current and future needs expressed in the European regulations for radiation protection.

Natural Radionuclide Analysis on Crude Petroleum from Some Oil Fields in Ghana

The petroleum industries benefit immensely from developing scientific processes and procedures that determine characteristics of crude oils and distinct them. This is because crude oils are acquired from various geological sources and each sedimentary rock has its own distinct chemical properties that affect extraction, refinery and environmental safety. Extraction of crude oils may result in exposure of some radionuclide elements from sedimentary rocks into the environments. This nuclear exposure may affect lives and can cause ecological imbalance. Applications of gamma emission spectroscopy has grown rapidly around the world because of its accurate measurement and precision. Such technique has not been applied for the study of naturally occurring radionuclide materials (NORMs) in crude oils from the active oil fields in Ghana. The study employed the use of gamma spectroscopic technique for characterization of crude oil samples from Jubilee Oil Field, Tweneboa Enyenra Ntomme (TEN) Oil Field and Saltpond Oil Field. The technique was applied on four crude oil samples. The results of this paper actually report on radionuclide concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials in four crude samples using a Gamma-Ray spectrometer. Three radionuclides, radium-226 (226 Ra), thorium-232 (232 Th) and potassium-40 (40 K), were identified from each crude sample (JF, TF SF-1 and SF-2). It was observed that samples from Saltpond Oil Field estimated the highest activity concentration and the least was crude oil from Jubilee Oil Field. The activity concentration values were far less than the approved values by International Atomic Energy Agency for basic safety standard. Therefore, the radionuclides activity concentration values of crude oil samples from Jubilee, TEN, and Saltpond oil fields were within the basic safety standards exemption levels of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The crude oils from the oil fields can therefore be considered safe to handle. Also, the results of the activity concentrations from the sample used for this study indicate that crude petroleum from the oil fields may relatively have little nuclear activity impact to ecology and human health. The result of this study may be adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Petroleum Stakeholders of Ghana for development of petroleum geo-radionuclides radiation safety measures.

Discharges of dust from NORM facilities: Key parameters to assess effective doses for public exposure

In transposing Directive 2013/59/Euratom (European Basic Safety Standards or EU BSS) into national law, it was necessary to identify industrial sectors which involve naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) which may lead to public exposure that cannot be disregarded from a radiation protection point of view. A research project was implemented that resulted in a comprehensive survey of all potentially relevant industrial sectors operating in Germany. Major efforts were made to determine source terms of airborne discharges, atmospheric dispersion models, and dose calculations. The study arrived at the conclusion that the discharge and the settlement of dust in agricultural and horticultural areas is the most relevant dispersion and exposure pathway, while discharges of radon are of minor importance. The original study used a number of rather complex models that may distract from the fact that very few key parameters and assumptions determine the effective dose of members of the public. This paper revisits the study and identifies those parameters and assumptions and provides a simplified, generic, yet sufficiently reliable and robust assessment methodology to determine the radiological relevance of dust discharges from NORM industries under the typical geographical and meteorological conditions of Germany. This paper provides examples of dose estimates for members of the public for selected industries operating in Germany. Due to its simplicity and robustness, the methodology can also be used to assess effective doses resulting from discharges in other industries in Germany, and it can be adapted to conditions in other countries in a straightforward way.