Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021. Vol. 66. № 4. P. 54–57

Justification of Remediation Criteria of Uranium Legacy Sites

A.V. Titov, N.K. Shandala, Yu.S. Belskikh, D.V. Isaev, М.P. Semenova,
T.A. Doronieva, K.Yu. Oskina, Yu.V. Gushchina 

A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

Contact person:  Alexey Viktorovich Titov: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To present approaches to establishing the criteria for remediation of sites contaminated due to past activities of uranium mining and milling facilities. These facilities are considered today as uranium legacy.

Results: This paper presents the justified reference levels expressed in terms of annual effective dose values, which are recommended for using as remediation criteria for sites contaminated due to past activities of uranium mining and milling facilities (uranium legacy sites). 

Depending on further use of the sites after remediation, these criteria range from 1 µSv/year, in case of temporary presence of the population, to 10 µSv/year, in case of permanent residence of the population and conducting economic activities.

Conclusions: In accordance with the international basic safety standards, accepted more than 10 years ago, exposure situations from radioactive material retained from previous activities refer to the existing exposure situation.

Nevertheless, neither Federal Law “On Radiation Safety of the Population” nor Radiation Safety Standards have so far introduced terms “existing exposure situation” covering exposure at nuclear and uranium legacy sites and “reference level”, which is used to assure radiation safety of the population living at legacy sites or using these sites for the purpose of the economic activities.

Key words: uranium legacy, remediation criteria, site using areas, natural radionuclides, radioactive contamination, remediation, past activities, manmade radionuclides, specific activity

For citation: Titov AV, Shandala NK, Belskikh YuS, Isaev DV, Semenova МP, Doronieva TA, Oskina KYu, Gushchina YuV Justification of Remediation Criteria of Uranium Legacy Sites. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety 2021;66(4):54-57.

DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2021-66-4-54-57

References

1. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2025 and Beyond" Moscow, Kremlin. October 13, 2018 N 585. (In Russian)].

2. Romanovich IK, Stamat IP, Sanzharova NI, Panov AV. Criteria for rehabilitation of facilities and territories contaminated with radionuclides as a result of past activities: Part 1. The choice of indicators for justification of the criteria for rehabilitation. Radiation Hygiene. 2016;9(4):6-14. (In Russian).

3. Titov AV, Shandala NK, Isaev DV, Semenova МP, Seregin VА, Belskikh YuS, Ostapchuk TV, Chernobaev AS. Assessment of the Public Radiation Protection and Economic Activity Safety in the Area of the Developed Uranium Deposit. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2020;65(2):11–16. DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2020-65-2-11-16. (In Russian).

4. Decision of the CIS Economic Council on the report "Remediation of the territories of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States affected by uranium production" (Together with the Working Group on the preparation of the Report) (Adopted in Moscow on December 27, 2006). (In Russian).

5. ICRP Publication 103. Translation from English / Kiselev MF, Shandala NK. general editors. M.: Publ. JCS PKF «Alana», 2009. (In Russian). 

6. IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3. Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. General safety requirements, part 3. IAEA. Vienna, 2015. (In Russian).

7. Policy and strategies for environmental remediation. IAEA nuclear energy series no. NW-G-3.1 - Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. 2015:p. 48.

8. SanPiN 2.6.1.2819-10. Radiation Protection of the population living at the areas of peaceful nuclear explosions (1965 - 1988). Health rules and regulations. (In Russian).

9. SanPiN 2.6.1.2800-10 Health Physics Requirements to Limit Public Exposure due to Natural Radiation Sources. (In Russian). 

10. SanPiN 2.3.2.1078-01 Health Physics Requirements for Safety and Nutritional Value of Food. (In Russian).

11. Stamat IP, Kormanovskaya TA, Gorskiy GA. Russian Federation population radiation protection during the exposure from natural ionizing irradiation sources: modern state and directions for development and optimization. Radiation hygiene. 2014;7(1):54-62. (In Russian).

12. Sources of radiation exposure for the Russian population (ibrae.ac.ru).  www.ibrae.ac.ru/russian/chernobyl-3d/man/1.htm. (In Russian).

13. Shandala NK, Titov AV, Isaev DV, Semenova МP, Seregin VA, Ostapchuk TV, Shlygin VV, Starinsky VG, Starinskaya RA. The impact assessment of the heavy rain consequences on the radiation situation around the shaft-16 of the former ALMAZ enterprize. Medicine of Extreme Situations. 2017;2 (60):202-207. (In Russian). 

14. Shandala NK, Isaev DV, Gimadova TI, Kiselev SM, Semenova MP, Seregin VA, Titov AV, Zolotukhina SB, Zhuravleva LA, Khohlova EA. Current Radiation Situation in Krasnokamensk. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2015;60(6):10–14. (In Russian)].

15. Release of sites from regulatory control on termination of practices. Safety guide no. WS-G-5.1.Vienna. International Atomic Energy Agency. 2006;42 р. (In Russian).

16. CARE.Final Report. Prepared by Hildegarde Vandenhove, Andrew Bousher, Per Hedemann Jensen,Duncan Jackson, Barbara Lambers, Theo Zeevaert. For European Commission DG XI Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection under contract 96-ET-006. September 1999.

17. Shandala NK, Kiselev SM, Titov AV, Semenova MP, Seregin VA. Enhancing the regulatory framework during the supervision of nuclear legacy sites. Ed.: Uiba V. and Samoilov A. http://фцп-ярб2030.рф/society/publications/ (In Russian)].

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 16.02.2021. 

Accepted for publication: 20.04.2021.

Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021. Vol. 66. № 4. P. 62–69

Subacute Course of Chronic Radiation Syndrome Caused External 
Non-Uniform Radiation Exposure of Lost Source

I.A. Galstyan, A.Yu. Bushmanov, N.A. Metlyaeva, V.Yu. Soloviev, L.Yu. Mershin, M.V. Konchalovsky,
V.Yu. Nugis, O.V. Shcherbatykh, L.A. Yunanova, F.S. Torubarov, A.A. Davtian, E.E. Obuhova

A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

Contact person: Irina Alekseevna Galstyan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyze the features of the clinical course of chronic radiation syndrome (CRS) due to external non-uniform chronic exposure to prolonged household contact with a lost source of ionizing radiation.

Material and methods: Analysis of 2 clinical observations of patients who developed subacutecourse of CRS and chronic radiation dermatitis due to external non-uniform exposure of the lost sources of ionizing radiation are presented.

Results: Boy A. K. from the age of 1 year for 7 years was external radiation exposed (for 1.5 years non-uniform exposure ) to the total dose according EPR tooth enamel about 6.3 Gy, according to the data of retrospective dose recovery on red bone marrow using voxel modeling – 26 (19–37) Gy.

F. V. V., male, 38 years, was external non-uniform radiation exposed for 5 months, the total dose according cytogenetic studies of 7.9 Gy (dose rate about 0.035 Gy/h).

During the examination in the hospital, the patients were diagnosed with CRS. Within the framework of the bone marrow syndrome, deep thrombocytopenia, moderate leuko- and neutropenia, and moderate anemic syndrome were observed. The latter is not typical for the typical course of CRS and is a criterion indicating a subacute course of the disease. In addition, signs of chronic radiation dermatitis were found in the projection of the action of the ionizing radiation beam. After stopping the radiation exposure, the patients did not recover their hematopoietic function, and in the period of immediate consequences, they developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with further transformation into acute leukemia.

Conclusion: 1. Accidental prolonged household or criminal contact with a source of ionizing radiation can lead to the formation of CRS with an atypical subacute course and the formation of MDS with transformation to acute leukemia in the outcome of the disease or in the period of its consequences.

2. It can be assumed that with external non-uniform radiation exposure, leading to the development of CRS and chronic radiation damage to the skin, agranulocytosis in the subacute course of CRS may be absent.

3. Adverse prognostic signs for the development of MDS and leukemia in the outcome or in the period of the consequences of subacute CRS with non-uniform exposure are long-lasting deep thrombocytopenia and anemic syndrome after the end of radiation exposure.

Keywords: chronic radiation syndrome, subacute course, non-uniform radiation exposure, lost radiation source, agranulocytosis, anemic syndrome, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute leukemia

For citation: Galstyan IA, Bushmanov AYu, Metlyaeva NA, Soloviev VYu, Mershin LYu, Konchalovsky MV, Nugis VYu, Shcherbatykh OV, Yunanova LA, Torubarov FS, Davtian AA, Obuhova EE. Subacute Course of Chronic Radiation Syndrome Caused External Non-Uniform Radiation Exposure of Lost Source. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021;66(4):62-69.

DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2021-66-4-62-69

References

1. Galstyan IA, Metlyaeva NA, Konchalovsky MV, Nugis VYu, Shcherbatykh OV, Yunanova LA, et al. "Subacute” course of chronic radiation syndrome. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. Accepted for publication. (In Russian)].

2. Krasnyuk VI, Konchalovsky MV, Ustyugova AA. Clinical features of subacute course of radiation disease. Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research. 2014;10(4):858-862. (In Russian)].

3. Hwang S-L, Guo H-R, Hsieh W-A, Hwang J-S, Lee S-D, Tang J-L, et al. Cancer risks in a population with prolonged low dose-rate gamma-radiation exposure in radiocontaminated buildings, 1983-2002. Int J Radiat Biol. 2006;82(12):849-58. DOI: 10.1080/09553000601085980.

4. ICRP Publication. 110. Adult Reference Computational Phantoms. SAGE Publications Ltd. May 2010: 166. 

5. S. Agostinelli et al. Geant4 – A Simulation Toolkit, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A 2003;506. 250-303.

6. J. Allison et al. Geant4 – Developments and Applications, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 2006;53:270-278.

7. S. Agostinelli et al. Geant4 – A Simulation Toolkit, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A 2003;506: 250-303.

8. Sevan’kaev AV, Khvostunov IK, Snigiryova GP, Novitskaya NN, Antoschina MM, Fesenko EV, et al. Comparative analysis of cytogenetic examination of control groups of subjects carried out in different russian laboratories. Radiatsion biology, radioecology. 2013;53(1):5-24. (In Russian).

9. Cytogenetic dosimetry: Applications in preparedness for and response to radiation emergencies. Vienna: IAEA, 2011. 229 p.

10. Snigiryova GP, Bogomazova AN, Novitskaya NN, Hazins ED, Rubanovich AV. Biological indication of radiation exposure to the human body using cytogenetic methods. Medical Technology No.FS-2007/015-U. Moscow, 2007. 29 p. (In Russian)]

11. Nugis VYu, Dudochkina NEu. The regularities of chromosome aberrations elimination in lymphocyte cultures of the peripheral blood of people in late times after acute irradiation. Radiatsion biology, radioecology. 2006;46(1):5-16. (In Russian)].

12. Baranov AE, Guskova AK, Davtian AA, Sevan`kaev AV, Lloid DC, Edwards AA, et al. Protracted overexposure to a 137Cs source: II. Clinical sequelae. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 1999;81(2):91-100.

13. Sevan`kaev AV, Lloid DC, Edwards AA, Mikhailova GF, Nugis VYu, Domracheva EV, et al. Protracted overexposure to a 137Cs source: I. Dose Reconstruction. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 1999;81(2):85-90.

14. Nugis VYu, Snigiryova GP, Lomonosova EE, Kozlova MG, Nikitina VA. Three-color FISH method: dose-effect curves for translocations in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures after gamma-irradiation in vitro. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2020;65(5):12-20. (In Russian).

15. Myelodysplastic syndrome. Clinical Recommendations. 2020; 94 p. (In Russian)].

16. Selidovkin GD, Barabanova AV. Acute radiation syndrome caused general radiation Exposure. In: Radiation Medicine. Ed.: Iljin LA. IzdAT, 2001;2:62-89 (In Russian)].

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 16.02.2021. 

Accepted for publication: 20.04.2021.

Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021. Vol. 66. № 4. P. 58–61

Results of the Activities of Interdepartmental Expert Advice
on Establishing Communication Diseases, Disabilities and Death
with Impact Radiation Factors

A.Yu. Bushmanov, A.P. Biryukov, E.P. Korovkina, A.S. Kretov, I.V. Vlasova,
А.А. Lomteva, A.A. Gugina

A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

Contact person: Irina Vladimirovna Vlasova: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

One of the systems of expert councils that exist on the territory of the Russian Federation is the Interdepartmental Expert Council (IEC), where citizens can apply to establish the cause of the connection between illness, disability and death with exposure to ionizing radiation.

The article discusses the normative documents and the legal framework governing the work of the IEC, to establish the causal relationship of diseases, disability and death of citizens exposed to radiation as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The results of the activities of interdepartmental expert councils of the Russian Federation for 2010–2020 are presented.

The categories of citizens who have the right to submit documents for an examination to establish the causal relationship of illness, disability and death as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation in the IEC have been determined.

Key words: Interdepartmental Expert Councils (IEC), Chernobyl atomic power station (ChAPS), legislative base, organizational structure

For citation: Bushmanov AYu, Biryukov AP, Korovkina EP, Kretov AS, Vlasova IV, Lomteva АА, Gugina AA. Results of the Activities of Interdepartmental Expert Advice on Establishing Communication Diseases, Disabilities and Death with Impact Radiation Factors. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021;66(4):58-61.

DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2021-66-4-58-61

References

1. Collection of Normative Documents of the Russian Federation Law «On Social Protection of Citizens Exposed to Radiation From the Chernobyl Accident». Moscow, Energoatomisdat Publ., 1993. 238 p. (In Russian).

2. Bushmanov AYu, Guskova AK, Krasnyuk VI, Galstyan IV. Methodological Manual for Establishing the Relationship of Diseases with Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. Moscow, A.I. Burnazyan FMBA of Russia Publ., 2009. 27 p. (In Russian). 

3. Guskova AK. The Complexity of the Casual Relationship Expert Assessments for Radiation Exposure and Diseases at Late Terms after Irradiation and Overcome Measures.  Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2010. 55(1):81–85. (In Russian). 

4. Guskova AK.  Difficulties and errors in the interpretation of data on the relationship between morbidity and mortality of various categories of people with exposure to ionizing radiation.  Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2010. 55(6): 72–74. (In Russian).

5. Tukov АР, Guskova AK.  Анализ опыта и источников ошибок  в оценке состояния здоровья  лиц, вовлеченных в радиационные аварии. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 1997. 42(5): 5–10. (In Russian).

6. Bushmanov AYu, Biryukov AP, Korovkina EP, Kretov AS, Buhvostova NN. The Analysis of Documentary Regulatory Base and Results of Activity of Interdepartmental Advisory Councils on Establishment of the Causal Relationship of Diseases, Disability and Death of the Citizens of Russia Affected by Radiation Factors Owing to the Chernobyl Accident. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2016. 61. (3): 103–108. (In Russian).

7. Bushmanov AYu, Rozhko AV, Biryukov AP, Kretov AS, Nadyrov EA, Korovkina EP. Analysis of the Applied Regulatory and Legal Framework Used by the Advisory Councils in Establishment of the Causal Relationship in Cases of Morbidity, Disability and Mortality Among the Allied States Citizens Exposed to Radiation in Chernobyl Accident. Medicine of Extreme Situations. 2016. 58. (4): 8–17. (In Russian).

8. Sanitary rules 2.6.1.2523-09 "Radiation Safety Standards" (NRB-99/2009). (In Russian). 

9. Sanitary rules 2.6.1.2612-10 "Basic sanitary rules for ensuring radiation safety" (OSPORB-99/2010). (In Russian).

10. ICRP Report on Tissue Reactions, Early and Long-Term Effects in Normal Tissues and Organs – Threshold Doses for Tissue Reactions in the Context of Radiation Protection.. ICRP; Pub. (118) / Stuart FA, et al., ed. Akleev AV, Kiselev MF. translat. English: Zhidkova EM, Kotova NS. Chelyabinsk, Kniga Publ., 2012. – 384 p. (In Russian).

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 16.02.2021.

Accepted for publication: 20.04.2021.

Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021. Vol. 66. № 4. P. 70–76

Justification and Application of Sufficiency Criterion
for Measuring the Activity of Uranium Radioisotopes in Biological Samples

E.A. Dashanova^1,2, A.A. Molokanov¹, E.A. Korneva¹

¹A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

²National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute). Moscow, Russia

Contact person: Ekaterina Alexandrovna Dashanova: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Ensuring the fulfillment of the sufficiency  n  criterion when measuring the activity of uranium radionuclides in biological samples carried out within the individual monitoring programme by calculation of the uncertainty and characteristics limits for measurements.

Material and methods: The sufficiency criterion definition is given, which determines the maximum value of the decision threshold for measurements carried out for the individual monitoring of workers at which the fact of non-exceeding of the annual dose limit or permissible level takes place, taking into account the uncertainty of the dose assessment. A model approach is used to calculate the sufficiency criterion and characteristics limits when measuring the radioactive material excrected by individual workers. The model approach consisted in the development of a calculation model based on the functional dependence of measured input values on the process of radiochemical preparation and subsequent spectrometric measurement of the sample.

Results: A model has been developed for calculating the activity of uranium radionuclides 234U, 235U and 238U in a biological sample based on the description of the procedure for spectrometric measurement, which consisted in the deposition by the electrolytic method on the target after chromatographic extraction of uranium from the urine sample.  The reference radioactive solution of the 232U radionuclide added to the sample as a reference point for determining the efficiency of uranium radionuclide separation (chemical yield). Equations are obtained for calculating the values of the decision threshold and the detection limit for the total activity of the above alpha-emitting uranium radionuclides. Using these equations, the dependence of the decision threshold and the detection limit on measurement time is determined for the given input data. This allows planning the measurement time at which the activity of uranium radionuclides in the sample can be determined reliably or at which the sufficiency criterion of the measurement method will be provided (necessary in the case when the activity is not detected, that is, the measurement result is less than the decision threshold). The values of the activity of uranium radionuclides 234U, 235U and 238U and the corresponding characteristics limits for the measurement were calculated on the basis of a real example of spectrometric measurement of the activity of uranium radionuclides in a sample.

Conclusion: Ensuring the fulfillment of the sufficiency criterion when measuring the activity of uranium radionuclides in biological samples is achieved by the correct determination of the sample measurement time. This is determined by time dependence analysis of the characteristics limits (the decision threshold  and the detection limit ) for the measurement of the total activity of the above alpha-emitting uranium radionuclides 234U, 235U and 238U. 

Key words: individual monitoring programme, alpha spectrometry, sufficiency criterion, decision threshold, detection limit, confidence interval

For citation: Dashanova EA, Molokanov AA, Korneva EA. Justification and Application of Sufficiency Criterion for Measuring the Activity of Uranium Radioisotopes in Biological Samples. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2021;66(4):70-76.

DOI: 10.12737/1024-6177-2021-66-4-70-76

References

1. Radiation Safety Standards NRB-99/2009. Hygienic Standards SP 2.6.1.2523- 09. Moscow. 2009. 100 p. (In Russian).

2. MU 2.6.1.065-14. Dosimetric Control of Occupational Internal Exposure. General Requirements (In Russian).

3. Molokanov AA, Kukhta BA. Development of the Internal Dose Assessment System for the Monitoring of Workers – Use of Modern Technologies. ANRI. 2019; (4) : 38-50. (In Russian).

4. ISO 11929:2010(E). Determination of the Characteristic Limits (Decision Threshold, Detection Limit and Limits of the Confidence Interval) for Measurements of Ionizing Radiation – Fundamentals and Application. Geneva. 2010.

5. ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008(E). Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurements (GUM:1995). Uncertainty of measurement. Geneva. Switzerland. 2008.

6. State Standard 34100.3-2017/ ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008. Uncertainty of Measurement. Part 3. Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurements. Moscow, Publ, Standardinform. 2018. (In Russian). 

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 16.02.2021. 

Accepted for publication: 20.04.2021.