Radiation literature survey

The radiation literature survey provides updates on published literature related to radiation (both ionising and non-ionising) and health.

Published literature includes articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, scientific-body reports, conference proceedings, etc.

The updates on new radiation literature that are of high quality and of public interest will be published as they arise. For each update, a short summary and a link to the abstract or to the full document (if freely available) are provided. The update may also include a commentary from ARPANSA and links to external websites for further information. The links may be considered useful at the time of preparation of the update however ARPANSA has no control over the content or currency of information on external links. Please see the ARPANSA website disclaimer.

Explanations of the more common terms used in the updates are found in the glossary.

The radiation literature that is listed in the updates is found by searching various databases and is not exhaustive.

Find out more about how you can search for scientific literature.

The intention of the radiation literature survey is to provide an update on new literature related to radiation and health that may be of interest to the general public. ARPANSA does not take responsibility for any of the content in the scientific literature and is not able to provide copies of the papers that are listed.

Are you looking for earlier editions of the Radiation literature survey?

Visit the National Library of Australia Australian Government Web Archive to access archived information no longer available on our website.

Title
Tags
Literature Survey Date

No effects of power line frequency extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on selected neurobehavior tests of workers inspecting transformers and distribution line stations versus controls

Authored By:

Li L, Xiong DF, et al

Summary:

This cross-sectional study investigated whether occupational exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields affects neurobehaviour. In the study neurobehavioural tests were conducted on 310 electrical utility workers (exposed group) and 300 office workers (control group). There were no statistically significant differences in neurobehavioural parameters between the exposed workers and the controls. The authors conclude that occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields does not appear to disrupt normal neurobehaviour.

Link to:

PubMed link

Published In:

Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 2013: in press

A review of worker radiation doses from mining and processing radionuclide containing ore in Western Australia

Authored By:

Martin, I Ralph and Marcus Cattani

Summary:

This study reviewed the radiation doses of mining and ore processing workers to naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in Western Australia. NORM is commonly encountered in mining and mineral operations in Western Australia. Worker exposure to NORM is routinely monitored as part of normal safety precautions. In this study the authors examined the radiation exposure of mining operation workers in 2018-19 and compared it to exposure in 2019-2020. They found that the mean effective dose reported increased by 32% from 0.71 mSv to 0.94 mSv, indicating that mean doses are approaching the 1 mSv annual dose estimate where regulatory intervention should be considered (Ralph and Cattani, 2022). In addition, there was a 36.4% increase in the maximum effective dose of workers from 4.4 mSv to 6.0 mSv. This was the first time in 10 years that an increase in the effective dose has been observed above 5 mSv; this is the threshold level where additional institutional controls and personal monitoring are required (Ralph and Cattani, 2022). The authors also noted that there has been a trend of decreased monitoring for internal exposure to NORM and that this should be reversed to provide increased confidence in the reported dose estimates.

Link to:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34814129/

Published In:

Journal of Radiological Protection

Commentary by ARPANSA:

This is the latest paper in a series (Ralph et al 2020a, 2020b) by the authors that have demonstrated that worker effective doses have increased due the revision of the dose coefficients for occupational intakes of radionuclides by International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP). The increase is observed because of the updates in how the dose from inhalation of radionuclides, particularly of the uranium-238 and thorium-232 and radon-222 and their progeny nuclides, are calculated. The updates to how ICRP now calculates doses can be found in the ICRP 130, 134, 137 & 141.

To ensure workers are protected from the harmful effects of radiation and our guides reflect international best practice, ARPANSA is currently updating RPS 9 and RPS 9.1 to reflect the changes to the dose coefficients by the ICRP. Information on these updates can be found on ARPANSA’s NORM Dose conversion factor update webpage. Making these changes should provide an easy mechanism for implementation by State and Territory radiation regulators.

More information on worker exposure to ionising radiation and the controls in place to protect workers in the mining industry can be found in the ARPANSA factsheet Occupational exposure: Uranium mining and milling workers.