scholarly journals Radiation Risks of Helicopter Personnel Responding to the Chernobyl Accident: Early and Long-Term Health Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
I.B. Ushakov ◽  
◽  
V.P. Fedorov ◽  

The objectives of the study were to analyze the radiation doses received by helicopter crew members during the work above the emergency unit and the effectiveness of some radioprotective means; to determine the most radiosensitive systems of the body, their condition in the early and distant terms after the accident and the causes of disqualification of flight personnel. Materials and research methods. The first stage of the work was performed directly in the zone of helicopter aviation flight over the Chernobyl NPP emergency power unit. We determined radiation doses received by flight personnel, their dependence on the type of helicopter and pilot's workplace. Also we evaluated the dependence of exposure dose on the radio-protective means used and the primary reaction of pilots to radiation exposure. The second stage of the work was performed on the basis of the Central Research Aviation Hospital and the State Research Test Institute of Military Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Defense. At this stage the results of laboratory, clinical and psychological examination of the pilots who performed the tasks of liquidation of the Chernobyl accident effects in 1986 - 1987 and received regulated radiation doses were assessed. The corresponding medical documents (expert decisions of medical and aviation committees, results of medical follow-up) were studied for the period from 1986 till 2000, i.e. till the time when almost all helicopter liquidators were disqualified for health reasons or discharged due to senior service. Results of the study and their analysis. The radiation doses received by the helicopter crew members during the execution of the assigned tasks over the emergency unit and the efficiency of some radio-protective means were analyzed. The most radiosensitive body systems, their condition in the early and distant terms after the accident and the diseases leading to the disqualification of flight personnel were determined.

Author(s):  
И. Ушаков ◽  
I. Ushakov ◽  
В. Федоров ◽  
V. Fedorov

There was a study of the health status (with emphasis on psychoneurological status) of crew on military helicopters and aircraft before and after the execution of works on liquidation of consequences of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, and received a radiation dose of 226 6 mGy. We studied the results of a poll of the liquidators for the purpose of studying their quality of life 10 years after the accident. The obtained data were compared with the results of radiobiological experiments on animals irradiated at doses comparable to that received by the liquidators. The results of the study concluded that, in assessing psychoneurological status of the liquidators of radiation accidents, it is necessary to take into account the initial state of their health and the whole complex of adverse factors of the Chernobyl accident, and not just the external exposure dose. The main measures of prevention of psychoneurological disorders in liquidators should become: a professional selection of volunteers, who know the basics of radiobiology; professional medical-psychological service; the creation of appropriate socio-hygienic conditions and proportional to the risk faced by the liquidators and their families; reducing the level the harmful and dangerous work-related factors of flight operations, as well as prevention (and it seems important) incorporation into the body of long-lived radionuclides.


Author(s):  
P Sruthi ◽  
M M Naidu

Ionizing radiations are detrimental to the biological system. Exposure to ionizing radiations results in many chronic diseases including cancer. It may cause dysfunctions to almost all organs of the body depending on the total dose, duration and site of irradiation. Apart from its bad effect, radiotherapy is now extensively used for the treatment of several kinds of cancers. Still, the key disadvantage in the procedure is that normal cell, in the surrounding area of the tumor, also receiving radiation doses similar to the tumor, leads to undesirable side effects and risk to patients. Curcumin has been found to protect harmful effects of ionizing radiation. So, it can be beneficial during radiotherapy of cancer. Curcumin helps to kill tumor cells effectively by enhancing the effect of radiation. It also protects normal cells against the harmful effects of radiation. Pre clinical studies are expected to lead to clinical trials to prove the potential of this age-old golden spice for treating cancer patients. This review summarizes the protective effect of curcumin against harmful radiations.


Author(s):  
L. Yarmots ◽  
G. Yarmots ◽  
A. Belenkaya

For ruminants, especially high-yielding animals in addition to the complete supply of animals with protein, its digestibility in the rumen is important. With low protein digestibility in the rumen, the released ammonia will be more effectively used by the rumen microflora, and the undigestible protein in the subsequent sections of the digestive tract can serve as a source of amino acids for the body. The use of concentrate mixtures with the inclusion of local, affordable and cheaper grain feeds, in particular a high-energy and protein ingredient- rapeseed presscake makes it possible to increase the milk productivity of cows throughout lactation. These presscakes are well balanced in their amino acid composition and belong to feeds whose protein has a low degree of digestibility in the rumen. The purpose of the researches was to study the digestibility of nutrients and milk productivity of cows when using the concentrate mixture with the inclusion of rapeseed presscake. In the scientific and economic experiment has been carried out on lactating cows, where the cows of the experimental group in the concentrate mixture of peas has been replaced with rapeseed presscake the digestibility of nutrients in the ration, energy metabolism and milk productivity have been studied. Studies have shown that almost all the nutrients were significantly better digested by the animals of the experimental group. Energy in milk was more allocated by cows of the experimental group by 6,29 MJ. From cows of the experimental group for 100 and 305 days of lactation has been obtained more milk by 6,27 and 7,06 %, respectively, than from control herdmates. The biochemical parameters of blood were within the limits of the physiological norm in animals of both groups. Thus, the replacement of peas with rapeseed presscake in the concentrate mixture did not have a negative influence on the metabolic processes and helped to increase the milk productivity of cows.


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1231-1238
Author(s):  
Zeki & Ridha

This study was aimed to investigate the ability of N.oleander to remove Cadmium (Cd) from wastewater. A prolonged toxicity test was performed in a single exposure and run for 65 days with various concentrations of Cd. Plants were grown in sand medium and irrigated with simulated wastewater contaminated with Cd, using different concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 mg/L), which were chosen based on previous preliminary test. The results of physical observation of the plants didn’t show any withering symptoms. The Cd concentration in plants increased, while in water decreased. The results of plant analysis showed that Cd concentration in plant shoots (stems and leaves) was higher than that in roots for almost all exposure doses along the test duration. The concentration of Cd in water decreased significantly from the first week of the test and become (0 mg/l) on day-35 for 10 and 25 mg/l exposure doses, while exceeded the permissible limits for 50 and 75 mg/l exposure doses and were 0.14 and 0.91 mg/l, respectively. Wet weight and dry weight of Oleander decreased with increasing Cd concentration level except for 10 mg/l exposure dose where the plant wet weight and dry weight increased at the end of the test. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and Translocation Factor (TF) was found to be greater than 1, indicating that Oleander is a successful hyperaccumulator for Cd.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105566562110017
Author(s):  
Yoshikazu Kobayashi ◽  
Masanao Kobayashi ◽  
Daisuke Kanamori ◽  
Naoko Fujii ◽  
Yumi Kataoka ◽  
...  

Objective: Some patients with cleft palate (CP) need secondary surgery to improve functionality. Although 4-dimensional assessment of velopharyngeal closure function (VPF) in patients with CP using computed tomography (CT) has been existed, the knowledge about quantitative evaluation and radiation exposure dose is limited. We performed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of VPF using CT and estimated the exposure doses. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Computed tomography images from 5 preoperative patients with submucous CP (SMCP) and 10 postoperative patients with a history of CP (8 boys and 7 girls, aged 4-7 years) were evaluated. Patients: Five patients had undergone primary surgery for SMCP; 10 received secondary surgery for hypernasality. Main Outcome Measures: The presence of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), patterns of velopharyngeal closure (VPC), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of VPI was evaluated via CT findings. Organ-absorbed radiation doses were estimated in 5 of 15 patients. The differences between cleft type and VPI, VPC patterns, and CSA of VPI were evaluated. Results: All patients had VPI. The VPC patterns (SMCP/CP) were evaluated as coronal (1/4), sagittal (0/1), circular (1/2), and circular with Passavant’s ridge (2/2); 2 patients (1/1) were unevaluable because of poor VPF. The CSA of VPI was statistically larger in the SMCP group ( P = .0027). The organ-absorbed radiation doses were relatively lower than those previously reported. Conclusions: Four-dimensional CT can provide the detailed findings of VPF that are not possible with conventional CT, and the exposure dose was considered medically acceptable.


Author(s):  
Adenike Adegbayi

Abstract The aim of the study is to add to the body of knowledge on less researched aspects of female adolescent health in Nigeria. It specifically explored the menarche or first period narratives of 136 young women, focusing on the contents of the discussion that ensued with whom they told when they first got their period using qualitative methodology. It also explores sources of premenstrual information and how the menstrual period is managed. The sample consisted of 136 undergraduate females in Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria. Almost all of the respondents (95%) received information about menstruation from mothers, female relatives and school lessons prior to menarche. The majority of the respondents first told either their mother or a female relative when they first got their period and viewed menarche as a crisis. Two salient themes emerged from the contents of the narratives; celebration and advice. The advice theme was further explored and three advice patterns were identified: being a woman, hygiene and changed dynamics in relationships with males. Data from the present study suggests that only certain aspects of the menstruation discourse have evolved. All respondents reported using sanitary towels during their menstrual period with the majority experiencing cramps regularly and (61%) using pharmalogical agents for remedy. It is envisaged that findings from the study will be useful in future health intervention programmes and research on female adolescent health in Nigeria and elsewhere.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-308
Author(s):  
Derek Harwood-Nash ◽  
Herman Grossman ◽  
Alvin Felman ◽  
John Kirkpatrick ◽  
Leonard Swischuk

Computerized tomography (CT), a technique conceptualized by Oldendorf in 19611 and developed by Hounsfield2 of EMI-Tronics Inc. (EMI) Central Research Laboratories, has proven to be a successful innovation in neuroradiology. Reviews by Ambrose3 in England and by Baker et al.4 and by New et al.5 in the United States have clearly demonstrated the value of this new modality in neuroradiological diagnosis. In 1975 Houser et al.6 and Harwood-Nash et al.7 provided the initial clinical and radiological data about CT in infants and children. More recently this technique has been extended to the study of tissues and organs in the body other than those in the head. This has been accomplished by modification of the original machine into a whole-body CT system. Early reviews by Ledley et al.8 and by Alfidi et al.9 suggest a significant potential for diagnosis of lesions in the abdomen, pelvis, and thorax. The advantages of CT are that it is less invasive than standard special diagnostic radiological procedures and that for the first time it provides in vivo information regarding the content and the characteristics of tissue composing organs and masses. DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT In conventional radiography an image is made on radiographic film by an attenuated X-ray beam. In passing through a core of tissue, each ray of the beam is attenuated as it is absorbed and scattered by the tissue in its path. The intensity of the transmitted ray depends on the sum total of X-ray attenuation by all the different soft tissues in its path.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kochu Therisa Karingada ◽  
Michael Sony

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has caught many educational institutions by surprise and warranted an abrupt migration from offline to online learning. This has resulted in an education change, without any time for due consideration, as regards its impact on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) on students. The purpose of this study is to investigate MSD related to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students in India. In total, 261 students participated in this online survey.FindingsThe study finds that around 80% of students have reported some symptom in the head, neck and eyes since they started online learning. In total, 58% have reported MSD symptom in the right shoulder and 56% in the right hand fingers. Besides, more than 40 % of students experienced some MSD symptoms, in almost all the body parts studied, due to online learning. Correlation analysis is conducted between time spent on online learning per day and MSD symptoms.Originality/valueThis is the first study conducted on MSD and online learning during COVID-19 pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Junling Zhang ◽  
Xiaodan Han ◽  
Saijun Fan

Abstract Radiation can induce senescence in many organs and tissues; however, it is still unclear how radiation stimulates senescence in mouse small intestine. In this study, we use the bone marrow transplantation mouse model to explore the late effects of total body irradiation on small intestine. Our results showed that almost all of the body hairs of the irradiated mice were white (which is an indication of aging) 10 months after the exposure to radiation. Furthermore, compared with the age-matched control mice, there were more SA-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal)–positive cells and an upregulation of p16 and p21 in 8 Gy–irradiated mice intestinal crypts, indicating that radiation induced senescence in the small intestine. Intestinal bacterial flora profile analysis showed that the diversity of the intestinal bacterial flora decreased in irradiated mice; in addition it showed that the principal components of the irradiated and control mice differed: there was increased abundance of Bacteroidia and a decreased abundance of Clostridia in irradiated mice. To explore the underlying mechanism, an RNA-sequence was executed; the results suggested that pancreatic secretion, and the digestion and absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins were damaged in irradiated mice, which may be responsible for the body weight loss observed in irradiated mice. In summary, our study suggested that total body irradiation may induce senescence in the small intestine and damage the health status of the irradiated mice.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takakiyo Tsujiguchi ◽  
Yoko Suzuki ◽  
Mizuki Sakamoto ◽  
Kazuki Narumi ◽  
Katsuhiro Ito ◽  
...  

Abstract Emergency medical responders (EMRs), who save victims in a radiation emergency, are at risk of radiation exposure. In this study, the exposure dose to EMRs assisting contaminated patients was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation, and will produce data that contributes to EMR education and anxiety reduction. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, we estimated radiation doses for adult computational phantoms with radioactive contamination conditions radiation dosages were based on findings from previous studies. At the contamination condition corresponding to the typical upper limit of general GM survey meters, the radiation doses of EMRs were estimated to be less than μSv per hour. In case of a heavier contamination due to mishandling of an intense radioactive source with hundreds of GBq or more, their radiation doses would be close to 100 mSv per hour. The results have implied that the radiological accident with a highly radioactive source would expose EMR to the risk of significant radiation exposure exceeding the dose limit. It is thus crucial that the authority or other party who are responsible for the health of EMRs ensures that they shall have necessary education and training on the effective measures for protecting themselves from the possible, excessive radiation exposure.


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