Natural and anthropogenic radioactivity in some vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey

In this study, the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in some vegetable and fruit samples frequently consumed in Kastamonu province located in the West Black Sea region of Turkey were determined using a gamma-ray spectrometer. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K varied from 0.8 ± 0.1 to 32.8 ± 1.3, 0.7 ± 0.1 to 41.3 ± 21 and 391.8 ± 18.3 to 4679.0 ± 311.4 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively, in twenty-eight vegetables and 1.3 ± 0.1 to 12.6 ± 0.4, 1.4 ± 0.1 to 15.0 ± 0.5 and 133.0 ± 84 to 777.0 ± 69.4 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively, in seven fruit samples. The highest activity concentration of 226Ra and 232Th was measured in the garlic sample, while the highest activity concentration of 40K was measured in the spinach sample. Artificial radionuclide 137Cs was measured only in four vegetable samples; its activity concentration in garlic, eggplant, cucumber and carrot samples was determined as 9.6 ± 0.3, 3.1 ± 0.1, 3.1 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg−1 (dw), respectively. The results obtained were compared with the results of similar studies in the literature. Annual effective radiation dose to adults due to the internal irradiation caused by ingestion of the investigated vegetable and fruit samples, and the corresponding excess lifetime cancer risk were estimated as 201 µSv and 8.9 × 10−5, respectively. The contribution of 40K to the total annual effective radiation dose was found as approximately 70%.

Truncation effect reduction for fast iterative reconstruction in cone-beam CT

Background: Iterative reconstruction for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been applied to improve image quality and reduce radiation dose. In a case where an object is larger than a flat panel detector, most CBCT images contain truncated data or incomplete projections, which degrade image quality. In this work, we propose the truncation effect reduction for fast iterative reconstruction in CBCT imaging inside the field of view (FOV).Methods: The volume matrix size of FOV and the height of projection images were extrapolated to a suitable size. These extended projections were reconstructed by fast iterative reconstruction. Moreover, a smoothing parameter for noise regularization in iterative reconstruction was also modified to reduce the accumulated error while processing. The proposed work was evaluated by image quality measurements and compared with the conventional filtered back projection (FBP) method. To validate the proposed method, we used a head phantom for evaluation and tested on real human head data. Results: In the experimental results, the reconstructed images from the head phantom can be enhanced apparently. In addition, fast iteration reconstruction can be run continuously while remaining the consistent mean-percentage-error (MPE) value with a large number of iterations. The CNR of the soft-tissue images was improved by the increased contrast and the decreased noise. Visualization of low contrast in the ventricle and soft-tissue images can be observed much clearer compared to those from FBP using the same effective radiation dose of 5 mGy. Conclusions: Our proposed work has satisfactory performance to reduce the truncation effect, especially inside the FOV with better image quality for soft-tissue imaging. The convergence of fast iterative reconstruction tends to be stable for many iterations.

210Po and 210Pb in King Bolete (Boletus edulis) and Related Mushroom Species: Estimated Effective Radiation Dose and Geospatial Distribution in Central and Eastern Europe

210Po and 210Pb occur naturally and are the most radiotoxic isotopes of the uranium (U) decay chain. Samples of Boletus edulis and related mushroom species, including B. pinophilus, B. reticulatus, B. luridus and B. impolitus, collected from Poland and Belarus were investigated for the activity concentrations of these isotopes and also for their potential health risk through adult human consumption. The results showed that spatially, the occurrence of 210Po and 210Po was heterogeneous, with activities varying from 0.91 to 4.47 Bq∙kg−1 dry biomass and from 0.82 to 5.82 Bq∙kg−1 db, respectively. Caps and stipes of the fruiting bodies showed similar levels of contamination. Consumption of boletes foraged in Poland could result in exposure to a combined radiation dose of 10 µSv∙kg−1 db from both isotopes. This dose is not significant compared to the total annual effective radiation dose of 210Po and 210Pb (54–471 µSv∙kg−1) from all sources, suggesting that these mushrooms are comparatively safe for human consumption.

Estimation of effective radiation dose for households living in rare earth mines in Nam Xe, Lai Chau province

According to the United Nations Scientific Council on the Effects of Atomic Radiation(UNSCEAR), the global average dose level for the community is 2.4mSv/year. People living in the areas with high levels of radiation will cause adverse effects on their health. There are two main components that cause the dose of radiation, mainly due to the inhalation of radon and the extra dose of gamma radiation. The paper presents the results of assessment of natural effective radiation doses on the basis of the projected outpatient dosimetry in 70 households living in Mau and Mo village of Nam Xe, Phong Tho distrist, Lai Chau province.

Computed Tomography in Limb Salvage and Deformity Correction—3D Assessment, Indications, Radiation Exposure, and Safety Considerations

Computed tomography (CT) is an essential tool in orthopedic surgery but is known to be a method with that entails radiation exposure. CT increases the risk of developing fatal cancer, which should not be underestimated. However, patients with bone defects and/or deformities must frequently undergo numerous investigations during their treatment. CT is used for surgical planning, evaluating callus maturation, alignment measurement, length measurement, torsion measurement, and angiography. This study explores the indications in CT scans for limb lengthening and deformity correction and estimates the effective radiation dose. These results should help avoid unnecessary radiation exposure by narrowing the examination field and by providing explicit scanning indications. For this study, 19 posttraumatic patients were included after the bone reconstruction of 21 lower limbs. All patients underwent CT examinations during or after treatment with an external ring fixator. The mean effective dose was 3.27 mSv, with a mean cancer risk of 1:117,014. The effective dose depended on the location and indication of measurement, with a mean dose of 0.04 mSv at the ankle up to 6.8 mSv (or higher) for vascular depictions. CT evaluation, with or without 3D reconstruction, is a crucial tool in complex bone reconstruction and deformity treatments. Therefore, strict indications are necessary to reduce radiation exposure—especially in young patients—without compromising the management of their patients.

Perioperative Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return Evaluation With Low-Dose Cardiac Computed Tomography

Background: Low-dose multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) is playing an increasingly larger role in the diagnosis of anomalous pulmonary venous return (APVR). Despite advances in new computed tomographic (CT) techniques with radiation dose reduction, there are limited studies describing radiation dose parameters to allow routine use of cardiac CT in infants and children with APVR. This study compares cardiac CT findings with intraoperative findings and describes comprehensive radiation exposure parameters. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 27 patients compared MDCTA and intraoperative or cardiac catheterization findings of the pulmonary venous anatomy. Results: A total of 32 MDCTA studies were performed on these 27 patients. Of the 28 studies with subsequent intervention, MDCTA accurately diagnosed the anomalous pulmonary venous anatomy in 27 (96.4%) patients. Narrowing of the pulmonary venous confluence entrance to the coronary sinus was missed on cardiac CT in one patient due to motion artifact, but it was noted intraoperatively. Median estimated effective radiation dose was 0.98 mSv (range: 0.39-3.2 mSv), and mean estimated effective radiation dose was 1.1 ± 0.68 mSv. Median total dose length product (DLP) was 25 mGy cm (range: 10-83 mGy cm), and mean total DLP was 28 ± 18 mGy cm. Median CTDI volume was 3.8 mGy (range: 2.5-14.6 mGy), and mean CTDI volume was 5.0 ± 3.2 mGy. Conclusions: We conclude that modern cardiac MDCTA is the best imaging modality to guide management in both preintervention and postintervention APVR patients. In this study, we describe comprehensive radiation exposure parameters in infants and children with APVR.