Limeng Cui

Long-term standardized personal dose monitoring is essential for occupational radiation protection and health risk assessment of radiation workers. This study aimed to analyse the distribution characteristics, major causes, and actual exposure risks of abnormal individual dose monitoring results among radiation workers in Beijing from 2021 to 2025. A 5-year large-sample analysis of abnormal individual dose data among local radiation workers was performed to systematically explore the key problems in daily dose monitoring management. A total of 286 339 person-times of occupational external exposure monitoring (Hp(10)) were included, and 313 records exceeding the quarterly investigation level of 1.25 mSv were selected for retrospective investigation and statistical analysis. The overall 5-year abnormal rate was 0.11%, with no significant annual variation. Most abnormal cases were concentrated in medical institutions, especially in diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. Non-standard behaviours such as improper placement and irregular wearing of dosemeters were the main causes of false abnormal doses, accounting for the majority of over-threshold records. Only 46 cases were confirmed as actual occupational exposure, and all quarterly doses were below 3 mSv. Interventional radiology personnel had a significantly higher actual exposure fraction than other radiation worker groups, with both the highest proportion of exposed individuals and the largest collective occupational exposure dose. The overall occupational exposure level of radiation workers in Beijing remained under effective control during the study period. In conclusion, inappropriate dosemeter management is the primary factor leading to abnormal monitoring data. Targeted radiation protection training and standardized dose supervision should be strengthened for high-risk groups, especially interventional radiology workers, to improve the authenticity and effectiveness of occupational dose monitoring and optimize regional radiation protection management.

Children receive high radiation doses during interventional cardiology procedures and their sensitivity to radiation is higher than that of adults. A 4-year follow-up study was conducted in two large cardiovascular hospitals and a pediatric polyclinic with the objective of providing typical values. The median values of 454 cases obtained for fluoroscopy time, cumulative reference point air kerma (Ka,r) and air kerma-area product (PKA) by age range were 5.6 min, 53.6 mGy, and 4.1 Gy cm2 for <1 y; 4.3 min, 77.9 mGy, and 7.2 Gy cm2 for 1 to <5 y; 4.0 min, 41.4 mGy, and 7.4 Gy cm2 for 5 to <10 y; 4.4 min, 90.1 mGy, and 16.1 Gy cm2 for 10 to <16 y, respectively. The median values of 144 cases obtained for Ka,r and PKA by weight bands were 84.4 mGy and 7.4 Gy cm2 for 50 kg. Our results can serve as a dose comparison with local practice and as a basis for optimization between facilities.

The wearing method of personal dosemeters for medical staff changed from under to outside the operator’s protective apron in April 2020. We measured the radiation dose H_p(10) for medical staff in Beijing from September 2020 to October 2021. The study population consisted of 3291 medical staff. All participants were divided into three groups. After excluding unusually low doses, the collected data higher than the detection limit involved 811 (7.8%) of 10 395 readings from 479 (14.6%) of 3291 staff. The mean equivalent dose was 1.4 mSv/3 months, with an SD of 2.3 mSv. The calculated average annual effective doses of radiation workers in the three groups after the interventional procedures from September 2020 to October 2021 ranged from 0.47 to 0.63 mSv/year, with median values of 0.32, 0.23 and 0.26 mSv/year, respectively.

We conducted a survey on the mental status, including burnout, sense of coherence (SOC) and anxiety about radiation exposure among medical radiation workers in China. SOC levels were evaluated through a validated scale, SOC-13. Burnout was measured using the 22-item version of Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS). A total of 277 medical radiation workers answered the questionnaire. The mean values of SOC-13 and burnout were 50 (SD 13.5) and 79.7 (SD 25.7), respectively. The sum scores of SOC-13 and MBI-HSS were significantly linear correlated (p < 0.01, F = 284.239, adjusted R² = 0.506). Anxiety about radiation exposure was significantly associated with intention to leave employment ( χ ² = 66.535, p < 0.001, Cramer’s v = 0.347, p < 0.001). The participants who have no anxiety about radiation exposure have significantly higher scores of sense of coherence than those who have mild and moderate anxiety (p < 0.01); they have lower scores of burnout (p < 0.01). The participants who have no intention to leave employment have significantly higher scores of sense of coherence and lower scores of burnout than those who have an intention or hesitate to leave (p < 0.01). Most participants in this study showed considerable caution about whether to participate in radiation work during pregnancy. Anxiety about radiation exposure was considered a contributing factor for burnout and led to the intention to leave employment. Efforts to design targeted interventions, such as educational programs, to mitigate radiation anxiety in medical radiation workers are warranted.

Background: YouTube (Alphabet Incorporated) has become the most popular video-sharing platform in the world. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) disaster resulted in public anxiety toward nuclear power and radiation worldwide. YouTube is an important source of information about the FDNPP disaster for the world. Objective: This study's objectives were to examine the characteristics of YouTube videos related to the FDNPP disaster, analyze the content and comments of videos with a quantitative method, and determine which features contribute to making a video popular with audiences. This study is the first to examine FDNPP disaster–related videos on YouTube. Methods: We searched for the term “Fukushima nuclear disaster” on YouTube on November 2, 2019. The first 60 eligible videos in the relevance, upload date, view count, and rating categories were recorded. Videos that were irrelevant, were non-English, had inappropriate words, were machine synthesized, and were <3 minutes long were excluded. In total, 111 videos met the inclusion criteria. Parameters of the videos, including the number of subscribers, length, the number of days since the video was uploaded, region, video popularity (views, views/day, likes, likes/day, dislikes, dislikes/day, comments, comments/day), the tone of the videos, the top ten comments, affiliation, whether Japanese people participated in the video, whether the video recorder visited Fukushima, whether the video contained theoretical knowledge, and whether the video contained information about the recent situation in Fukushima, were recorded. By using criteria for content and technical design, two evaluators scored videos and grouped them into the useful (score: 11-14), slightly useful (score: 6-10), and useless (score: 0-5) video categories. Results: Of the 111 videos, 43 (38.7%) videos were useful, 43 (38.7%) were slightly useful, and 25 (22.5%) were useless. Useful videos had good visual and aural effects, provided vivid information on the Fukushima disaster, and had a mean score of 12 (SD 0.9). Useful videos had more views per day (P<.001), likes per day (P<.001), and comments per day (P=.02) than useless and slightly useful videos. The popularity of videos had a significant correlation with clear sounds (likes/day: P=.001; comments/day: P=.02), vivid information (likes/day: P<.001; comments/day: P=.007), understanding content (likes/day: P=.001; comments/day: P=.04). There was no significant difference in likes per day (P=.72) and comments per day (P=.11) between negative and neutral- and mixed-tone videos. Videos about the recent situation in Fukushima had more likes and comments per day. Video recorders who personally visited Fukushima Prefecture had more subscribers and received more views and likes. Conclusions: The possible features that made videos popular to the public included video quality, videos made in Fukushima, and information on the recent situation in Fukushima. During risk communication on new forms of media, health institutes should increase publicity and be more approachable to resonate with international audiences.

Radiation measurements were conducted at 22 cabinet X-ray systems in Beijing, China, between 2015 and 2019. The median dose rates in the closed-drapes position were 0.11, 0.14, 0.12, 0.14, 0.34 and 0.17 μGy h−1 at the operator position and 5 cm from the surface of the left side, right side, top, entrance and exit, respectively. When a scattering object was passed through the entrance/exit (open-drapes position), the dose rates of eight systems ranged from 1.19 to 6.72 μGy h−1 (median: 3.75 μGy h−1). From 2015 to 2019, we monitored the personal dose equivalent Hp (10) 589 times. The personal dose equivalent of three workers exceeded 1 mSv year−1. However, the integrity of equipment shielding needs to be checked regularly to ensure safe operation. The regulation of radiation protection by employers, technician support institutes or government departments is thus warranted to limit the radiation exposure of workers and the public.

BACKGROUND YouTube (Alphabet Incorporated) has become the most popular video-sharing platform in the world. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) disaster resulted in public anxiety toward nuclear power and radiation worldwide. YouTube is an important source of information about the FDNPP disaster for the world. OBJECTIVE This study's objectives were to examine the characteristics of YouTube videos related to the FDNPP disaster, analyze the content and comments of videos with a quantitative method, and determine which features contribute to making a video popular with audiences. This study is the first to examine FDNPP disaster–related videos on YouTube. METHODS We searched for the term “Fukushima nuclear disaster” on YouTube on November 2, 2019. The first 60 eligible videos in the relevance, upload date, view count, and rating categories were recorded. Videos that were irrelevant, were non-English, had inappropriate words, were machine synthesized, and were <3 minutes long were excluded. In total, 111 videos met the inclusion criteria. Parameters of the videos, including the number of subscribers, length, the number of days since the video was uploaded, region, video popularity (views, views/day, likes, likes/day, dislikes, dislikes/day, comments, comments/day), the tone of the videos, the top ten comments, affiliation, whether Japanese people participated in the video, whether the video recorder visited Fukushima, whether the video contained theoretical knowledge, and whether the video contained information about the recent situation in Fukushima, were recorded. By using criteria for content and technical design, two evaluators scored videos and grouped them into the useful (score: 11-14), slightly useful (score: 6-10), and useless (score: 0-5) video categories. RESULTS Of the 111 videos, 43 (38.7%) videos were useful, 43 (38.7%) were slightly useful, and 25 (22.5%) were useless. Useful videos had good visual and aural effects, provided vivid information on the Fukushima disaster, and had a mean score of 12 (SD 0.9). Useful videos had more views per day (P<.001), likes per day (P<.001), and comments per day (P=.02) than useless and slightly useful videos. The popularity of videos had a significant correlation with clear sounds (likes/day: P=.001; comments/day: P=.02), vivid information (likes/day: P<.001; comments/day: P=.007), understanding content (likes/day: P=.001; comments/day: P=.04). There was no significant difference in likes per day (P=.72) and comments per day (P=.11) between negative and neutral- and mixed-tone videos. Videos about the recent situation in Fukushima had more likes and comments per day. Video recorders who personally visited Fukushima Prefecture had more subscribers and received more views and likes. CONCLUSIONS The possible features that made videos popular to the public included video quality, videos made in Fukushima, and information on the recent situation in Fukushima. During risk communication on new forms of media, health institutes should increase publicity and be more approachable to resonate with international audiences.

The concentration levels of 36 airborne heavy metals and atmospheric radioactivity in total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were measured to investigate the chemical characteristics, potential sources of aerosols, and health risk in Beijing, China, from September 2016 to September 2017. The TSP concentrations varied from 6.93 to 469.18 μg/m³, with a median of 133.97 μg/m³. The order for the mean concentrations of heavy metals, known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), was as follows: Mn > Pb > As > Cr > Ni > Se > Cd > Co > Sb > Hg > Be; Non-Designated HAPs Metals: Ca > Fe > Mg > Al > K > Na > Zn > P > Ba > Ti > Cu > Sr > B > Sn > I > V > Rb > Ce > Mo > Cs > Th > Ag > U > Pt. The median concentration of As was higher than China air quality standard (6 ng/m³). The gross α and β concentration levels in aerosols were (1.84 ± 1.59) mBg/m³ and (1.15 ± 0.85) mBg/m³, respectively. The enrichment factor values of Cu, Ba, B, Ce, Tl, Cs, Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, Fe, Zn, Sn, I, Mo, and Ag were higher than 10, which indicated enriched results from anthropogenic sources. Pb, As, and Cd are considered to originate from multiple sources; fireworks released Ba during China spring festival; Fe, Ce, and Cs may come from stable emissions such as industrial gases. The health risks from anthropogenic metals via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal pathway were estimated on the basis of health quotient as well as the results indicated that children faced the higher risk than adults during the research period. For adults, the health risk posed by heavy metals in atmospheric particles was below the acceptable level.