Low-level occupational 14C contamination--results from a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Radiological Protection
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Carbon-14 (14C) is a radioactive isotope used in various industries.
• Accurate monitoring of internal 14C contamination is essential for radiation worker safety.
• Existing methods may require enhancement for comprehensive dose assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a pilot study on 14C contamination in radiation workers.
• To measure specific activities of 14C in biological samples.
• To evaluate the utility of accelerator mass spectrometry for this purpose.

Main Methods:

• Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was used for precise 14C measurement.
• Hair and urine samples were collected from 11 radiation workers.
• Analysis included measurements of 14C in faeces and exhaled air for comprehensive assessment.

Main Results:

• Significant 14C excess was detected in both hair (up to 63%) and urine (up to 400%).
• The measured 14C excess indicated low effective doses in this cohort.
• Variability in contamination levels highlights the need for workplace-specific monitoring.

Conclusions:

• AMS is a sensitive technique for detecting internal 14C contamination.
• Routine monitoring of 14C in hair and urine can improve dose estimations.
• Further studies at high-risk workplaces are recommended to assess broader contamination risks.