WAM-F - Special Session: Military Health Physics Orange C 08:30 - 11:45
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| Chair(s): Col. John Cuellar
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WAM-F.1
08:30 The History of Department of Defense's Nuclear Test Personnel Review PK Blake*, DTRA
Abstract: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is the Department of Defense (DoD) executive Agent for the Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program. NTPR is one of five DoD occupational radiation exposure repositories, that maintain records on over 2 million individuals from the 1940’s until present. The NTPR Program began in 1978 in response to reports indicating that military veterans who had participated in Shot SMOKY of the atmospheric nuclear weapons test series Operation PLUMBBOB had experienced a numerically small but larger-than-expected incidence rate of leukemia. While the primary purpose of the NTPR database is to support weekly radiogenic disease compensation claim inquiries from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Justice, it also has been an outstanding radioepidemiology resource for both authorized military and civilian researchers. The history of the forty-one year old NTPR Program provides substantial justification for DoD’s current practice of documenting even minor occupational radiation exposures to DoD-affiliated individuals.
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WAM-F.2
08:45 Modernizing the Nuclear Test Personnel Review Database and Work Flow Elements LA Alleman*, DoD
Abstract: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is the Department of Defense (DoD) executive Agent for the Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program. Since its inception in 1978, the NTPR Program has identified four elements designed to assist veterans by: 1) providing participant and radiation dose information; 2) conducting historical records research; 3) performing veteran outreach, and 4) supporting independent scientific studies. Our key mission functions to perform these tasks include storage and retrieval of over 500,000 personnel records (2.5 TB) for veterans and DOD civilians associated with atmospheric and underground nuclear tests, occupation forces and POWs in post WWII Japan, and various nuclear cleanup activities, tracking claims processing, tracking of records ordered from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO., and providing and storing data for various research projects. NTPR uses the Nuclear Test Research Information System (NuTRIS) application located on an independent network to facilitate storage, research, and information retrieval. NTPR is focused on modernizing this client-server (PowerBuilder) to a web-based application, using Microsoft .NET web technologies to migrate and streamline the database structure and work processing. The SQL Server database has over 90 tables, and 894 data elements. The NuTRIS PowerBuilder application has approximately 48 screens and approximately 45 reports and queries. Our web-based update will optimize the database table structure wherever possible, reduce the number of screens and reports, and remove archaic data elements. The upgraded system will significantly improved usability and maintainability and streamline case processing based on assigned roles, with an enhanced all electronic case workflow and eventually move to a paperless environment.
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WAM-F.3
09:15 Neutron Spectra and Energy Deposition in a Computational Phantom RD Prins, Applied Research Associates, Inc.
; J Blake*, DTRA
Abstract: Current methods for estimating radiation casualties from a nuclear detonation (NUDET) combine neutron and gamma exposure into a single whole-body radiation dose. There is little to no accounting for how the different types of radiation interact within the human body nor how the radiation dose may differ among the critical organ structures. Traditional methods have focused on the radiation dose from gammas, and little research has been conducted looking into the contribution of dose from the incident neutron spectrum. We investigate the neutron energy deposition in four specific organs within a computational phantom from two neutron spectra (fission-type and low-yield thermonuclear) propagated to a survivable zone (approximately 1.5 km from ground zero) immediately following a nuclear detonation. For both spectra, the highest organ absorbed dose per incident neutron yield at the survivable range was to the small intestine wall with the source spectrum incident on the anterior side of the computational phantom. The lowest overall absorbed dose (to the specific organs) for both spectra occurred when the source spectrum was incident on the left lateral side of the computational phantom. Understanding how the radiation absorbed dose from a neutron-specific source spectrum will further assist researchers in minimizing the amount of uncertainties involved in assigning whole-body radiation dose estimates to personnel located at the survivable range from a NUDET.
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WAM-F.4
10:15 Applying the ALARA Principles to Maneuvering in a Fallout Environment JT Dant*, Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Abstract: A surface detonation of a nuclear bomb in an urban environment will cause catastrophic damage in the area surrounding ground zero and generate large amounts of residual radiation (fallout) that can be transported tens to hundreds of kilometers. The chaos in the aftermath of the detonation is likely to result in a large number of people attempting to evacuate and/or reunite with their families without understanding of the hazardous areas. Maneuvering in a fallout environment can rapidly become life threatening if measures are not taken to keep the dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The accumulated dose as the individual maneuvers through the hazardous area can be greatly reduced by maximizing their shielding, optimizing their route, and determining their acceptable risk before embarking into the hazardous environment. The best way to reduce the dose to an individual is to allow the residual radiation to decay by delaying the time of entry into the fallout field. The prompt and delayed nuclear environments were simulated using two of Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) CBRN assessment tools, NucFast for prompt effects and the Hazard Prediction & Assessment Capability (HPAC) for the fallout transport. This analysis takes into account the protection afforded by delaying time of entry and using different nominal vehicles, as well as, the impact of maneuvering at different speeds through the environment. Utilizing DTRA’s Health Effects from Nuclear and Radiological Environments (HENRE) tool, an equivalent prompt dose was estimated for each possible route, vehicle, and speed to determine the optimal route to achieve the mission.
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WAM-F.5
10:45 Mainland Japan Ship and Shore Medical Clinic Radiation Health Program Standardization JS Caudill*, NAVHOSP YOKO
; DA Sowers, NAVSEA DET RASO
Abstract: Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation from Navy assets takes place at 13 geographically separated medical sites and 17 shipboard medical departments across mainland Japan. With the exception of the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, there are no Navy personnel who are formally trained to perform duties as Radiation Health Program Managers (RHPMs), sometimes resulting in the degradation of required program administration. RHPM duties fall to the next tier of radiation professionals, typically diagnostic radiology technologists, who have no prior experience meeting published Navy directives. Across four ships and six medical clinics there were several reporting deficiencies in 2017 and 2018, with the number expected to be higher across the remaining Radiation Health Programs. In Navy Medicine’s pursuit to reach the level of High Reliability Organization, hospitals have implemented a world-renowned process improvement methodology known as Lean Six Sigma. A Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify (“DMADV”) project has been implemented to standardize training, radiation monitoring, reporting, and inspections for these Navy assets. This DMADV project revealed root causes, process deficiencies, and areas for improvement. This talk outlines the outcome of this project to ensure effectiveness and program continuity for future RHPMs.
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WAM-F.6
11:15 Developing a Unified Radon Policy for the US Air Force AC Hale*, United States Air Force
; SE Rademacher, United States Air Force
Abstract: This presentation will discuss the emerging Air Force policy of setting a working level month exposure goal and limit for both residential and non-residential facilities across the Air Force. The disparity between Environmental Protection Agency radon guidelines and Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulations raise interesting questions within the Air Force. A historical perspective of regulations and guidelines of radon, along with the application of these regulations and guidelines to Air Force installations will be given. Since facilities fall into both frameworks, the risk communication and appropriate measurement and analysis of risk proved complex for local implementation. Often the measurement and analysis across the Air Force was not consistent. Additionally, appropriate radon considerations need to be made due to the transient nature of military personnel, and unique missions and facilities. It was determined a clearer unified policy on assessing and mitigating radon exposure for both residential and non-residential would aide bolstering the program. It will be discussed how a time-weighted average assessment for assessing radon progeny exposure is advantageous over a radon-222 concentration. This time-weighted approach sets a consistent set of mitigation actions and timelines for a diverse set of facilities. Moreover, it facilitates better risk communication and truly implements ALARA.
“The views expressed in this paper represent the personal views of the author and are not necessarily the views of the Department of Defense or of the Department of the Air Force.”
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