Acute radiation syndrome in a non-destructive testing worker: a case report

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Abstract

Background

In Korea, ionizing radiation is used in power plants, industries, medical and research fields. With the exception of nuclear power plants, it is most commonly used in the industrial sector, especially in non-destructive testing. Non-destructive inspection workers are continuously increasing to 5726 persons in 2009 and 7645 persons in 2015 [1]. Non-destructive testing is the use of radiation to identify defects in machinery, equipment, and piping. Using radiation, defects in welds on buildings and ships and joints in piping can be identified. Although this is a convenient method, there is always a risk of exposure to large amounts of radiation. In Korea, there have been repeated radiation overexposure accidents in non-destructive testing workers (Table 1). Most of the cases were local injuries such as radiation burns or hematopoietic cancer due to chronic or subchronic cumulative radiation exposure [2–14].

Table 1

Case reports on accident exposure in Korean non-destructive testing workers

Acute radiation syndrome is a consequence of brief but heavy exposure (> 1 Gy) of all or part of the body to ionizing radiation. The radiation disrupts chemical bonds, which causes molecular excitation and free radical formation. Highly reactive free radicals react with other essential molecular structures such as nucleic acids and enzymes, which in turn disrupts cellular function. In particular, spermatogonia, lymphocytes, blast cells, other hematopoietic cells, small intestine, stomach, colon, epithelium and skin cells are radiation sensitive [15]. In Korea, cases of acute radiation syndrome caused by occupational exposure are very rare. And there were no cases reported previously. Herein we report a case of acute radiation syndrome caused by relatively short periods of high exposure to ionizing radiation and discuss the problems of the current system.

Case presentation

Laboratory results

In a pre-placement medical examination conducted 6 months before the accident, all blood parameters were in the normal range: white blood cell count: 4920 cells/mm³, absolute neutrophil count: 2410 cells/mm³, absolute lymphocyte count: 1880 cells/mm³, hemoglobin: 14.7 g/dL, and platelet: 217 ×  10³/mm³. A blood test performed in the hospital after the symptoms appeared showed severe pancytopenia: white blood cell count: 1360 cells/mm³, absolute neutrophil count: 500 cells/mm³, absolute lymphocyte count: 680 cells/mm³, hemoglobin: 7.1 g/dL, and platelet: 14 × 10³/mm³. The laboratory results showed a slight recovery after 26 days from the date of prohibition of work: white blood cell count: 2200 cells/mm³, absolute neutrophil count: 760 cells/mm³, absolute lymphocyte count: 1080 cells/mm³. After a 13-month follow-up on the blood test, pancytopenia improved over time; however, it did not recover to the level before the accident (Table 2, Fig. 1).

Table 2

Changes in the laboratory results of the patient with acute radiation exposure

Fig. 1

Changes in the laboratory results of the patient with acute radiation syndrome

Discussion

On April 26, 1986, an explosion accident occurred in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. On the day of the accident, about 600 employees worked in the site, and 134 of them had acute radiation syndrome due to the radiation exposure of 0.8 to 16 Gy. Within the first 3 months of the accident, 28 men died from radiation exposure [19]. In 1987, medical cesium-137 was stolen in Goiania, Brazil. Twenty villagers showed acute radiation syndrome, and 4 of them died [20, 21]. After these catastrophic accidents, the risk of radiation was spread widely; consequently, acute radiation syndrome cases have become rare due to strict controls. In the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in March 2011, there was no report of acute radiation syndrome patients.

In Korea, radiation accidents repeatedly occurred to non-destructive testing workers, and tighter regulations and harsher punishment policies have been introduced. However, their fundamentally poor working conditions have not improved greatly as they still perform non-destructive testing overnight. To reduce radiation exposure doses in non-destructive testing workers, what needs to be done is: (i) use suitable shielding equipment, (ii) keep a safe distance from the source of radiation, (iii) reduce exposure time, and (iv) use safety equipment such as the personal dosimeter. In addition, replacing the penetration test that uses radiation with the ultrasound test could be a fundamental solution. While many applicable laws and rules are enforced for safety management, radiation exposure accidents have continued to occur in Korea. Furthermore, there could be many radiation over-exposure accidents that have not been reported. Along with further legislation, it is required to provide training and improve perception of changes among employers and employees.

A pre-placement medical examination is a process that conducts a medical check-up on the workers who are scheduled to do a job that exposes themselves to hazards before they are assigned to the job and identifies whether there is any health problem. A pre-placement medical examination was performed on this study’s subject 6 months before the accident pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. As a result, it was demonstrated from a blood test that all parameters were in the normal range and the subject was healthy before the accident. Accordingly, it served as definitive evidence proving that the subject’s pancytopenia was an acute health effect from the radiation exposure accident. This is a case where a pre-placement medical examination, which is mandatory, was effective for the healthcare of a worker. Had a pre-placement medical examination not been provided, it would have been difficult to identify whether the patient’s pancytopenia was a personal or occupational disease.

In Korea, workers exposed to health hazards receive a special health examination periodically, which is performed by occupational and environmental medicine specialists pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. However, a special health examination by occupational and environmental medicine specialists is not necessarily provided to radiation-exposed workers if a general health examination was provided already as per the Nuclear Safety Act or the Regulation on the Safety Management of Diagnostic Radiation Equipment. Occupational and environmental medicine specialists are medical doctors specializing in the prevention and early diagnosis of occupational diseases. A strict special health examination by occupational and environmental medicine specialists is required periodically for radiation-exposed workers just as for other workers exposed to health hazards.

Conclusions

Exposure prevention is clearly possible in radiation-exposed workers. Strict legal amendments are essential to prevent repeated radiation exposure accidents. Health care of radiation-exposed workers should be strictly managed by occupational medicine specialists.

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