title: Evaluation of diagnostic medical exposure in Republic of Korea.
abstract: National statistical data for diagnostic radiation exposure in Republic of Korea were collected from four public institutes and government agencies during the period 2006-2013. The data were pooled, reclassified and analysed. A total of 1574 million exposures occurred during the study period. To evaluate the effective diagnostic radiation exposure dose, the dose conversion factors developed by the Korea Food and Drug Administration were applied. The number of diagnostic radiation exposures was 197 million per year. The collective effective dose averaged 64 043 man Sv y(-1), and the annual per caput effective dose averaged 1.27 mSv. The annual per caput effective dose in 2013 was 1.54 mSv compared with 0.89 mSv in 2006, a marked increase of 73.9 % over the study period. These research data, compiled from reliable sources within the public health system of Republic of Korea, demonstrate a trend of increasing diagnostic radiation exposure and provide valuable information for further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio Medical Engineering, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Republic of Korea Division of Radiation Safety, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Chungju 361-709, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio Medical Engineering, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Republic of Korea bme_rad@cnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyun S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Safety, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Chungju 361-709, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Safety, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Chungju 361-709, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D056910:Republic of Korea