Author Identifier

Gregory S. Hewson: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0872-9288

Martin I. Ralph: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-6886

Marcus Cattani: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7586-7288

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Radiation Protection Dosimetry

Volume

201

Issue

6

First Page

420

Last Page

431

PubMed ID

40173079

Publisher

Oxford Academic

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

78814

Funders

Australian Government Research Training Program

Comments

Hewson, G. S., Ralph, M. I., & Cattani, M. (2025). Impact of changes to International Commission on Radiological Protection models on occupational thorium ore dust intake. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 201(6), 420-431. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncaf031

Abstract

Workers involved in mining and processing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) are potentially exposed to dust containing alpha particle emitters. The objective of this study is to summarize the key impacts of the latest International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) biokinetic model for thorium ore dust intake and to identify model parameters that require further investigation. The dosimetric significance of thorium ore dust exposure has varied widely over time owing to progressive changes in the inhalation dose coefficients. These changes had a significant influence on radiation protection practices in the Western Australian mineral sand industry, including research initiatives and implementation of control measures. Estimated doses to workers exposed to NORM dust have increased because of the most recent ICRP recommendations. Consequently, we highlight the need for future research, especially in relation to appropriate model input parameters specific to the NORM exposure situation and potential studies investigating the health status of past long-Term workers.

DOI

10.1093/rpd/ncaf031

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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