IMPROVING THE RADIOLOGICAL OCCUPATIONAL PROTECTION IN PARAGUAY

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1 IMPROVING THE RADIOLOGICAL OCCUPATIONAL PROTECTION IN PARAGUAY Virginia Romero de González; Elsa Siris Duré Romero; Luis Edilberto Moré Torres Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica - UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE ASUNCION, Campus Universitario San Lorenzo C.C.: 3023, Km 11 Ruta Mariscal Estigarribia, San Lorenzo, PARAGUAY Abstract. One of the most important activities of the National Atomic Energy Commission, is to control the Radiological Protection of the TOE (spanish abbreviation of occupational exposure workers) and the introduction of a Culture of Radiological Protection among users of ionizing radiation. The theme of the Radiological Safety Culture in Paraguay, received great impetus in the decade 90, with the country's participation in the projects RLA/9/030, RLA/9/041 and RLA/9/044, known as Model Project and which target. 3 related to the protection of the Occupational TOE s The National Safety Regulations for the Protection Against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources in Title XI "Occupational Exposure" makes clear its 11 chapters all references to the responsibilities and obligations of both the in charged and Radiological Security the TOE and also compliance with the dose limits, monitoring and others. The Occupational Protection in Paraguay had two important stages. The first prior to the implementation of Unified Regulation on Radiological Protection and the second after that regulation, where both Regulatory Authorities, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MSPBS) and the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), respectively, have well defined roles. This step was widely favored by the country's participation in the Model Project "Improvement of the National Radiological Protection Infrastructure in Paraguay" and their subsequent evaluation by the "Assessment Mission Peers", which was undertaken to assess the effectiveness and efficiency the radiation protection infrastructure in the country, action taken in the context of project activities RLA/9/041 Control Regulatory Programs and National Occupational Radiological Protection.". The evaluation results reflected improved control Occupational by Regulatory Authorities. The CNEA-UNA control the Occupational Dosimetry to about 90 institutions and 550 users with cutting edge equipment and specialists in the field, providing quality and safety to users. With the same goal of improving controls on the Occupational Protection, the CNEA-UNA, actively participated in the Project ARCAL XLI (RLA/9/032) "Quality Assurance Laboratory that provide radiation protection Service". Currently, Paraguay, with new equipment, highly trained professionals in the field, laws and regulations can guarantee the Radiological Protection of Occupational users. KEYWORDS: ionizing radiation radiological protection, dosimetric control, TOE (occupational worker exposure) 1. Introduction Since our country participated in programs of Technical Cooperation, the Radiological Protection was the main preoccupation of the Regulatory Authorities. Besides our participation in the Model Projects also with the goal of improving controls on the occupational protection, the CNEA UNA and the Ministery of Health participated in the Project ARCAL XLI RLA/9/32 Quality Assurance Laboratory that provide Radiation Protection Service. Paraguay now, has new equipment, highly trained professionals in this area, laws and regulations and can guarantee the protection of occupational users of ionizing radiation. 1

2 2. Objectives Demonstrate that with the implementation of laws, regulations the TOE is best protected again the effect of ionizing radiation. Dosimetric occupational are the best tools to guarantee radiological occupational protection. 3. Development of the Radiological Protection Culture National Atomic Energy Commission and the Ministry of Health, both Regulatory Authorities of Paraguay, participated very active in the following in the projects called Proyecto Modelo RLA/9/030, RLA/9/041, RLA/9/044, with these projects many people had been capacity, not only in Radiological Projects but also in Medical Physics. One of the most important activities was to improve the unique law or regulation of Radiological Protection, where there are well defined the functions of both authorities The Regulations implanted since October, 2000, in this chapter XI National Safety Regulations for the Occupational Exposure, establish very clearly, the responsibilities and duties of the TOE (Spanish abbreviation of Occupational Exposure Worker), the encharged of Radiological Protection as also the doses limit and dosimetric control Equipment of dosimetric controls: The National Atomic Energy Commission with the collaboration of OIEA, through National Project of Technical Cooperation, adquired the first equipment of TLD, which make possible the dosimetric controls (Fig. 1.) for 10 years. Fig. 1: The First TLD equipment TOLEDO (1986) 2

3 Later, in Project RLA/9/044, the National Atomic Energy Commision got the second equipment Hardshaw 4500 (1999). Fig. 2: New equipment THERMO 4500 (2007) 3.3. Area of covering of Dosimetric Services (Fig. 4) Fig. 4: Area of covering of Dosimetric Services Distribución de usuarios por Práctica ,18% 0,72% 0,72% 1,6 2 % 3,59% 2,69% 0,18% 0,90% 5,57% 1,80% 1,44% 80,61% Dirección Gral. De Aduanas Importadora Industria Inspectores Laboratorios - RIA Laboratorios - UNA M edicina Nuclear Radiodiagnost ico Radiodiag - Odontológico Radioterapia Servicio Independiente Servicio Técnico 3

4 3.4. User s evolution since (Fig. 5). Fig. 5. User s evolution since Evolución del N de Usuario del Servicio de Monitoreo Externo ( ) N de Usuarios a2008 a2007 a2006 a2005 a2004 a2003 a2002 a2001 a2000 a1999 a1998 a1997 a1996 a1995 a1994 a1993 a1992 a1989 4

5 3.5. Covering of Dosimetric Control in Paraguay (Fig. 6). Fig. 6: Covering of Dosimetric Control in Paraguay 3.6. Dosimetric Services: To access to the Dosimetric Services, the National Atomic Energy Commission, establish a Contract between the user and the Rector of the National University of Asuncion and it value is for one year. This service is done at the Dosimetric Lab of the National University of Asuncion. 5

6 4. Publishing Boletín Nuclear of CNEA DGICT UNA. TOE Peligro. CD of Radiological Protection Courses. 5. Goals The covering of dosimetric control is 60% in all the country. Cutting edge equipment and high trained professional in the field. 6. Conclusions Currently, Paraguay with new equipment, highly trained professionals in the field, laws and regulations can guarantee the Radiological Protection of occupational users. REFERENCES [1] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, OPTIMIZATION OF RADIATION PROTECTION IN THE CONTROL OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE, Safety Reports Series No. 21, IAEA, Vienna (2002). [2] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, TRAINING IN RADIATION PROTECTION AND THE SAFE USE OF RADIATION SOURCES, Safety Reports Series No. 20, IAEA, Vienna (2001). [3] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, INTERNATIONAL BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION AND FOR THE SAFETY OF RADIATION SOURCE, Safety Serie No. 115, IAEA, Vienna (1996). [4] REGLAMENTO NACIONAL DE SEGURIDAD PARA LA PROTECCIÓN CONTRA LAS RADIACIONES IONIZANTES Y PARA LA SEGURIDAD DE LAS FUENTES DE RADIACIÓN, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica y Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social, Asunción