Prog Med Phys.  2020 Dec;31(4):194-204. 10.14316/pmp.2020.31.4.194.

Trend Analysis on Korean and International Management for Activated Material Waste from Medical Linear Accelerator

• Kwon NH
• Jang YJ
• Kim DW
• Shin DO
• Kim KB
• Kim JS
• Choi SH

• KMID: 2510481
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14316/pmp.2020.31.4.194

Abstract

This study investigated and analyzed the Korean and international status of radioactive waste management for medical linear accelerators (linacs) and proceed prior research to suggest radiation safety regulations and guidelines for the safe use of radiation. We analyzed the number of linacs installed in the radiation oncology departments of 103 institutions. In addition, we analyzed the procedures and standards for disposal in Korea and foreign countries. For foreign countries, we analyzed the status based on reports from the United States, Japan, Europe, and Canada. A total of 182 linacs are installed in Korea and 95% of them use more than 10 MV of energy. In Korea, standards for managing radioactive waste from a linac, disposal procedures, and clearance criteria have yet to be established. Therefore, radioactive waste is disposed of in different ways depending on the hospitals where they originate. Japan, the US, and Canada have recommended clearance levels and procedures for linacs. Other countries have provided management guidelines for research or large-scale accelerators, but not for medical purposes. In this study, we investigated the management of radioactive waste from medical linacs in Korea and abroad. Several foreign countries have suggested a clearance level and criteria for disposing of waste storage drums. For the safe management of medical linacs, it is necessary to establish safety management regulations. In Korea, standards for disposal, such as radiation or dose limits, are required for medical linacs. A system for clearance when disposing at a medical institution should be created.

Keyword

Linear accelerator; Disposal; Radioactive waste; Management; Clearance

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Number of linear accelerators (linacs) installed domestically (1992–2020).

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  Fig. 2 Number of linear accelerators (linacs) by energy (1992–2020).

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  Fig. 3 Linear accelerator (linac) disposal and disposal procedure in Korea.

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  Fig. 4 Documents for measuring the disposal of radiation-generating device (a) and measurement of dose rate by parts of medical linac (b).

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  Fig. 5 Medical linear accelator (linac) disassembly and disassembly procedure. IM, Interface Mount; MLC, multileaf collimator.

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  Fig. 6 Linear accelator (linac) dismantling and component disposal process in Japan.

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  Fig. 7 Process of reuse and disposal of radioactive waste for radiation therapy device. Linac, linear accelator; RI, radiation isotope.

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  Fig. 8 Measurement and disposal of radioactive waste for medical linear accelerator (linac). RI, radiation isotope.

Reference

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