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Introduction: The potential damage of radiation has encouraged the creation of dose optimization programs; however, its performance has been poorly assessed in Mexico. Objective: To compare the effective dose calculated in a conventional tomograph against a different equipment with a dose optimizer. Method: Observational, analytical, comparative and crosssectional study. DLP records were collected from a conventional scanner (T1) and from another with the software iDose® (T2) of the High Specialty Hospital of Veracruz in the period 2018-2020. Results: 658 patients were recorded; 323 (49%) were obtained from T1, 335 (51%) from T2. The mean age was 35.2 ± 23.8. 400 (60.8%) represented men, 258 (39.2%) for women. The average effective dose was 2.42 mSv ± 1.2 and 2.4 mSv ± 0.94 for T1 and T2 respectively. The iDose® program was applied on 169 patients, namely 25.6% of the T2 records, and 29.7% of the total sample. The use of iDose® resulted in an OR: 0.684 (95%CI: 0.48-0.97). Conclusion: The employment of dose optimization programs is a protective factor against high radiation levels. It is advisable to promote the utilization of these systems in imaging centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environmental Radiological Surveillance Laboratory (LVRA) of the Radiation Protection and Hygiene Center (CPHR), belonging to the Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies Agency of Cuba (AENTA), has within its state mandate the radiological surveillance of food. In the same way, it is considered the national reference laboratory to certify the radiological quality of nationally produced foods destined for export that require it. This laboratory has been operating, for more than 25 years, under an accredited Quality Management System, currently according to NC ISO/IEC 17025:17, by the National Accreditation Body of the Republic of Cuba. During the last two years, as part of the identified improvement opportunities, a Database Management System was developed, which allows systematizing the information related to the analysis of activity concentration in food in such a way that it makes it possible to increase the potentialities of use of these data. Both imported foods and nationally produced foods will be reported in this database, which are tested to assess compliance with the values established for radionuclides in food in national and/or international regulations, as the case may be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene (CPHR) is the institution in Cuba that provides dosimetric calibration services of instruments at radiationl protection, radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology and interventionism level. This practice is developed by the Secondary Standard Dosimetric Laboratory and guarantees the metrological traceability of dose magnitudes to a Primary Standard Dosimetric Laboratory. It is carried out in compliance with a strict Radiation Protection Program designed to guarantee the radiation safety of people and the environment and to obtain the Operating License established in the national regulatory framework. The radiation protection program includes the necessary provisions to ensure the radiation protection of people while working with ionizing radiation sources. The safety of the personnel is one of the key elements of the program and is based on requirements such as radiological control both individually and of the workplaces, the design of the facilities, operational and safety procedures and inventory control, among other aspects that have allowed compliance with the annual dose constraints imposed by the Regulatory Authority for this category of exposed personnel. This paper presents the experiences in the application of these requirements for more than 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of training and training in radiation protection has implied the effort to develop technical competencies as part of a national strategy. The Radiation Protection and Hygiene Center has carried out actions aimed at the training and preparation of Radiological Protection Officer (OPR); as well as personnel directly related to the safety of the practices. Since 1998, the "National Fundamentals of Radiological Protection Course for OPR" has been developed annually. This course is theoretical-practical, classroom course, addresses the issue of radiological protection in a comprehensive manner and pays tribute to the individual certification and licensing process. In addition, specialized courses on radiological protection for industry and medicine have been designed and implemented; that have responded to the demand for training of all occupational categories of existing practices. These courses are not academic and their objective is to help create technical and behavioral skills in the personnel involved in safety and radiation protection at the facilities. Its modular design covers the subject of radiological protection from the general to the specific, taking into account the requirements of the practice safety guides. This paper presents the results of 25 years; where around 2000 people have been trained, thus contributing to the safe management of sources and equipment generating ionizing radiation and to the control of occupational, medical and public exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A summary of the fundamental lines of medical equipment for Cuban public health developed by the Center for Technological Applications and Nuclear Development (CEADEN) is made. These lines are grouped in two fundamental directions: optical instrumentation and nuclear instrumentation for medical diagnosis, quality control and dosimetry. The main developments and impacts achieved in these two directions in the National Health System are exposed, as well as their perspectives for present and future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear medicine (NM) diagnostic procedures use ionizing radiation and it is necessary to ensure that the amount of prescribed activity is as low as reasonably achievable. Optimizing these procedures, one of the greatest challenges facing Nuclear Medicine today, is based on achieving a balance between image quality and radiation dose. The objective of this article is to establish and validate a method for optimization studies of medical exposure in NM simulating different levels of activity that can be applied in patients without violating the ethical and radiological protection principles. The method is based on the recombination of data obtained in gated acquisitions to simulate activity levels. For this, measurements were made using different phantoms and a signal generator. A python code was developed that allows the different activity levels to be simulated automatically from a single gated acquisition and returns the studies in the same dicom format to be reconstructed in the registered processing program provided by the manufacturer. To validate our method, the linear dependence of the number of total counts with the simulated activity levels was demonstrated and the quality of the reconstructed images vs the simulated activity levels was qualitatively evaluated. This method constitutes a valid and applicable proposal in the majority of nuclear medicine services in the country to implement optimization procedures for SPECT studies, contributing to a reduction in population exposure to radiation, due to high-tech diagnostic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A basic element to achieve the measurement traceability is the correct implementation and dissemination of the measurement standards. In the case of dosimetry, there are internationally harmonized calibration methods; however difficulties may arise in their introduction related to the technical characteristics of the standards and the methods described in the technical documents. The use of commercially available dosimetry systems as secondary standards requires the personalized studies of their technical characteristics. The recommended methods do not always compatible with the available infrastructure and modifications are needed. The article makes a critical analysis of the implementation of the dosimetry secondary standards in the international arena based on the identified difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnostic image must be carried out with the minimum necessary exposure of the patient that allows the objective of the diagnosis to be satisfactorily achieved. For this reason, diagnostic reference levels emerge and are established as dynamic tools to help optimize radiation protection, contribute to the standardization of practices and strengthen culture of safety, without compromising the clinical purpose of each examination or process. The objective of this work is to provide an updated overview of the establishment and use of these levels for nuclear medicine and hybrid imaging. It is identified that to establish and use them properly, trained personnel and coordination and collaboration activities are required among multiple actors, including medical services, health authorities, professional organizations and regulatory bodies. The accelerated development of technology generally exceeds the change in regulations, so these levels must be updated periodically, in order to fulfil their role as a guide and spur for optimization. The worldwide expansion of hybrid technologies and their growing use are a phenomenon of the last decade, so the establishment of these levels for such technologies has not been consolidated, although countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia show solid steps in this address. Research has been carried out with phantoms and directly with patients, the latter with a more useful contribution of information. The installation of hybrid equipment in Cuba demands this study, hence its importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) represents one of the most significant technical advances in radiotherapy since the advent of the medical linear accelerator, as it enables the clinical application of highly conformal and non-convex dose distributions. However, these advances do not come without risk, as IMRT represents a new paradigm in the radiation therapy process, particularly in terms of treatment quality assurance. This work focuses on one of the quality assurance aspects of IMRT, related to quality controls of multileaf collimators. A set of tests is presented to routinely evaluate the performance of this component of the accelerator to ensure the reliability and safety of the treatments. The results obtained show that most of the parameters studied comply with internationally accepted tolerances, so it is concluded that this component is suitable for use in IMRT treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the lack of an internationally accepted code of practice for patient-specific quality control (PS-QA) of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatments and the need to introduce this advanced modality into the clinical practice of the Radiation Therapy Service at the cedt-CIMEQ, the methodology recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Working Group 119 (AAPM TG-119) was assimilated and implemented. The procedures used for its habilitation and the results obtained are shown. It can be seen that the results obtained with the cedt-CIMEQ system for PS-QA, applied to all TG-119 test cases, fall within the confidence limits emanating from 10 reference centers. It could be concluded that, from the point of view of the reliability of the linear accelerator, the accuracy of the planning system and the precision of the PS-QA system, the cedt-CIMEQ is suitable for the introduction of IMRT in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present work was to assess the increased radiological risk due to the deficiencies detected during the regulatory inspections of Cobalto therapy services. The method used was the Risk Matrix, developed by the Ibero-American Forum of Regulatory Bodies, through which the relationship of the deficiencies found with the deterioration of the barriers and frequency and consequences reductors described in the practice risk model was studied. As a result of the work, the heterogeneous contribution of the deficiencies was found in a considerable number of initiating events of the stated model. The analysis carried out demonstrates the feasibility of applying this method in evaluating the impact of the deficiencies detected, as well as its support in the grouping of the recommended coercive actions to compensate those deficiencies with the greatest impact on the general state of the security of the service. Risk monitoring, based on the impact of defense measures as a consequence of the impact of deficiencies detected during regulatory inspections, is a useful resource for the inspector, who finds in it a scientific support that relates the regulations to be applied with the computerized code capabilities based on risk matrix. This makes it possible to optimize decision-making, which is important, both for the inspector and for the regulated entity. The use of the suggested methodology would make it possible to reduce the dependence on the inspector's expertise during inspections, a criterion that has traditionally prevailed in this activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of the Health System in Cuba from 1996 to the present, characterized by technological renovation and modernization; has allowed the introduction and development of innovative studies in diagnostic radiology (including dental) and interventional procedures guided by images. However, the benefit associated with the use of ionizing radiation has also led to an increase in doses and radiological risk for occupationally exposed workers, patients and members of the public. Therefore, the practice of diagnostic radiology should be carried out with high standards of radiation protection and safety culture. There are regulatory documents issued by the Ministry of Public Health wish establish the general precepts for the authorization of the practice of diagnostic radiology. However, the radiological protection programs have not been adequately developed and established in the institutions of the country where this practice has been implemented, and the application processes for the corresponding authorizations has not been organized. In order to develop Radiation Protection Programs for the practice of medical radiodiagnosis, we worked in two reference centers of our health system, where have been performed complex diagnostic and interventional procederes. Taking into account the magnitude of the risk associated with the development of the practice in each one of them, the procedures, instructions, records and the responsibilities of the personnel were established. The results obtained have contributed to the strengthening of the radiation protection and safety of the practice in both institutions where the programs have been implemented. They have started the process to obtain the Institutional Licenses, constituting the first experience in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction in Cuba of imaging hybrid systems in nuclear medicine has become a challenge for medical physicist in order to guaranty the patient´s radiation safety and proper dose estimation. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the CT radiation doses for studies performed with a SPECT/CT hybrid system (SPECT/CT). A MATLAB “in house” made tool was tested and validated for this purpose. 62 patients with CT studies were manually and automatically reviewed; the tool could visualize and properly recover the patient personal information, CT protocol and dose related data from the DICOM header in the SPECT/CT study file. The CT volume dose index (CTDIvol) parameter was used for calculating the CT dose-length product (DPL) and the effective doses (E). The CT radiation dose preliminary results were on the range of those reported by others authors for the typical studies, demonstrating the efficacy of the tool developed and the CT dose assessment method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manipulation of unsealed sources of radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the practice of nuclear medicine in Cuba represents a risk, from a radiological point of view, for occupationally exposed personnel linked to this activity. For this reason, the existence of a surveillance program that verifies that said risk is minimized, based on compliance with existing national regulations and observance of international recommendations, is essential. The basis of this program is the performance of an individual monitoring that allows to quantify the activity of the radionuclide incorporated by the exposed personnel, with the final objective of estimating its committed effective dose. In the case of Cuba, 131I is the radionuclide that poses the greatest risk from the point of view of incorporation, for which special attention has been devoted to it. Since 2011, the Internal Dosimetry Laboratory of the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene has developed various projects that include training, calibration of equipment in hospital institutions, risk assessment of incorporation at the national level and development of a radiological surveillance guide as basis for implementing the programs. The summit of all these efforts and the most effective way to verify its usefulness was the performance of an Intercomparison Exercise on Measured Thyroid Activity and Committed Effective Dose due to the Incorporation of 131I in the Nuclear Medicine Departments of the country. Three of the main institutions in which the afore-mentioned radionuclide is used participated in the exercise. The results obtained were satisfactory, demonstrating the existing progress on the subject and pointing out the areas where it is necessary to focus efforts to correct deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of substances to diagnose or identify a system specific phase, that is, which function as tracers, is an effective tool in the study of multiple phenomena. There are several kinds of tracers and, within them, radioactive tracers are the most sensitive and used for the study and online diagnosis of many systems, hence their use in industrial processes has an extensive use. However, an authorization from the National Regulatory Body is necessary to use radioactive sources. The safety assessment, the radiation protection program, operational and safety procedures as well as the emergency plan were prepared and presented to the Regulatory Body to apply for authorization. The safety assessment includes the dose estimations for normal operations and potential doses in accidental situations. The safety analysis used the methodology of risk matrixes. As a result, it was obtained that the doses under normal operating conditions comply with the annual limits for occupationally exposed workers and for the public, while the risk levels are predominantly low, so it was concluded that it is possible to carry out the practice under adequate security conditions and the CPHR obtained the operating license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ionizing radiation provides benefits in medicine, industry and research and in its application, radiological risks must be minimized, for which safety requirements are established, one of which is to achieve adequate training of personnel, which constitutes an important barrier against the occurrence of adverse events. The specific national guidelines for industrial practices establish the requirements for training in radiation protection for the different occupational categories. However, even though there were previous experiences in the implementation of courses for this purpose, there was no defined and structured program for the category “operator”. In this sense, courses were designed for the practices of industrial radiography, nuclear gauges, industrial irradiation and the use of fixed X-ray equipment. The design includes the characteristics and the program of the course, the description of compliance with the radiological protection requirements and the estimated dose that the participants are expected to receive in the case of the use of ionizing radiation sources in the practical activities, evaluation system and formats for certificate, registration form and participant and attendance data records. This design will allow the harmonization of the knowledge that is transmitted to the participants, thus allowing to comply the regulatory requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All governments are responsible for protecting their populations against health hazards and business fraud in the food sector. Considering the expansion of international food trade in Cuba and the necessary protection of consumers, animals, plants and the environment in general, in our country a sanitary control system for food has been designed, taking into account the regulations in force in this matter, both national and international. The Environmental Radiological Surveillance Laboratory (LVRA) of the Radiation Protection and Hygiene Center (CPHR) has been in charge, since 2000, of the radiological surveillance of foods that are marketed in the national territory. This Surveillance Program is executed within the framework of the National Pollutants in Food and Water Surveillance Program, directed by the National Directorate of Environmental Health (DNSA) of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The tests carried out by the LVRA aim to verify compliance with the permissible levels for radionuclides in food in force in Cuba, as one of the elements that contributes to guaranteeing the food safety of both imported and nationally produced products. The work presents and analyzes the results that have been obtained in these years of radiological surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking into account that Latin America and the Caribbean countries have common interests in the practical application of the optimization principle and that the networks existing in other regions of the world were contributing to the improvement of occupational radiation protection infrastructures, the Network for the Optimization of Occupational Radiation Protection in Latin America and the Caribbean (REPROLAM) was created. In current international context, the increase of peer information exchange on topics dealing with safety and radiological protection using state-of-the-art information and communication technology has been promoted. In this scenario, the REPROLAM Website is developed as an information and communication tool in the field of occupational radiological protection and as a means of social appropriation of knowledge in this field, from which all countries in the region can benefit. In this paper the main characteristics and results of the created platform are shown. In a dynamic environment for the development of information technologies and networks, the existence of the REPROLAM Website has contributed to the network being able to meet its goals of grouping people whose professional activities are developed in the field of protection occupational radiological protection in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to the harmonization of policies and practices in this field, and to the integration and cooperation in relation to the knowledge and specialized services in occupational radiological protection available to the countries of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas of the University of Havana, in collaboration with other Cuban institutions, has been developing a solid work for 40 years, in order to establish and improve undergraduate and postgraduate programs of academic formation with high quality, that include courses of radiation protection. The present work makes a comprehensive evaluation of the registered pass and present undergraduate and postgraduate programs with the objective of analyze their correspondence with the necessities of the country, the national and international recommendations in the radiation protection training, the achievements and deficiencies found in its development and the potentialities for the future. The programs of the three nuclear careers have solid and sufficient content to satisfy the minimum required by the regulatory authorities as a basic radiation protection course. The institute has also postgraduate academic figures that play a vital role in the training of experts in radiation protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interference in the neonatal intensive care area is mainly due to the crowding of medical equipment that the patient must count on to save his life. The objective of this work is to analyze the behavior of the magnetic field generated by medical equipment, according to its placement and quantity, in a neonatal care area. To carry it out, a gaussmeter was used, following a measurement methodology used by this team in previous research. It was obtained as a result that the electromagnetic environment of the area complies with the recommendations of the International Commissions on non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), but not with the limits established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for electromagnetic compatibility. Recommendations were issued to reduce these values, concluding that the separation between equipment is the most recommended and effective method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work reveals the study of the electromagnetic environment in several computer laboratories belonging to the Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana "José Antonio Echeverría" (CUJAE). The main objective is to analyze the behavior of the existing magnetic field in these laboratories, taking into account the different situations that may arise. For the measurement of the magnetic field, the gaussimeter model PCE-G28 was used and for the characterization of the magnetic field of the laboratories a measurement protocol was developed, based on the analysis of international standards. The results obtained between 0,01 µT and 9,31 µT reflect the areas of greatest intensity, generally coinciding where the electrical protection panel is located and where the power supply enters the laboratories. Although the measurements do not exceed the limits recommended by International Commissions on non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 2010, some prevention measures were recommended as a result of the characteristics observed during the days of measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene was founded in 1985 to support the safe application of nuclear technologies in Cuba. Nowdays, the institution is considered as a national and regional reference for radiation protection, thanks to the comprehensive institutional strategy that support the solutions of the problems with priority in the country. The paper presents the overview about the main results of the center up today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main contributions in the applications of nuclear sciences and technologies to the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasic diseases, obtained by medical physicists from various Havana institutions are summarized. Additionally, the main activities to guarantee the training and accreditation of medical physicists for radiodiagnosis, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and radiation protection services in Havana hospital network is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1990 till 2011, a free health care program for children from areas affected by the Chernobyl accident was organized and implemented by the Cuban Government. A significant number of qualified personal in medicine and science collaborated with this program. The information gathered for more than 21 years and the conclusive results obtained in the program are presented here. During this time, 26 114 patients, 84 % children, mostly from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were treated in the mentioned program. Other aspects of the Cuban medical assistance in Ukraine and the main results obtained in the radiological impact evaluation of the accident on the children treated in Cuba are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information systems departments of European health services have the challenge of creating a dose record and reporting system of doses from medical procedures for its inclusion in the patient';s medical history, in compliance with Directive 2013/59 Euratom, which determines the obligation to manage the measurement and evaluation of the doses as well as the evaluation of the risk associated therewith. It is important the fact that this information must be universal, because the main objective is that every patient be able to access all information about medical radiology exposures regardless of the equipment, center or organization where it has been performed. In this aerticle the main technological challenges and problems are presented and basic solutions are described to be applied in developing environments of record systems using the learned experience in the project for the measurement of doses derived from radiology explorations in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of an instrument for radiological monitoring, identified as Gamma Alarm (GAMAL01). The instrument monitors the increment of radiation count rate and produces an alarm signal, when the count rate becomes superior to a fixed threshold value. The threshold is fixed to assure that the signal emission will start when the value of the radiation count rate may cause a non acceptable radiological exposition of the personnel, according to the radiological safety regulations existing in the country. Following the signal the personnel must be evacuated from the affected place. The instrument consists of two sections, an analogical section and a digital one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kilovoltage radiotherapy is a recently re-implemented practice in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Cuba to treat patients. One of the problems to approve its use is the assessment of risks associated to this practice. The present paper shows a summary of the pattern of accidental sequences proposed for this practice and its risk is quantified by using the risk matrix methodology. The SECURE-MR code has been used as the tool selected to implement such a practice. In addition to customary analysis facilities, this code has some other novel characteristics allowing us to establish the contributors' priorities. The global results of the risk assessment for the proposed pattern, as well as some particular optimization practices are included in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1990 till 2011, a free health care program for children from areas affected by the Chernobyl accident was organized and implemented by the Cuban Government. A significant number of qualified personal in medicine and science collaborated with this program. The information gathered for more than 21 years and the conclusive results obtained in the program are presented here. During this time, 26 114 patients, 84 % children, mostly from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were treated in the mentioned program. Other aspects of the Cuban medical assistance in Ukraine and the main results obtained in the radiological impact evaluation of the accident on the children treated in Cuba are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article summarizes the activities developed during the last 25 years by the National Centre of Nuclear Safety, as the Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Cuba for the nuclear and radiation safety and for the accountability and control of nuclear materials. It also deals with the main actions and results towards the establishment of the national regulatory control, aimed to guarantee the safe use of ionizing radiation sources in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interventional: cardiology progress makes each year a greater number of procedures and increasing complexity with a very good success rate. The problem is that this progress brings greater dose of radiation not only for the patient but to occupationally exposed workers as well. Simple methods for reducing or minimizing occupational radiation dose include: minimizing fluoroscopy time and the number of acquired images; using available patient dose reduction technologies; using good imaging-chain geometry; collimating; avoiding high-scatter areas; using protective shielding; using imaging equipment whose performance is controlled through a quality assurance programme; and wearing personal dosimeters so that you know your dose. Effective use of these methods requires both appropriate education and training in radiation protection for all interventional cardiology personnel, and the availability and use of appropriate protective tools and equipment. Regular review and investigation of personnel monitoring results, accompanied as appropriate by changes in how procedures are performed and equipment used, will ensure continual improvement in the practice of radiation protection in the interventional suite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiological safety assessments are required by in force regulations as a means to verify compliance with the requirements. Different methods have been used for this purpose and this paper presents the results of applying the Risk Matrix method, which was first applied to the practice of well logging. The work included the identification of major equipment failures and human errors that could lead to accidents as well as safety barriers provided. For each initiating event, its frequency of occurrence, the severity of its consequences and the probability of failure of the barriers identified were evaluated. Starting from these assumptions, associated risks were determined for each of the identified accident sequences, using the SEVRRA, "Risk Assessment System", code originally designed to be used in radiotherapy. As a result of this research sequences of increased risk associated to the practice of well logging, were identified being the starting point for the further implementation of a coherent program of dose optimization in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the experience acquired during the implementation of Radiation Safety and Protection Program for the safe operation of a plant for production of isotopes such as the Isotope Centre. Considering the importance for the radiology community of that experience, this paper presents the evolution of requirements for this program and provided valuable experience that can be useful for other centres in Cuba and Latin America with similar radiation hazards during the use of radioactive materials [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Center for Animal and Plant Health used a Gammacell 500 irradiator, with twelve cobalt 60 sealed sources, for sterilization and decontamination of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and several raw materials. As the equipmenty had been in operation for 25 years, the decision was taken to dismantle the equipment and decommission the facility. For dismantling the equipment, a methodology was developed taking into account the current national regulations in force, the recommendations of the Atomic International Energy Agency, the instructions manual and equipment maintenance as well as its operational history. The design and implementation of the procedure for dismantling the irradiator are described. The Institutional Irradiator Decommissioning License was obtained, awarded by the National Center for Nuclear Safety. The dismantling operations involved the extraction and separation of radioactive sources in the container and packaging to be transported. All dismantling as well as transport operations were performed under radiological security conditions, keeping control of the dose and superficial contamination rate during the whole process. After completing the works, permission for the no-longer inclusion of the facility in the nuclear safety control programme was granted by the national regulatory body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work describes the results of the personal dosimetry service carried out by the External Dosimetry of the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene from 2006 to 2009. Data about number of monitored occupationally exposure workers and occupational radiation exposure levels are analyzed, which are also compared with previously period and UNSCEAR reports. The results show that the number of occupational exposure workers is increase in the period; only about 50% of monitored workers were exposed. The average individual values of annual effective doses were less than 1 mSv for all monitored practices. The comparison with previously period showed a decreasing tendency in the number of exposed workers and in the average annual doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since early 1992, the CNSN has been working on improving its key processes related to safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy in order to provide customers and stakeholders with confidence, which is, at the same time, one of the purposes of the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning these issues. The effectiveness of regulatory activity can be determined from the application of appropriate management systems to ensure strictly assigned functions. In the international practice promoted by the International Organization for Standardization, management systems (QMS) are the most widely used for these purposes. They are generally applicable to all organizations and there are certification programs and multilateral recognition focused on commercial exchange and otherwise such as traceability, testing, etc. For the purposes of a regulatory authority, the application of these modern management systems contributes to the transparency of its operation and the consistent application of its policies. Quality management in the regulatory authority relates all levels of human resources and management. This can be understood as necessary and documented relationship with the radiation protection infrastructure, regulators, the public and employees. In this paper, we present some considerations on this subject concerning both the design stage and the implementation and maintenance of the QMS, from the experience gained in the CNSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and measurement of nuclear radiation have turn into an important aspect in the application of nuclear detectors and specifically, the Geiger Muller tubes. Endowed with high detection sensibility, robust construction and a relative simplicity of the associated circuit, the Geiger Tubes are still one of the most widely used detectors in all areas of application in physics and nuclear research. A new design of the instrument enables measurements of the environmental external dose rate of g (gamma) radiation from 0.05 μSv/h to 10 mSv/h. It consists of three elements: Geiger-Muller detector, a data acquisition and control card and the application software. The instrument is connected to the computer through a USB interface only to vary and adjust the calibration parameters. The software was developed in C programming language using the PICC4.08 compiler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We should agree on a comprehensive solution for a commensurate international control of both nuclear and radioactive material designed to ensure that peaceful nuclear development will not cause harm to the human race. The concept international security system is clouded by the confusing semantics of its parts: the English concepts 'safeguards', 'safety' and 'security', on one hand, and nuclear and radioactive materials on the other hand. The objectives should be: to ensure, through appropriate safeguards, that nuclear materials are not diverted to non-peaceful purposes; to prevent, through appropriate security, the unauthorized possession or use, illegal or malicious, of nuclear and radioactive materials; and, to ensure, through appropriate safety, that the use of nuclear and radioactive material will not cause harm to people and the environment. Security must be understood as an integral part of safeguards and safety, because materials that are secure are not necessarily safeguarded or safe, and materials may not be safeguarded or safe unless they are secure. Security is a necessary but not sufficient condition for safeguards and safety; security is an important but subsidiary condition of safeguards and safety; security is necessary but not sufficient to ensure nuclear control via safeguards and safety. In conclusion an International Treaty for the Control ('safeguards', 'safety' and 'security') of the Peaceful Development of Nuclear Energy and its Byproducts is proposed. It should clearly regulate the obligations and (non-compliance) penalties of the Parties, and, based on existing agreements, should be clear, logical, rational, fundamental, methodical, systematic, universal, equitable, impartial, fair and non discriminatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External beam radiotherapy is the only practice during which humans are directly exposed to a radiation beam to receive high doses. Accidental exposures have occurred throughout the world, thus showing the need for systematic safety assessments, capable to identify preventive measures and to minimize consequences of accidental exposure. The 'risk matrix' approach is a semi quantitative method to evaluate the likelihood and the severity of events by means of a scale, and defines acceptability criteria on the basis of the risk. For each accident sequence identified, the following questions come up: how often is it?, how severe are the consequences? and, what safety measures should be taken to prevent it?. From these answers we can obtain the resulting risk by using the "Risk Matrix" table. In this study we have used this method to conduct the study in 3 cases (real radiotherapy departments). The case study identified the major weaknesses in radiotherapy service and proposed measures to reduce the risk of accidents. The method is practical and it could be applied in hospitals. This approach allows regulators to improve the quality of their inspections and the rigor of the assessments made to grant the operating license to the entities working with radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cuban Regulatory Authority is carrying out a National Program intended to foster and develop a Safety Culture taking into account the wide recognition of the human factors contribution to radiological events. The program includes the introduction of new regulatory practices and initiatives in order to increase the safety culture in Cuban facilities. The most recent of those initiatives is the System for Radiological Event Analysis, Dissemination and Learning, called ADASIR (acronym for the System's name in Spanish). The main purpose of this system is to provide a better understanding and knowledge of any radiological event reported both in the country and abroad, thus reducing the possibility of occurrence of a similar event in our facilities. A team of regulatory and external experts make together a detailed review of all available information on the event and identify possible root causes, failed barriers and other important data of national interest. The results of such review are documented and sent to any Cuban facilities or organizations where these events can occur, considering the equipment and practices they have. The document includes an specific checklist which could be used by the facilities to make a self-assessment and evaluate their strength and weakness to similar events. This paper presents the main characteristics and results of this new experience of Cuban Regulatory Authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the Probabilistic Safety Assessment to the radiotherapy treatment with an Electron Linear Accelerator for Medical Use, which was conducted in the framework of the Iberian-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies. Potential accidental exposures during the treatment of patients, workers and members of the public were assessed, although the study was mainly focused on patients. The methodology of failure modes and effects analysis was used to define accident initiating events and methods of event tree and fault tree analysis to determine the accident sequences that may occur. After quantifying the frequency of occurrence of the accident sequences, an important analysis was carried out in order to determine the most significant events from the point of view of safety. The major contributors to risk were identified as well as the most appropriate safety recommendations to reduce it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper shows the results of the report from the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, presented at the 56th session on July 2008. The values obtained according to the types of natural or artificial sources and their effect on people are compared. It is concluded that the most significant change in the situation has been the increase in medical exposure due to the increase in CT examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioprotectors are agents that reduce toxicity, mutagenicity, and other adverse biological effects from ionizing radiation on living organisms. The development of radioprotective agents has been the subject of intense research because of their potential use in radiation environments like spatial explorations, radiotherapy, and even nuclear war. However, the search for effective, ideal, and safe radioprotectors keeps on, as well as the development of clinical trials involving the use of some of them. On the other hand, several research groups have leaded their efforts to find alternative sources to the current chemical compounds and their synthetic analogs, with emphasis in the use of vegetal extratcs. This review summarizes some of the most promising species, including Cuban endemic plants which have rendered significant radioprotection properties. The mechanisms involved in such effect are also discussed. In addition to the researches accomplished, further studies are required to assess the radioprotective potential of specific plant extracts aiming to be used in different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we present results from ultraviolet solar index (IUV) comparisons between values obtained from experimental measurements, with theoretical results obtained from tropospherical ultraviolet model (TUV). It is important to emphasise the observed increase in solar ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiance (280-320 nm) received at ground level due to increases in altitude of the observation place over sea level. The calculations using the TUV model were made between the years 1996 and 2003, using the geographical parameters of the locations where the observations were made. As one of the important variables from which the IUV depends is the altitude over the sea level and since the North of Chile has special characteristics, suitable to carry out this type of studies, experiments have been made to measure the UVB solar irradiance at altitudes varying between 0 and 3200 m over the sea level, in order to obtain the IUV. The importance of these results is that it is possible to quantify the irradiance increase per each 1000 m altitude. An ever increasing number of people are continuously moving between sea level and altitudes around 5000 m because of their type of work, related to mining, tourism or transportation. In all of these cases these individuals are exposed to significant increases of solar UV irradiance which could eventually affect seriously their health if enough they are not well informed to take appropriate precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Risk Matrix method is a standardized procedure with a wide application in Industry with regard to risk approach to safety management by addressing events' frequency and consequence, however it is not customary used in the safety evaluation of radioactive facilities. This report introduces a modification to Risk Matrix methods for the evaluation of safety in the treatment with radiotherapy and, also presents the results of an evaluation for cobalt 60 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper shows a panoramic about the development and evolution that had got the National Center for Nuclear Safety at its fifteen years of work, as the competent authority in the matter of nuclear and radiological safety and accountability and control of nuclear materials in the Republic of Cuba. To presents the principal tasks on a legislative level and the regulatory control and the main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper pictured the development and construction of a device capable of acquiring and transmitting the information on the behavior of the wind speed and direction, on real time. It is first time introduced at an observation poet this kind of monitoring performed automatically on real time, using computational and digitizing redid, while a PC for its later analysis and visualization registers the provided data For that purpose an application program Autoclima wad developed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene and the National Center for Nuclear Safety, have been working in the last years in the design and improvement of a computing tool that allows the management of all the important information, which should be controlled by the Regulatory Authority. The results obtained with the design and implementation of the Integrated System of Data RASSYN for the management of the National Regulatory Authority's information in the country are shown in this paper. The software allows an efficient management of the information related to several regulatory aspects such as: the radiation sources in the national territory; the practices associated to the sources; the personnel associated to the practices and their doses; the instruments for the measurement; the waste management; the radiological events; the conditions and requirements of the given authorizations and the inspections results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the works carried out by the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory of the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene in order to recognize its calibration and measurements capabilities through its participation in the international metrological organization. The accreditation of the quality system introduced in the laboratory and the satisfactory participation since 1997 in more than 23 international comparisons of the standards and 12 postal audits organized by International Atomic Energy Agency, confirms the competence of the calibration services offered in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cuban waste management program comprises the operational capability for dealing with these radioactive wastes and the regulatory infrastructure for controlling the way in which it is dealt with. A national centralized strategy for collection, transportation, handling, treatment, conditioning, storage and disposal of radioactive waste exists in the country. The Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene is responsible for developing and implementing this centralized strategy. The origin, inventory and characteristics of radioactive wastes, the national policy and infrastructure, the existing waste management facilities, as well as the main activities carried out at present in Cuba are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene has been organizing, since more than ten years, the national training course on Radiation Safety, taking into account the particular needs of the Country in this area. The curriculum of the course, after some years of improvements, is showed and some aspects related to its design and insertion in the national system of education and training in Radiation Safety are discussed. The maintenance of an updated database of participants has demonstrated to be a very useful tool for dissemination of knowledge in Radiation Safety and for a continuously improvement of the imparted courses and offered services. The importance of the participation of the Regulatory Authority in the Course, from its organization phase, is also stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]