Radiation workers, especially those dealing with Uranium isotopes, can potentially intake Uranium -containing materials through their respiratory and digestive systems. According to the “Regulations on the Measurement and Calculation of Internal Exposure” from Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), those who intend to work in or enter the nuclear facilities with a risk of exceeding 2 mSv exposure per year should be examined the internal exposure. However, when it comes to in-vitro bioassay, Uranium intake through drinking water can affect the quantitative analysis. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reported in ICRP Publication 23 (Report on the Task Group on Reference Man) that the reference man excretes Uranium in the urine (0.05-0.5 μg/day) and feces (1.4-1.8 μg/day). Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) set the 90.5 ng/day as the 238U background of workers handing Uranium based on the daily Uranium intake of Koreans. In this research, we examined the possible effects of Uranium in drinking water on internal exposure by analyzing the concentration of Uranium in bottled waters from various water sources sold in the domestic market and a water from the water purifier. The 238U concentration results of analyzing 11 bottled waters and 1 purified water, were ranged from 0 to 10.2 μg/L. All the results were satisfied the standard of 30 μg/L according to “Regulations for Drinking Water Quality Standards and Inspection” enacted by the Ministry of Environment. However, various concentrations were shown depending on the water sources. Assuming that these concentrations of water are consumed by drinking 1 L per day, the internal dose assessment result is 0 to 0.94 mSv. On the other hand, if it is assumed to be inhaled, it can be an overestimated because the dose coefficient of inhalation, Type M is higher than that of ingestion, f1=0.02 which are the values recommended by ICRP Publication 78 (Individual Monitoring for Internal Exposure of Workers) when the Uranium compound is unspecified. In case of two workers at KAERI, the daily excretion of urine was 151 and 120 ng/day respectively in the first quarter monitoring. However after changing the kind of drinking water in the second quarter monitoring, it dropped to 17.4 and 15.4 ng/day respectively. Through this study, it is confirmed that the Uranium background in urine can be analyzed differently depending on the kind of drinking water consumed by each worker. Depending on the Uranium concentration of drinking water, the internal exposure dose assessment can be overestimated or underestimated. Therefore, the Uranium concentration and intake amount according to the kind of drinking water should be considered for in-vitro bioassays of Uranium handlers. Furthermore, if necessary, the Uranium isotope ratio analysis in urine and the handling information should be comprehensively considered. In addition, in order to exclude the effect of intake through the digestive system, replacing the kind of drinking water can be considered. The additional analysis such as in-vivo bioassay and 24 hours urine analysis rather than spot samples can be also recommended.

• Cheol Hyun Kang(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) Corresponding author
• Hyun Woo Lee(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Hanyang University)
• Jong Il Lee(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI))
• Tae Hyoung Kim(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI))