Programmreport 2012 - DORIS - Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz

Incidents can happen, due to human or technical error, at any place where people work with radioactive substances
or ionising radiation. This may cause radioactive substances to be released or people to be exposed
to radiation. Determination and optimisation of precautionary measures against accidents and incidents is
therefore one of BfS’ permanent tasks. Emergency management is an area that continually needs to be improved
and the effectiveness of safety measures culminating in medical protective measures in the case of
an overexposure needs to be optimised on an on-going basis.
Apart from that, a number of projects deals with issues of general importance for radiation protection.
Over the last few decades, changes in leisure activities and new fashion trends have led to ever increasing
numbers of the population staying longer in the sun and using artificially made UV radiation in solariums. This
trend necessitates new concepts and research measures in the field of protection from UV radiation.
On top of this, man’s environment is increasingly influenced by the presence and the use of electrical devices
as well as by the acceleration in the development of electronic media and wireless communication. The ongoing
expansion in this trend requires that new tasks in the field of protection from the effects of non-ionising
radiation to be performed.
Apart from the existing well-founded scientific findings on health effects, there are hints for potential further
biological effects at lower field intensities which have not yet been fully apprehended by scientists. For this
reason, the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (DMF) continued its research by
systematically studying the effects of different uses of non-ionising radiation on man. The main emphasis of
these research projects was in the fields of biology, epidemiology, dosimetry and risk communication. It was
funded in equal shares by BMU and the German mobile phone network operators. In order to exclude possible
conflicts of interest, the projects were assigned and scientifically overseen solely by BfS. The Research Programme
was initiated by BfS and ended in 2008. Individual follow-up projects, assigned and scientifically overseen
by BfS, are now being funded within the scope of the so-called DMF II.
Summary of results from recent research projects
In the following the results of selected research projects concluded in 2012 will be reported:
SUBJECT AREA 01 - NATURAL RADIATION EXPOSURE
For staff employed by German aircraft companies the effective dose due to cosmic radiation during the flight
has to be determined. This is carried out by computer programs with input of air route, flight level, duration
and date. A significant parameter for calculating is the solar activity. The project “Verification of dose rate
in aircraft taking into account the solar cycle, the dislocation of magnetic poles and solar particle
events in order to quality control for radiation dose calculation of air crews (3608S10003)“ checked
whether the accredited programs calculate the dose within the regulated range. For that purpose three systems
for dose measurements were assembled within planes of type Airbus A340 used by the Deutsche Lufthansa
AG. The dose during 18 000 hours is measured at flight levels between 9 km and 12.5 km. Additionally
the influence of solar flares should be determined, but during the operational hours of the project no significant
dose relevant solar flare was registered.
Aim of the project “Analysis of epigenetic effects (microRNAs) in former workers of the SAG/SDAG
Wismut (3610S10001)“ was the development and establishment of an oligonucleotide microarray for expression
analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in whole blood of former uranium miners. To identify possible biomarkers
of radiation exposure, samples of high- and low-exposed miners were screened with microarrays that
carried 703 human miRNA probes. To that end, 60 RNA samples of the project “Creation of a biological sample
and data collection of occupationally radiation-exposed workers (German Uranium Miners Biobank) – a
pilot study” (3607S04532) were analyzed and potential biomarkers verified by quantitative real-time PCR
(qRT-PCR).
During the initial screening, miRNA-548d-5p, showing a significantly altered expression between low- and
high-exposed miners, was identified as a possible biomarker candidate. Verification by qRT-PCR confirmed
the difference in expression; however, the result was not statistically significant.
To study the leukemia mortality risk among uranium miners of the Wismut-cohort additional information on
medical x-ray exposition was gathered from the archives of the former Wismut health services. For the project
“Collection of the medical radiation exposure for a nested case control study on leukaemia in
XX