Epidemiology research design to estimate the cancer risk due to high background radiation in Mamuju District.

In Indonesia, high background radiation has been found in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi Province, particularly in Takandeang Village and Botteng Village. The average and highest individual effective doses received by residents in North Botteng due to terrestrial gamma radiation and radon concentratrion were 10.40 and 18.62 mSv/y, with the highest effective doses occurring in the inhabitants of the Tande-tande hamlet. Regulatory measure for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) has been regulated in the Government Regulation (GR) No. 33 year 2007 on the Ionizing Radiation Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. GR 33/20, article 51 states that BAPETEN shall intervene in chronic exposure originating from NORM. This paper aims to estimate the risk of high natural radiation to cancer to consider NORM surveillance in the Mamuju district. The writing of this paper was carried out by collecting and reviewing the literature related to radiation protection, naturally occurring radioactive materials, epidemiology, and IAEA safety standards. Two epidemiological research designs may be utilized to determine the risk admitted by the population due to exposure to natural radiation, namely: cohort and case-control. The use of case-control studies is intended to determine public health conditions as soon as possible. A cohort typology study is required after an action is taken to reduce population acceptance (intervention). The purpose of this epidemiology study was to verify the success of the intervention program being implemented. Implementing epidemiological research is primarily determined by the participation of the community in providing information regarding health conditions and life habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]