Exposure radiation in nuclear medicine department

Document Type : Conference Paper

Authors

1 School of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Khuzestan, Iran

2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Abadan, Khuzestan, Iran

Abstract

Nuclear medicine personnel are exposed to radiation during radiopharmaceutical preparation, injection, and imaging. One of the most widely used devices in nuclear medicine is the Single Photon Computed Tomography (SPECT). Injectable radioisotopes in the field of nuclear medicine emit gamma rays, and because gamma rays fall into the category of ionizing radiation, they can break chemical bonds in contact with tissue and cause adverse reactions. The Linear No Threshold model (LNT) considers exposure to any amount of radiation to increase the risk of cancer, and the International Committee for Radiation Protection (ICRP) has set a dose limit for the general public and occupation. So, in this study, we decided to estimate the received dose by personnel and attendant people with environmental and individual monitoring. For two months' environmental rate dose by using Geiger Muller dosimeter, in four nuclear medicine departments, effective dose of personnel by using film badge dosimeter and hand received dose of personnel in contact with radiopharmaceuticals by using finger dosimeter, was monitored.
 
The obtained rate dose was comparable to background radiation, and being in such a place would not be dangerous for companions and personnel. The absorbed dose of the whole body and hands of the employees was much lower than the declared limit. However, according to the ALARA principle recommendation, it is recommended to observe the protection principles and in addition to the film badge, a finger dosimeter should be used to monitor personnel.

Keywords


  1. M. Alkhorayef, et al. Assessment of occupational exposure and radiation risks in nuclear medicine departments. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 17 (2020) 108529.
  2. A. Roguin, J. Goldstein, O. Bar. Brain tumours among interventional cardiologists: a cause for alarm. Report of four new cases from two cities and a review of the literature. EuroIntervention 7 (9) (2012) 1081-1086.
  3. E. Vano, et al. Radiation cataract risk in interventional cardiology personnel. Radiat. Res. 174 (4) (2010) 490-495.
  4. M. Doss. Linear no-threshold model vs. radiation hormesis. Dose Response 11 (4) (2013) 495-512.
  5. NCRP, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Implementation of the principle of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for medical and dental personnel, NCRP Report 107, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, Maryland, 1990.
  6. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP publication 103. Ann ICRP. 37 (2-4) (2007) 1-332. 
  7. D. W. Townsend. Combined positron emission tomography–computed tomography: the historical perspective. Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI 29 (4) (2008) 232-235.
  8. M. Alnaaimi, et al. Occupational radiation exposure in nuclear medicine department in Kuwait. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 140 (2017) 233-236.
  9. A. Kubo, C. Mauricio. TLD occupational dose distribution study in nuclear medicine. Radiat. Measurements 71 (2014) 442-446.
  10. W. Chruscielewski, J. Olszewski, J. Jankowski, M. Cygan. Hand exposure in nuclear medicine workers. Radiat. Protection Dosimetry 101 (1-4) (2002) 229-232.
  11. A. Al-Abdulsalam, A. Brindhaban. Occupational radiation exposure among the staff of departments of nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology in Kuwait. Med. Princ. Pract. 23 (2) (2014) 129-133.
  12. M. Martins, et al. Occupational exposure in nuclear medicine in Portugal in the 1999–2003 period. Radiat. Protection Dosimetry 125 (1-4) (2007) 130-134.
  13. W. Weizhang, et al. Occupational exposures of Chinese medical radiation workers in 1986–2000. Radiat. Protection Dosimetry 117 (4) (2005) 440-443.
  14. J. Jankowski, J. Olszewski, K. Kluska, Distribution of equivalent doses to skin of the hands of nuclear medicine personnel. Radiat. Protection Dosimetry 106 (2) (2003) 177-180.
  15. A. Almanie, S. Bachary. Evaluation the radiation exposure of the surgical team from C-arm during orthopedic surgical procedures. 1st Int. Conf. Occupational Health and Safety in Hospitals and Healthcare Centers. Shiraz Uni. Med. Sci. (2021) p. 86.