Assessment of occupational exposure and radiation risks in nuclear medicine departments

Publication date: Available online 13 October 2019Source: Radiation Physics and ChemistryAuthor(s): M. Alkhorayef, Fareed H. Mayhoub, Hassan Salah, A. Sulieman, H.I. Al-Mohammed, M. Almuwannis, C. Kappas, D.A. BradleyAbstractDuring the preparation of radioisotopes, during their administration and during patient imaging nuclear medicine personnel are routinely exposed to ionising radiation. With radiation risks increasing with dose, safety assessment is required in seeking to ensure practice complies with international guidelines and dose limits. A particular aim herein is to measure staff exposures during certain molecular imaging procedures including through use of positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) procedures. Over a one-year period occupational doses were monitored for 30 nuclear medicine personnel at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh. Dose equivalent values were measured in terms of Hp (10) (deep dose) and Hp (0.07) (skin dose), extremity doses also being measured via ring dosimeters. The measurements were made using calibrated thermoluminescent dosimeters, type LiF:Mg, Ti (TLD-100). In mSv, the respective mean annual dose and range for Hp (10), Hp (0.07) and extremities were 3.05 ± 2.1 (0.23–0.91), 3.15 ± 2.2 (0.1–9.9) and 28.25 (0.1–298.0). In all cases, extremity dose values were well below the annual dose limit (500 mSv). Neverthel...
Source: Radiation Physics and Chemistry - Category: Physics Source Type: research