open access

Vol 23, No 1 (2020)
Research paper
Submitted: 2019-10-29
Accepted: 2020-01-09
Published online: 2020-01-15
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Referral to radioisotope examination as a source of additional radiation exposure for staff

Pawel Gadzicki1, Wiesław Tryniszewski1, Michał Świeczewski1
DOI: 10.5603/NMR.a2020.0003
·
Pubmed: 32779170
·
Nucl. Med. Rev 2020;23(1):21-24.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Radiological and Isotopic Diagnosis and Therapy, Medical University of Lodz, Poland, Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland

open access

Vol 23, No 1 (2020)
Original articles
Submitted: 2019-10-29
Accepted: 2020-01-09
Published online: 2020-01-15

Abstract

Background: Every exposure of human to ionizing radiation increases the likelihood of deterministic sequelae. At the same time, it is associated with the risk of stochastic effects. Consequently, this can lead to cancer, mainly of the hematopoietic system. Organs or tissues show a different affinity for gamma radiation. There are many technical and organizational measures which minimize the impact of this radiation on people and especially on the staff of the nuclear medicine laboratory. Materials and methods: The study was based on 208 referrals to the scintigraphic laboratory, which were executed between 26.09.2018 and 13.11.2018 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Military Medical Academy Memorial Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz – Central Veterans` Hospital. Referrals concerned scintigraphic tests of bones, salivary glands, parathyroid glands, myocardial perfusion, somatostatin receptor analogues, renoscintigraphic and lymphoscintigraphic tests. In case of each referral, radiation power was measured at a distance of approx. 10 cm with the use of a calibrated Geiger-Muller detector. Measurements were performed immediately after the end of the last examination each day. Daily measurement of the background radiation dose was also a standard procedure. For calculations, this value was averaged to 0.18µSv/h. Based on the above measurements, a statistical analysis of all data was performed. Obtained data was also analysed after it was ascribed to the person complexing radiopharmaceuticals on a given day. The annual dose for a radiopharmacist is 0.12 mSv, for a technician 0.35 mSv and for a doctor 0.45 mSv. Results: The average radiation dose received every working day by the staff was 11.49 µSv/h. After considering the average distance from the potential source of exposure (50 cm), this power decreased to 0.46µSv/h. In order to calculate the quarterly and annual radiation dose, it was assumed that the employee worked 250 days a year. Conclusions: Medical records may pose an additional personnel exposure to ionizing radiation. Physicians are the most vulnerable group of employees. The way of radiopharmacists work contributes to the contamination of medical records.

Abstract

Background: Every exposure of human to ionizing radiation increases the likelihood of deterministic sequelae. At the same time, it is associated with the risk of stochastic effects. Consequently, this can lead to cancer, mainly of the hematopoietic system. Organs or tissues show a different affinity for gamma radiation. There are many technical and organizational measures which minimize the impact of this radiation on people and especially on the staff of the nuclear medicine laboratory. Materials and methods: The study was based on 208 referrals to the scintigraphic laboratory, which were executed between 26.09.2018 and 13.11.2018 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Military Medical Academy Memorial Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz – Central Veterans` Hospital. Referrals concerned scintigraphic tests of bones, salivary glands, parathyroid glands, myocardial perfusion, somatostatin receptor analogues, renoscintigraphic and lymphoscintigraphic tests. In case of each referral, radiation power was measured at a distance of approx. 10 cm with the use of a calibrated Geiger-Muller detector. Measurements were performed immediately after the end of the last examination each day. Daily measurement of the background radiation dose was also a standard procedure. For calculations, this value was averaged to 0.18µSv/h. Based on the above measurements, a statistical analysis of all data was performed. Obtained data was also analysed after it was ascribed to the person complexing radiopharmaceuticals on a given day. The annual dose for a radiopharmacist is 0.12 mSv, for a technician 0.35 mSv and for a doctor 0.45 mSv. Results: The average radiation dose received every working day by the staff was 11.49 µSv/h. After considering the average distance from the potential source of exposure (50 cm), this power decreased to 0.46µSv/h. In order to calculate the quarterly and annual radiation dose, it was assumed that the employee worked 250 days a year. Conclusions: Medical records may pose an additional personnel exposure to ionizing radiation. Physicians are the most vulnerable group of employees. The way of radiopharmacists work contributes to the contamination of medical records.

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Keywords

: radiation exposure , radiation protection, lens exposure to radiation, medical staff exposure to radiation.

About this article
Title

Referral to radioisotope examination as a source of additional radiation exposure for staff

Journal

Nuclear Medicine Review

Issue

Vol 23, No 1 (2020)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

21-24

Published online

2020-01-15

Page views

536

Article views/downloads

580

DOI

10.5603/NMR.a2020.0003

Pubmed

32779170

Bibliographic record

Nucl. Med. Rev 2020;23(1):21-24.

Keywords

: radiation exposure
radiation protection
lens exposure to radiation
medical staff exposure to radiation.

Authors

Pawel Gadzicki
Wiesław Tryniszewski
Michał Świeczewski

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