Fifteen years of radiological protection experience in a regional radiopharmacy

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199007000-00013· OSTI ID:6605556

Hilditch, T E; Elliott, A T; Anstee, D E; Murray, T ^[1]

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1. West of Scotland Health Boards, Glasgow (England)

Radiological protection experience in a regional radiopharmacy, currently handling 28.5 TBq (770 Ci) {sup 99m}Tc y-1, is reviewed for the period 1974-1988. The results of personnel monitoring have shown a downward trend (by more than a factor of two) in radiation exposure of individual staff members, despite the workload per person (6000 GBq (162 Ci) {sup 99m}Tc y-1) remaining virtually constant. Adequate staff selection and training contribute to the reduction in dose. A significant reduction in dose to the eyes was achieved by installing lead glass screens in the radiopharmacy work stations, and tungsten syringe shields reduced radiation dose to the hands. The use of commercially available kits for producing {sup 99m}Tc radiopharmaceuticals, rather than relying on in-house preparations that require more operator handling, has also contributed to reduction in radiation exposure. Internal contamination of staff members with {sup 125}I was markedly reduced when the practice of sub-dispensing high-specific activity solutions of the radionuclide was discontinued. Annual doses from external radiation currently average less than 6 mSv (600 mrem) to the trunk, less than 7 mSv (700 mrem) to the eyes, and 50 mSv (5 rem) to the hands. Internal contamination of personnel with {sup 125}I, {sup 131}I, and {sup 99m}Tc, as detected by thyroid and whole-body monitoring, contributed less than 65 mSv y-1 (6.5 rem) to the thyroid gland and less than 0.1 mSv y-1 (10 mrem) to the whole body.

• OSTI ID: 6605556
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Health Physics; (USA) Vol. 59:1; ISSN 0017-9078; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560161 -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSES
DRUGS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PERSONNEL
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGICAL PERSONNEL
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES