Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Profile in Hot-Lab of Nuclear Medicine Department to Eliminate Undue Radiation Phobia of Technologists in Cancer Hospital

Abstract

The risks related to the radiation exposures cannot be eradicated, but can be minimized by implementing radiation safety culture in the hot-labs. This study aimed to measure background radiation levels in hot-laboratory, arguably the area with the highest radiation level, where all radiopharmaceuticals are prepared in a cancer hospital.Ten distinct locations inside the hot-lab were periodically monitored with a pre-calibrated RM1001-RD LAMSE radiation survey meter for the period of one year. Daily dose rates were recorded and AEDR was calculated using standard notations. The dose rates on selected points were found ranging from 0.12 to 0.21 μSv/h while the Annual Effective Doses were found a maximum rate of 1.47±0.04 mSv/y and minimum 0.85 ± 0.03 mSv/y. These findings show t-test values with a level of significance of 5% (P<0.05). It is concluded that the dose rates in our setup are negligible as per the NRC dose limit of 20 μSv/h and AEDR is about 58% of the radiation limit of 2.4 mSv/y recommended by UNSCEAR. Therefore, the hotlab technologist is radio-biologically safe inside hot-lab with this setup having strict compliance with radiation protection protocols. This study give some findings about undue radiophobia in the hot-lab technologists worked in the Nuclear Medicine departments of cancer hospitals.