Nuclear radiation dose to the surroundings from patients who are undergoing nuclear medicine examinations

Abstract

The worldwide 2009 estimates for the average annual per-capita effective radiation dose from medicine have doubled during the past 15 years. This has increased the concern for patients as radiation sources. The existing evidence indicates that the amount of radiation is small; but there are few empirical studies with results documenting the actual extent. In this study, we examined the radiation from 48 patients undergoing nuclear medical examination. 20 patients were examined with bone scintigraphy, 20 underwent MUGA, while the remaining 8 went through octreotide scintigraphy procedure. At 0.25 meters from the patient, the radiation ranged from 31±9 µSvh -1 for octreotide scintigraphy patients (111-In as agent), 69±13 µSvh -1 for bone scintigraphy (99mTc), to 92±26 µSvh -1 for the MUGA patients (99mTc). On the basis of these findings and others, one may consider current practices regarding waiting and using led shielding in areas where appropriate. Perhaps, and more important, these results could be used to improve patient and staff education. Better information material with more evidence will reduce undue anxiety.

Examination of 99mTc-mdp radioactivity after ınjection according to time and distance

“…When compared with the studies of Harding et al [18] and Mountford et al [19], it is seen that the results obtained at 0.50 m within 40 and 50 minutes are consistent, but the values obtained at all time intervals at 1.0 m are higher. The value obtained at 1.0 m in 60 minutes is closer to the result obtained in the study conducted by Stenstad et al [21]. However, the dose rate values per unit activity taken within 20 and 30 minutes at 0.50 m are consistent with the results obtained by Gomez-Palacios et al [22] and Mountford et al [19].…”

Evaluation of Indoor Radiation Hazard on Worker & Public Health in Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…The measured dose rates were ranged from 13.420 μSv.h -1 to17.690μSv.h -1 with an average of 15.182± 1.169 μSv.h -1 . The radiation dose rate at 1 meter distance from the injecting patients who are waiting after injecting radioisotope in the waiting room for gamma camera/CT scan image (e.g., bone scan, thyroid scan, thyroid uptake) are comparable with those values of Pakistan (Javed et al, 2017) and Norway (Stenstad et al, 2014). The maximum allowable radiation dose of worker in a working day at the nuclear medicine institute is 55Sv (ICRP, 2008).…”

Impacts on air dose rates after the Fukushima accident over the North Pacific from 19 March 2011 to 2 September 2015

“…Measurements of ambient air dose rates on the effectiveness of composite materials designed for shielding ionizing radiation from radioative sources [ 67 ]. Measurements of ambient air does rates surrounding patients who were injected with radiotive materials for nuclear medicine examinations in the hospitals [ 19 ]. Measuring the background radiation levels in the radiology deparment of a hospital were measured between 0.11 μ Sv/h and 0.13 μ Sv/h [ 68 ].…”

“…The PGGM project equipped a fleet of nine global container ships from the Evergreen Marine Corporation (EMC) with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) analyzers that have been acquiring CO 2 data for climate research since 2009 [13,18]. This good long-term collaboration with the EMC enabled us to quickly conceive a project to immediately monitor the air dose rates over the North Pacific regions after 19 March 2011. The quick response and flexibility associated with the EMC made the urgent deployment of monitoring devices for radioactivity dose rates possible.…”