Occupational Radiation

Dose Management
Prepared by: Me
rad (Gyt) – radiation dose unit; radiation energy

absorbed

R (Gya) – radiation exposure unit; radiation intensity in

air
rem– exposure to Rad. Tech. and Radiologist; radiation

energy absorbed
Biologic effectiveness


Occupational Radiation Exposure
Dose limit
 Occupation - 50 mSv/yr (5000 mrem/yr)

 General public – 1 mSv/yr (100 mrem/yr)

Fluoroscopy

Interventional radiology
 500 mSv – dose limit for the forearm

 Extremity monitoring must be provided for interventional

radiologists
Mammography
CT
Surgery
Mobile, C-arm

Mobile radiology
 Radiation dose limits
Whole body dose limits

 First DL-500 mSv/wk (1902)

 Current DL-1 mSv/wk

 Basic annual DL – 50 mSv/yr

 Lens of the eye-150 mSv/yr

 Other organs-500 mSv/yr

 Cumulative whole body DL – 10 mSv times age in years

 DL during pregnancy-5 mSv (shall not exceed 0.5 mSv/mo if pregnancy is declared)
Current DLs are based on a linear, nonthreshold dose-response
relationship; they are considered to represent an acceptable
level of occupational radiation exposure
Whole-body DL of 50 mSv/yr – effective dose

Skin

DL: 500 mSv/yr (50 rem/yr)

Extremities

DL: 500 mSv/yr

Personnel monitoring worn on wrist or finger

Lens
DL: 150 mSv/yr
Does limits recommended by the NCRP
a. Occupational exposure
1. Effective dose
a. Annual: 50 mSv (5000 mrem)
b. Cumulative 10mSv x age (1000 mrem x age)
2. Equivalent annual dose for tissues and organs
a. Lens of the eye: 150 mSv (15rem)
b. Thyroid, skin, hands, and feet: 500 mSv (50 rem)
Does limits recommended by the NCRP
b. Public exposures (annual)
1. Effective dose, frequent exposure: 1 mSv (100 mrem)
2. Equivalent dose for tissues and organs
a. Lens of the eye: 15 mSv
b. Thyroid, skin, hands, and feet: 50mSv
Does limits recommended by the NCRP

c. Education and training exposures (annual)

1. effective dose – 1 mSv
2. equivalent dose for tissues and organs
a. Lens of the eye: 15 mSv
b. Thyroid, skin, hands, and feet: 50 mSv
Does limits recommended by the NCRP

d. Embryo-fetus exposures
1. Total equivalent dose: 5 mSv
2. Equivalent dose in 1 month: 0.5 mSv

e. Negligible individual dose (annual): 0.01 mSv

 Weighting factors for various types of radiation

Type of energy range Radiation weighting factor

(Wr)
X- and gamma rays, electrons 1
Neutrons, energy <10 keV 5
10 keV to 100 keV 10
100 keV to 2 MeV 20
>2 MeV to 20 MeV 10
>20 MeV 5
Protons 2
Alpha particles 20
Reduction of Occupational Radiation Exposure

Cardinal principles (time, distance, shielding)

ALARA

In diagnostic radiology, at least 95% of the radiologic

technologist’s occupational radiation exposure comes from
fluoroscopy and mobile radiography
 Each mobile x-ray unit should have a protective apron
assigned to it

The exposure cord on a portable x-ray unit must be at least 2m

long

The useful beam should never be directed toward the operating

console
Occupational Radiation Monitoring

Occupational radiation monitoring is required when

there is any likelihood that an individual will receive

more than 1/10 of the recommended dose limit

The occupational radiation monitor offers no protection

against radiation exposure
Film badges must be worn with the appropriate side to the front

Film badges

 1940s

 Cannot report exposures of less than 10 mR

 Filters made of aluminum and copper
 Advantage: inexpensive, easy to handle, easy to process,
reasonably accurate
 Disadvantage: cannot be reused, cannot be worn for longer
than 1 month (fogging by temperature and humidity)
TLD

 LiF in crystalline form

 Can measure exposure as low as 5 mR
 Can be worn for intervals up to 1 year
 Disadvantage: price

OSL

 Can measure exposure as low as 1 mR

 If the rad. tech. participates in fluoroscopy the occupational
radiation monitor should be positioned on the collar above the
protective apron

Wearing of the dosimeter

Waist or chest level: acceptable if RT is not involved in

fluoroscopy
Pregnant – 2 dose monitors

Abdomen should be monitored for pregnant women

Extremities should be monitored during IR and Nuc. Med. RTs

The control monitor measures background exposure during
transportation, handling, and storage

Radiology staff should never hold patients during exposure

 The pregnant RT should be provided with a second
personnel monitoring device

Pregnant:
DL: 0.5 mSv/mo

 5 mSv for the period of pregnancy

Dosimeters:

 Collar and waist (under lead apron)

Under no circumstance should termination or an involuntary

leave of absence occur as a consequence of pregnancy
 Protective apparel must be worn during fluoroscopy and
mobile radiology
Some Physical Characteristics of Protective Lead Aprons
PERCENTAGE X-RAY ATTENUATION
Equivalent Weight 50 kVp 75 kVp 100 kVp
Thickness (kg)
(mm Pb)

0.25 1 to 5 87 66 51
0.50 3 to 7 99.9 88 75
1.00 5 to 12 99.9 99 94
End.