Measurement the Radiation Dose in Nuclear Medicine Division of Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate radiation dose in wording area. Materials & Methods: This study was to measure radiation dose in Nuclear Medicine Division, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital by portable survey meter expressed in dose rate (Sv/hr) which had calibration accuracy ± 20%. The measurements were obtained during three stages of each Nuclear Medicine study, first-during injection of radiopharmaceutical, secondary-during acquisition period and finally during transferring patients. Dose rates were measured at 0.30 meters apart from patients, at the maximum and stable moment. The study was conducted within I month (May 2005). Results: Within I month, the total radiation dose was 1,189.80 ± 237.96 µSv in May 2005, i.e.: 91.04 ± 18.20 µSv from radiopharmaceutical injection, 807.50 ± 161.50 µSv from scanning and 291.26 ± 58.25 µSv from transferring patients. Based on these data, number of studies and number of patients, total radiation dose per month could be calculated. Conclusion: The radiation dose accessing to staffs related to amount of patients and examinations. The estimated radiation dose was 1.18 ± 0.23 mSv/month and it was not beyond ICRP standard value. However this study could not measure all of the situations occurring during the duty times individually. So this effective radiation dose was probably underestimated.