C4: Principles of Radiation Protection

• ALARA and optimization of protection are identical concepts.
• Multiple techniques are available for dose optimization, including:
  • Quality control and maintenance programs.
  • Choice of materials and equipment.
  • Use of specific techniques and working procedures.
  • Personnel protective equipment (PPE).
  • Proper monitoring systems.
  • Proper engineering and administrative controls.
• Proper engineering control includes:
  • Selection of radioactive sources based on half-life, energy, activity, and radiation type.
  • Proper source housing testing and compliance with regulations.
• Administrative control includes:
  • Local rules for device installation, use, and maintenance by authorized persons.
  • Adequate information for workers about potential hazards.
  • Proper signage for labeled devices indicating presence of radioactive material.
  • Leak test for radioactive source.
  • Movement and storage requiring AELB notification and proper storage.
• Mobile shielding and leaded aprons play important protective roles.
• Dose limit is used to control individual doses, not a line between safe and dangerous:
  • To prevent deterministic effects:
    • Equivalent dose to extremity < 500 mSv except eye < 150 mSv.
    • Effective dose limited to 20 mSv per year.
  • To limit stochastic effects:
    • Effective dose, E is limited to 20 mSv per year.
    • E = ∑WT x HT for each tissue with corresponding tissue weighting factor.
• Relationship between absorption dose (Gy) and effective dose (Sv):
  • Effective dose (E) = ∑WT x HT for each tissue with corresponding tissue weighting factor.
  • Systematic exposure dose and regional exposure dose for γ-ray and β-ray are 1 Gy = 1 Sv.
• Quality factor for different types of radiation:
  • Neutron, proton (>2MeV), α-ray, fission fragment, and heavy nucleus have different radiological quality factors.
• Biological effects of radiation:
  • Deterministic effects have thresholds and prevent specific effects like cataracts and infertility.
  • Stochastic effects have no threshold and increase the probability of cancer like leukemia and skin cancer.
• Annual dose limits for different categories:
  • Radiation workers and staff: Effective dose 20 mSv/yr, Equivalent dose to eye 150 mSv/yr, Skin dose 500 mSv/yr.
  • Female staff: Fetal dose should be limited to less than 1 mSv/pregnancy period.
• Design of exposure rooms:
  • Require specially built shielded rooms.
  • Designed and built according to standards.
  • Classified and demarcated appropriately.
  • Enforce necessary control measures and procedures.
  • Provide for comfort and security.

Test your knowledge of radiation protection principles with this quiz. Learn about the benefits and risks of radiation, types of biological damage, and methods to control and limit radiation exposure.