Assessment of Radiation Exposure level at Nuclear Medicine lab During Tc 99m Generator Elusion

Abstract

This study was performed in hot lab of nuclear medicine department in radiation and isotopes centre, Khartoum (RICK) over thirteen days extending from 31of July to the 12 august 2010. Tc99m generator from (radioisotopes production division ,atomic energy commission, Syria) was selected for the study. Measurements of dose were performed in nine points distributed in hot lab, measured by high sensitive survey meter, dose calibrator and audible giger muller. The results showed that maximum exposure dose inside fume hood was 3.2 mSv during elution (thirteen days ) for hands exposure .The total body exposure was 0.101 mSv during elution .The exposure rate decreases at all points, where the distance increase according to inverse square law, and the exponential equation . The summation of doses during elusion lead to exposure dose rate equal to 3.2 mSv at point one which in the range of permissible dose of the hands and represent only 6.4 % of the Maximum Permissible Dose for one generator and the number of generators per year in Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum in average of twenty. If only one technologist eluted all generator per year would exceed the maximum permissible dose by 28%. In addition, the summation to the total body exposure out side fume hood for 13 days was 0.101 mSv ,which in the range of permissible dose of the workers and represent only 0.5% of the maximum permissible dose , and for twenty generator represent 10% of the maximum permissible dose. the measurements at these points was internationally within the permissible levels .