ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL EXPOSURE OF SKIN ON HANDS OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE WORKERS HANDLING 18F-LABELLED RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS: PRELIMINARY CZECH STUDY

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2016 Dec;171(4):445-452. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncv441. Epub 2015 Oct 25.

Abstract

The article summarises some preliminary results of the assessment of the exposure of hands of workers manipulating 18F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals based on personal monitoring at two nuclear medicine clinics in the Czech Republic. The measurements were carried out using special thermoluminescence dosemeters the readings of which could be interpreted in terms of the personal dose equivalent Hp(0.07) approximating the equivalent dose to the skin at various locations on the surface of both hands. The results have shown that out of 21 workers monitored, ∼43 % (preparation and applications of radiopharmaceuticals) may reach an exposure equal to three-tenth of the annual dose limit to the skin. At the same time, it can also be concluded that in ∼10 % cases of workers, the relevant dose limit may be exceeded.

MeSH terms

  • Body Burden
  • Calibration
  • Czech Republic
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use*
  • Gloves, Protective
  • Hand / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Medicine / methods*
  • Occupational Exposure / analysis*
  • Occupational Injuries / prevention & control
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Dosimeters
  • Radiation Monitoring / methods
  • Radiation Protection / methods
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry*
  • Skin / pathology*
  • Skin / radiation effects*
  • Thermoluminescent Dosimetry

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals