Diagnostic examinations in nuclear medicine increase. This can cause a higher radiation burden to the personnel. The aim of this study was to create and apply a method to validate the occupational radiation protection at the Department of Nuclear Medicine using thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD). Occupational doses in- and outside of the department and the dose rate distribution around the positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) were validated in terms of Hp(10) using TLD-100. Backscatter correction factors were estimated to implement the TLD measurements on different materials. After correction for backscatter, the result indicates that doses in- and outside of the department are below recommended values and dose limits. The highest and the lowest dose rate were measured beside the 18F-autoinjector and the PET/CT gantry, respectively. The method of using TLD gives a good estimate of how the occupational radiation protection performs at the Department of Nuclear Medicine and can thus help in the optimization of radiation protection.
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