radiation safety in central radio pharmacy

8/4/2019 Radiation Safety in Central Radio Pharmacy

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RADIATION PROTECTION INCENTRAL RADIOPHARMACY

BY AMIT NAUTIYAL.MASTERIN NUCLEARMEDICINE,MANIPAL

UNIVERSITY,MANIPAL


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CONTENT

Introduction

Precautions for radiation safety in

central radiopharmacy:-1-Keep personal exposure as low as

possible. It should be done by,

a- Review exposure limit & controlradiation exposure.

b-Monitor radiation exposure.


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2-Receipt of radioactive packages

3-Elution of Mo99-Tc99m generator

4-Compounding,Dispensing and qualitycontrol of radioactive materials.

5-Transportation of radioactive

material6-Radioactive waste storage and

disposal.


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Recommendation for personnel

exposure monitoring and quality

control Recommendation for minimizing

radiation exposure handling PET

radiopharmaceutical. References


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INTRODUCTION

Present time there is increasingnumber of new radiopharmaceuticalsand NM centers so there is alsorequire more radiation safety.

Approximately 200 centralradiopharmacies in US servingmultiple NM centers.

Increases in the need of NMcommunity and the number of

studies performed so


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increasing awareness to keepradiation exposure in lab as low aspossible.

The central radiopharmacies dealwith large generators, compoundsand delivery of many radioactive

materials. According NRC (nuclear regulatorycommision) each license isresponsible for development and

documentation of radiation safetyro ram to maintain the


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dose as low as reasonablyachievable (ALARA)

Under this ALARA concept,isotope handling techniques,monitoring & calibrating theequipment, review thepersonnel exposure are morestrictly monitored.


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Parallel to these tighter regulation &concept (NRC,ALARA), there is rapidgrowth of

average patient dose per studybecause higher dose achieve betterdiagnostic study and decreaseacquisition time, but high doseincreases in the dose burden in thenuclear medicine department.


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PRECAUTIONS IN

CENTRAL

RADIOPHARMACY1. Keep personal exposure as

low as possible:-Review exposure limit andcontrol radiation exposure :-

The exposure limits have beendeveloped by ICRP.

According ICRP-not only keeping

exposure below recommended levelsbut also maintaining all exposures aslow as reasonable achievable (ALARA)


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The annual occupational dose limits aredescribed below:-

The total effective dose equivalent(whole

body) of 5Rem (AERB Limit-2Rem). Sum of deep dose equivalent to any

individual organ other than the lens of eyebeing equal to 50Rem(AERB Limit-50Rem)

Dose in lens of eye-15Rem(AERB-15REM) Dose in skin equivalent to 50Rem(AERB

limit-50Rem)


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Dose for embryo/fetus during pregnancyis 0.5Rem(AERB Limit-0.2Rem)

The whole body dose limit to non

radiation worker and public membershould not exceed 0.1Rem/yr(acordingboth ICRP And AERB).

Monitor radiation exposure:-

Radiation exposure can be monitored by

film badge, TLD, self reading dosimeters.1. Film badge:-

Most common method of monitoringexternal exposure.


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The film clips to users cloths.

Consist of plastic sheet covered

with a thin gelatin matrix, coveredby plastic holder.

Capable of covering a range ofexposure from 10MR to 10R.

Also contain various filters suchas : aluminum, lead and plasticand an open window to determinethe energy of incoming radiation.

Advantage is that it gives


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exposure because film developed andalso able to estimate the exposure tobeta radiation.

Disadvantage are: sensitive totemperature and humidity changes.

2.TLD:-

Consist of small crystal chips usually

lithium fluoride (LiF) ,which is capable totrap the excited state of radiation.

Heated to 250degree Celsius to release

thetrapped state in form of light photon.


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These light photons measured by

TLD readerconsist of heater, PMT,digital readout.

Crystal is reusable after heating toa temp. of 400 degree Celsius.

TLD badge used over the range of10MR to 1000R.

POCKET DOSIMETER-

Useful for measure exposure over

short period of time (hours or day).


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Worn in special situation such as- Inhigh dose operations.

Able to measured radiation level from

10R to 1000MR. Expensive and insensitive for beta

radiation.

DIGITAL DOSIMETER-

Generally the size of cigarette pack. Worn in pocket or clipped to a belt.

Consist of GM tube, which displayradiation exposure in 1MR increment.


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2.Receipt of radioactive

packages:- Also need precaution during

receipt of radioactive packages

because each incomingpackage containing small

amount of radionuclide.

Must be monitored duringreceipt.

Test should be performed within

3hrs. after receipt of the


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If package is arriving after normal

working hour, then test should be

performed within 3hr of begaining

of next working day. External exposure should not exceed

10mrem/hr(0.1msv/hr) at one meterdistance.

Exposure should not exceed200mrem/hr(2mSv/hr)

Wipe test are done for removal ofcontamination on the external

surface of the package. Using absorbent material ,such asalcohol swabs, an area of >300centimeter square is wiped.


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3.Elution of Mo99/Tc99m

generator:- During elution of radionuclide

generator there is manyopportunities for person to becomeexposed.

High exposure and contaminationduring handling the unshieldedelution vials.

Generators are supplied accordingthe size of radiopharmacy lab.

For medium size NM radiopharmacy

generators are ranges upto3Ci 111GB


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For larger size NM

Radiopharmacy lab generators

are ranges upto 16.6Ci(613GBq) In the generators of medium

size radiopharmacy

2.5Ci(92GBq) may be eluted in10ml vial, but in larger size

radiopharmacy lab this elution

is more concentrated.


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The elution vial should always betransferred using 9 inch forceps,increasing the distance from vial to

the fingers about 7inch.

By this distance the dose rate tofingers about315mrem/min(3.15mSv/min)

If we will used 2sec to transfer thevial, then there is resulted fingerdose about10mrem(0.1mSv)


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There is exposure mainly resultsfrom removing the eluate vial shieldcap when fingers are within 3inch of

the eluate.

So that in central radiopharmacy thistype exposure reduces by twodevices:-CapMac and prototypeshield.

In the CapMac ,the lead canister istransferred to the dose calibrator by

a lifting device.


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By this CapMac device the

surface exposure rates from

15mR/hr are reduced to lessthan 0.5mR/hr.


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CapMac remote assay device

ompoun ng


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- ompoun ng,Dispensing and quality

control of radioactive

materials:- In central radiopharmacy many

chance for person to becomeexposed to radiation or

contaminated duringcompounding/dispensing radioactivematerial and performance of qualitycontrol test.

These all procedures done withdoses of Tc99m ranging from 50-500mci.

Performed behind the lead lined L-shield.


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Syringe shields:-

According NRC, the use of syringeshield also important part ofradiation protection during kit

preparation.

By this reduction of hand exposurewhen drawing a dose from shieldedvial.

3mm thick lead glass disk is used forshielding.

This thickness is able to attanuate

exposure of Tc99m 98% to 99%.


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Many time radiopharmacist mayprefer to not use syringe shield

but the dose reduction issignificant and it is stronglyrecommended that dosedrawing shield always be used.

I-131 Bioassay- Preparation of I-131 capsule

from unsealed source is a

radiopharmacist duty.


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Chances of internal dose toradiopharmacist due to

inhalation, skin absorption etc. According NRC, there is

requires a specific program ofbioassay measurements (urine

analysis and thyroid uptake) fordetecting the extent of internaldose of an employees when

handling unsealed quantities ofI-131.


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5-Transportation of

radioactive materials:-

Many chance to radiopharmacist tobecome exposed when transportingradioactive materials, so before

transporting following thing must beconsider :-

Use strong, tight packages that willnot leak.

Use appropriate container (syringeshields, lead pigs, moly generators)

with a


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sign that reads radioactive

material attach to each.

Radiation level at externalsurface


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The three labels are commonly used:-

Label surface radiation radiation

level level at 1met

distance

White1


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6-Radioactive waste storageand disposal:-

Radioactive waste generated inradiopharmacy generally consist ofsyringes, needles, vials and contaminated

tissue and papers. All radioactive waste is disposed by the

decay-in-storage method.

This method is limited to radionuclide withhalf life less than 65 days.

Before routine disposal all radioactivewaste must be stored for 10 half lives.


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Storage of radioactive waste product


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Recommendations for personnelexposure monitoring and

quality control:-Placement of badges:- As a rule all radiopharmacy employee

shall wear a film or TLD badge formonitoring external radiation exposure .

The badge should be exchanged forprocessing at least monthly.


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Whole body badges and dosimeters

should be placed near the location to

received the highest dose. If lead apron is worn, then dosimeter

should place outside the apron.

If ring badge are worn, the ring

should be worn on hand receivinghighest dose.


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Visitors:-

All visitors and nonradiopharmacyemployee entering in restrictedareas, so for this a self reading

pocket dosimeter is must be issuefor all visitors.

At the end of visit, the dosimeter isread and any exposure exceeding an

action level of 2mR/hr should beshould b issue a monitoring device.

immediately reported to RSO.


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Recommendationfor survey:-

All elution, preparation,

radiopharmaceutical

manipulation areas should besurveyed daily with a GM survey

meter.

Radioactive waste storageareas should be surveyed

weekly.


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Radioactive spills:-

A decontamination kit should readilyavailable that consist of at leastfollowing:-protective gloves, liquid

and foam decontamination solution,forceps, absorbent paper, disposablepads.

If minor spill (from 1mCi of Tc99m)

should occur then:- Cover the spread of radioactive

contamination by covering with


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absorbent paper or disposable pads.

Clean with absorbent paper usinggloves and if possible forceps.

Use decontamination solution andwater

Avoid stepping in contaminatedareas and avoid entering & leaving

the area. Perform wipe test to ensure no

removable activity.


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If major spill, such as from I-131 oractivity greater than 1mCi ofTc99m,then :-

Prevent spreadby covering withabsorbent paper or disposablepads.

Shield the source if possible.

Avoid stepping in contaminatedarea.

Recommendations for


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Recommendations forminimizing radiation exposure

handling PET

radiopharmaceutical:- Withdraw all doses into a syringe

with a plastic syringe holder tominimizing bremsstrahlung radiation.

All F-18 radiopharmaceuticals andpositron radioactive wastes (syringeand gauge) should be stored inradiopharmay hot lab behind 0.5inch

thick lead. (because it is equivalentto tenth value thickness for 511kevphoton)


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To minimizing exposure, a

patient intravenous line should

be started before the dose istransported.

Recommended that pregnant

technologists not work withPET radiopharmaceuticals.


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General layout of central

radiopharmacy lab


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radiation safety in central radio pharmacy

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