TRIGGER 13

September 19, 2022

Grethel Apal Alliah Yuri Galo Rizza Otadoy
Winkaiser Ballentos Romina Beatrice Garcia Daryl Palacio
Kathleen Danila Kyla Camille Mansueto Karl Rafael Pamakid
John Michael De Vera Riel Laurence Maquiling Maxene Tan
Jovial Tapayan

College of Radiologic Technology

 The Institutional iFLEx Learning System Plan

TRIGGER 13
Jose is an experienced Nuclear Medicine Technologist and at the same time a
Radiation Safety Officer in a Nuclear Medicine Center in the city. Every time he arrives
at the facility, he wears a badge to measure his exposure from ionizing radiation. As an
RSO, it is one of his responsibilities to monitor the facility for any signs of radiation
contamination. He does this by conducting three surveys. One survey depends on the
type of procedure performed; the second survey is about modality features which could
limit patient and occupational exposures and the last one is an area survey. He also
makes use of a device which is hand-held which makes a distinctive sound which
represents radiation levels.
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Guide Questions:
1. What is the badge which is used to measure his exposure from ionizing radiation
called?
A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?
2. What surveys are performed on different types of procedure done?
3. What surveys are performed to test that the radiographic equipment has radiation
protection features?
4. What surveys are performed to monitor an area for signs of radiation contamination?
5. What is this hand-held device which makes a distinctive sound called?
A. What are other devices used for radiation monitoring?
 The Institutional iFLEx Learning System Plan
1. What is the badge which is used to measure his exposure from ionizing radiation called?

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dosimeter

The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) for personnel

monitoring provides the best features of traditional film badges
and TLDS while eliminating some of their disadvantages. This
radiation monitor is the exposure in diagnostic imaging. It has
largely replaced its predecessor, the film badge, for personnel
monitoring in many health care facilities.
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Disassembled OSL dosimeter

demonstrating components of the monitor:
sensing material holder, preloaded packet
incorporating an AI203 strip sandwiched within
a three element filter pack that is heat sealed
within a light-tight black paper wrapper that
has been laminated to the white paper label.
The front of the white paper packet may also be
color-coded to facilitate correct usage and
placement of the dosimeter on the body of
occupationally exposed personnel. (All
components are sealed inside a tamperproof
plastic blister pack)
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A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?

Fluoroscopy
It is a real-time imaging. Imaging modality that
provides a continuous image of the motion of internal
structures while the x-ray tube is energized.
During fluoroscopy, the radiologic technologist
should wear protective apron, for the reason that both
radiologist and radiologic technologist are exposed to
relatively in high levels of radiation.
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A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?

Interventional Radiology
Real-time medical imaging is used by the radiology
specialization of interventional radiology (IR) to carry out
minimally invasive operations. Interventional radiologists can
access almost every organ in the body through a mere pinhole in
the skin by using very small tools like needles, cables, and
catheters. This state-of-the-art technology enables the treatment
of a wide range of illnesses throughout the body, from cancer
treatments to vascular disease. Compared to most surgeries,
interventional radiology procedures have lower risks, less
discomfort, and quicker recovery times.
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A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?

Computed Tomography
Through computer processing, cross-sectional images
(slices) of the bones, blood arteries, and soft tissues inside
the body are produced during a computed tomography (CT)
scan, which combines a number of X-ray images collected
from various angles all over your body. Images from a CT
scan offer more information than an X-ray would.
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A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?

Surgery
Nursing personnel and others working in the operating room and in intensive care units are
sometimes exposed to radiation from mobile x-ray imaging systems and C-arm fluoroscopes.
Although these personnel are often anxious about such exposures, many studies have shown that
their occupational exposure is near zero and certainly is no cause for concern. It usually is not
necessary to provide occupational radiation monitors for such personnel.
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A. Are there other devices used for occupational purposes?

Mobile Radiology
Also known as ‘Portable Radiography’ is used when a patient cannot be moved to the
Radiology department, are frequently utilized to do chest radiography on the patient.
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2. What surveys are performed on different types of procedure done?
Radiation Survey Monitoring
- During procedures and operations, this is to determine the specific radiation working levels in order to control the
accumulated dose.

- When a facility is being commissioned to ensure that the shielding is adequate, to demonstrate that the radiation
levels are adequate and/or the zones have been properly designated

- When there are changes that could possibly affect specific radiation levels, like shielding, layouts and operations

All types of radiation should be trackable by the ideal radiation survey monitor should be able to detect penetrating
radiation. Should also be portable, simple to use, and show the effective dosage volume. In reality, no single
instrument can meet all of these criteria, hence For various forms of radiation, various instruments have been
created.
 TRIGGER 13
3. What surveys are performed to test that the radiographic equipment has radiation
protection features?

RADIOGRAPHIC PROTECTION FEATURES

• Protective X-ray Tube Housing. Every x-ray tube must be contained within protective housing that
reduces leakage radiation during use.
• Control Panel. The control panel must indicate the conditions of exposure and must positively indicate
when the x-ray tube is energized.
• Source-to-Image Receptor Distance Indicator. A SID indicator must be provided and this can be as
simple as a tape measure attached to the tube housing, or as advanced as lasers.
• Collimation. Light-localized, variable-aperture rectangular collimators should be provided. Attenuation
of the useful beam by collimator shutters must be equivalent to attenuation by the protective housing.
 TRIGGER 13
• Positive-Beam Limitation. Automatic, light-localized, variable-aperture collimators were required on
all. They must be adjusted so that with any image receptor size in use and at all standard SIDs, the
collimator shutters automatically provide an x-ray beam equal to the image receptor.
• Beam Alignment. In addition to proper collimation, each radiographic tube should be provided with a
mechanism to ensure proper alignment of the x-ray beam and the image receptor.
• Filtration. All general purpose diagnostic x-ray beams must have a total filtration (inherent plus added)
of at least 2.5 mm Al when operated above 70 kVp. Radiographic tubes operated between 50 and 70 kVp
must have at least 1.5 mm Al. Below 50 kVp, a minimum of 0.5 mm Al total filtration is required.
• Reproducibility. For any given radiographic technique, the output radiation intensity should be
constant from one exposure to another.
 TRIGGER 13

• Linearity. When the exposure time remains constant, causing the mAs to increase in proportion to the
increase in mA, radiation intensity should be proportional to mAs.
• Operator Shield. It must not be possible to expose an image receptor while the radiologic technologist
stands unprotected outside a fixed protective barrier, usually the console booth. The exposure control
should be fixed to the operating console and not to a long cord.
• Mobile X-ray Imaging System. A protective lead apron should be assigned to each mobile x-ray imaging
system. The exposure switch of such an imaging system must allow the operator to remain at least 2 m
from the x-ray tube during exposure.
 TRIGGER 13
4. What surveys are performed to monitor an area for signs of radiation
contamination?
AREA SURVEY
Area surveys are required anywhere a radiation device is in use and the potential for receiving a higher-
than- normal radiation dose is present. These surveys are typically measured in milliRoentgen per hour (mR/hr).
The Roentgen is a measure of the amount of ionization in the air from the radiation.

A typical system of classification considers four types of areas:

• NON-DESIGNATED AREAS, in which the time- averaged dose rate (TADR; averaged over a working day) does
not exceed 1 μSv/h. Personnel can work for 40 h/week and 50 weeks/year without exceeding 2 mSv/y (one-
tenth of the occupational effective dose limit in the United Kingdom).

• SUPERVISED AREAS, in which the dose rate (TADR) does not generally exceed 3 μSv/h and hence in
which personnel will not exceed three-tenths of the dose limit. As implied by the name, these areas are
subject to some form of supervision, and personnel working regularly in such areas could be subject to routine
personal monitoring.
 TRIGGER 13
• CONTROLLED AREAS, in which the TADR exceeds 3 μSv/h. Personnel working regularly in controlled
areas are often designated as classified (or Category A) persons and are subject to medical
supervision and routine personal monitoring.

• RESTRICTED AREAS, in which the TADR exceeds 10 μSv/h. Access to these areas would be subject to
special precautions, such as limitation of access time and the use of protective equipment and monitoring
devices.

When a system of area classification is being operated, it is necessary to survey the area regularly to
confirm that the classification of the area is correct and that adequate precautions are being taken. This
often forms part of a risk assessment review. In controlled and restricted areas, personal dosimeters
such as thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) must be worn to measure the accumulated dose to the
worker. In addition, a direct-reading dosimeter such as a personal electronic dosimeter (PED) is often worn
to give on-the-spot control.
 TRIGGER 13
5. What is this hand-held devices which makes a distinctive sound called?

Geiger-Muller (G-M) counter

 Radiation detection and radiation measuring instrument

that detects individual ionizations. It is the primary
radiation survey instrument for nuclear medicine facilities.
 TRIGGER 13
Geiger-Muller (G-M) counter
 Geiger counters are used for contamination control in nuclear
medicine laboratories. As portable survey instruments, they are used
to detect the presence of radioactive contamination on work surfaces
and laboratory appararatus. They are equipped with an audio
amplifier and a speaker; one can even hear the crackle of individual
ionizations. The Geiger counter does not have a very wide range.
Most instruments are limited to less than 1 mGya/hr (100 mR/hr).

 If the loud speaker is on, it clicks every time an ion pair is created.
The number of clicks indicates how much radiation is entering the
Geiger counter chamber. You hear a clicking sound as soon as you
turn on the speaker because there is always some radiation in the
background.
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A. What are other devices used for radiation monitoring?

Radiation detection and measuring devices are

instruments designed to detect radiation or to measure
radiation, or to do both. The application that is used to detect
and measure is called dosimetry, and the devices used in
radiation measuring are called dosimeters.
References:
• Bushong, S. (2017). Designing for Radiation Protection. Radiologic Science for Technologists: Physics, Biology, and Protection (11th
ed., pp. 552-553). Elsevier.

• https://www.webmd.com/cancer/what-is-interventional-radiology

• https://radiology.uchicago.edu/sections-programs/vir-section

• https://www.elearning.isrrt.org/mod/book/view.php?id=284

• Radiological contamination surveys. (n.d.). EHS. https://www.ehs.washington.edu/radiation/radiological-contamination-surveys

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THANK YOU!