Rad 102 final (written/extra credit)

In your words, discuss the similarities of how radiation interacts with the detectors and ultimately produce a signal/detection (Gas-filled, Scintillation, and Solid-State

Gas-filled and Scintillation: Both involve the acceleration of electrons when a signal is emitted. For gas-filled ones, the electrons are accelerated to the anode. Scintillation acceleration is also towards the anode, but is produced by the photomultiplication.

Soild state and gas filled: both need an electrical current to occur for a radiation to occur. Gas filled ones only need a small one while the solid state ones needs a stronger current.

Two radiation workers both received an absorbed dose of 0.05 Gy, but from different radiation types — one from X-rays, and one from alpha particles. Would their equivalent doses be the same? Why or why not? Include your definition of Equivalent Dose and also include RBE in your discussion.

No, the equivalent dose would not be the same. Equivalent dose is defined as, a measure of the damage done by the energy deposited in tissue. Knowing this definition X rays and alpha particles both do a different amount of damage; alpha particles would generally have more damage than X-rays.

RBE is the measure of the ability of a particle to cause damage, basically the measure of damage done to the tissue. RBE takes into account the different types of radiation. Since different types of radiation do different amounts of damage thus RBE would keep in mind the type of radiation.

Please discuss the importance of the 3 foundational concepts of Radiation Safety (Time, Distance and Shielding). Be able to list what increasing (or decreasing) each of the 3 concepts does to your dose/exposure and to overall safety.

Radiation exposure stays with you forever. It does not matter if the needless exposure occurred 20 years ago or 2 minutes ago the exposure has already occurred and it has been absorbed and will stay with you. Which is why it is important to be mindful of Radiation safety in order to lower the risks.

Time: INCREASING your time with a source INCREASES your dose. REDUCING your time with a source REDUCES your dose.

Distance: INCREASING your distance with a source DECREASES your dose. DECREASING your distance INCREASES your dose

Shielding: INCREASING your shielding with a source DECREASES your dose. DECREASING your shielding INCREASES your dose.

Discuss the different types of doses (effective/equivalent, absorbed, exposure)

Exposure: How much radiation is in the air. The electric charge freed by radiation in a specified volume of air divided by the mass of that air.(Just remember air tbh)

Absorbed: Total energy absorbed in ANY target material per unit mass. Dmg will be proportional but does not correlate to the bio effect.

Equivalent dose: the measure of damage done by the energy deposited in tissue. Takes REBE into account.

Effective: Since not all organs/tissues have the same degree or radio sens. we compare the risk to this dose. The dose to the WHOLE body that produced an equivalent risk as a dose to a target organ.

Is Nevada an agreement state? What do they do for the NRC?

Yes, Nevada is an agreement state. It facilitates the licensing and regulation of nuclear materials and activities within the state and plays a big role in nuclear research and development efforts at the National Security Site. We are used for nuclear testing. (Think hills have eyes)

What are the alara and programs?

Leadership and Culture

 Program Documentation

 Licensing and Regulatory monitoring

 Engineering Controls

 Administrative Controls

 Training and Competency

 Monitoring and Instrumentation

 Record and Data Keeping

 Emergency Preparedness and Response

 Waste Management

 Self-Assessment and Continuous Improvement

Describe the programs for ALARA

Leadership and culture: Exec. endorsements, which are policies signed by top management. Active rad. safety committee

Program doc: written rad. protection program, standard op. producers for each task. Annual review and revision cycle

Licensing: Accurate licenses/registrations. Timely amendments when equipment, isotopes, or activities change. Compliance and training are also under this.

WEngineering controls: Facility/shielding designs. Also, keeps in mind the different areas of control. Such as Rad. material areas.

Administrative Controls: ALARA, sources and inv/security. Work planning tools, personnel rotation/task sharing to limit dose.

Training: Annual refresher via classes. Hands on instrument and contamination drills. Post training quizzes/documented proficiency. Protocols/Procedures: detailed tasks

Monitoring and Instrumentation: Personal dosimetry, area monitors/alarms, regular calibration. Bioassay program

Record and data keeping: Central electronic dose and survey data dose. Trending dashboards dose, always kept up.

Emergency Preparedness and Response: Written plans to deal with hazards. Spill drills,, tabletop exercise, decontamination kits,

Waste management: Segregation, shielded interim storage areas

Self-Assessment and Continuous Improvement: scheduled internal audits, plus annual external review, corrective action tracking system with due dates and owners, lesson learned briefings are shared