Radiation Protection

Test 1

consequences of ionizing in human cells

• creation of unstable atoms

• production of free electrons

• production of low energy x-ray photons

• creation of free radicals

• creation of new biological molecule detrimental to the living cell

• injury to the cell 

necessary radiation

used to form the image

unnecessary radiation

radiation that does not contribute to the diagnosis and radiation that can degrade the quality of the image

radiation protection

effective measures employed by radiation workers to safeguard patients, personnel, and the general pubic from unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation.

exposure

measured by coulomb per kilogram or milliroentgen (Gya)

exposure

is the amount of ionization in air when ionizing radiation is present

absorbed dose

measured in miligray (mGyt)

absorbed dose

amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit mass of material

effective dose

measured in millisieverts

effective dose

an attempt to provide a quantity that is a measure of general harm in humans

type of radiation or tissue

what can change the effective dose

diagnostic efficacy

the degree to which a diagnostic study reveals the presence or absence of disease

ORP

same as ALARA, optimization for radiation protection

time distance shielding

cardinal rules of radiation protection

Entrance skin exposure

the amount of ionizing radiation dose absorbed by the patient's skin at the point where the X-ray beam first enters the body (ESE)

RSO

radiation safety officer, usually a radiologist physicist that enforces the execution, enforcement, and maintenance of ALARA

BERT

background equivalent radiation time, easy way to explain radiation dose to patients. Does not imply risk, just a comparison

TRACE

Tools for radiation awareness and community education

informational posters, brochures, websites, wallet-sized card for recoding dose

patient education can be in the form of

image gently

child sizing doses; CT saves children’s lives but the patient dose should be lowered by “child sizing” the kVp and mA settings

Image Wisely

campaign for adults’ lowering the amount of radiation used in medically necessary imaging studies and eliminating unnecessary procedures. 

standardized dose reporting

The benefit of the referring physician in having direct access to a patient’s radiation dose history is the option of knowing whether or not the ordering of an additional radiologic procedure is advisable

ionizing and nonionizing

Two parts that the electromagnetic spectrum can be divided

ionizing

what kind of radiation are x-rays, gamma rays, and high energy ultraviolet

nonionizing

what kind of radiation are low energy ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared rays, microwaves, and radio waves

cause free radicals that can damage the cell, can alter function of cells, can kill cells

consequences of ionization to cells

alpha particles, beta particles, protons, neutrons

Four types of particulate radiation

alpha particles

particulate radiation that…. radioactive decay, 2 photons and 2 neutrons, large mass, positive charge, less penetrating, lose energy quickly

beta particles

particulate radiation… also called beta rays, high speed electrons with a different origin

protons

particulate radiation… positively charges, Z number (atomic number)

neutrons

particulate radiation… electrically neutral, isotope and radioisotopes

Equivalent dose

EqD; a quantity derived from exposure to various types of ionizing radiation

Each type of radiation has its own distinct way that it effects human tissue

effective dose

EfD; a quantity derived from the EqD and the tissue or organs that have been exposed to radiation

Considers the type of radiation and also the specific tissue 

Sievert

measurement that measures EqD and EfD

.25 Sv

at what point will radiation change your blood count

Terrestrial

type of radiation that is dependent upon the composition of soil and rocks

EX: Radon

Cosmic

Type of radiation from the sun and the stars

altitude

cosmic radiation depends on

Internal

Type of radiation that comes from the food that we eat and the air we breathe

manmade radiation

radiation that is emitted from artificial sources generated by human activities

Three mile island

1979 in Harrisburg Pennsylvania where the reactor melted down and the radiation leaked. Protection protocols were able to stop it so no harm to the general public 

Chernobyl

largest nuclear accident to date, happened in the soviet union on April 26, 1986. It was the explosion of unit 4 and is now contained in a sarcophagus like stone coffin to limit radiation.

thyroid, leukemia, and breast

what cancers are prominent due to chernobyl

Fukushima Daiichi

9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan that took place in 2011. Due to the backup generators failing, heat built up in the cores and caused radiation to be released after the explosion. 

Gray

SI unit for measuring radiation exposure

electromagnetic wave

electric and magnetic field that fluctuate rapidly as they travel through space. Including radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and x-rays.

enhanced natural sources

natural sources of ionizing radiation that grow larger because of accidental or deliberate human actions such as mining

atomic number

the number of protons in a nucleus

radionuclide

an unstable nucleus that emits one or more forms of ionizing radiation to achieve greater stability

ionizing radiation

high energy ultraviolet radiation, gamma rays, and x-rays

Radiation dose

The amount of energy transferred to electrons by ionizing radiation is the basis of the concept of 

Radon and Thoron

What is the largest source of background radiation

48%

Medical imaging contributes to how much of the collective effective dose for the US population

Medical radiation procedures

where do humans receive the largest dose of ionizing radiation

True

T or F Radiation induced cancer is a disease that does not have a fixed threshold

Gyt

what is the measurement of absorbed dose

1/1000 of a sievert

The millisievert (mSv) is equal to

occupational dose

Radiation exposure received by a person employed in the medical imaging profession is termed:

True

The term as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) is synonymous with the term optimization for radiation protection (ORP). T or F

radiation protection

Effective measures employed by radiation workers to safeguard patients, personnel, and the general public from unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation defines: 

exposure

The amount of ionization produced in the air when ionizing radiation is present is known as: