Radiation Safety and Protective Measures Video

What is the purpose of radiation protection?

To minimize radiation exposure to patients, workers, and the public while maintaining diagnostic image quality.

What are the main sources of radiation exposure?

Natural (cosmic, terrestrial, internal) and man-made (medical, industrial, consumer products).

What is the average annual radiation exposure in the U.S.?

Approximately 6.2 millisieverts (mSv).

What is an atom?

The smallest unit of an element.

What is the nucleus made of?

Protons (positive) and neutrons (no charge).

What are electrons?

Negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.

What determines atomic number (Z)?

The number of protons in the nucleus.

What is a stable atom?

An atom with equal protons and electrons, resulting in no net charge.

What is an unstable atom?

An atom that emits radiation to achieve stability.

What is ionization?

The gain or loss of an electron, creating a charged atom.

What is ionizing radiation?

Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons (e.g., X-rays, gamma rays).

What is non-ionizing radiation?

Radiation without enough energy to ionize atoms.

What are ion pairs?

A positive ion and a free electron created after radiation interaction.

How do X-ray photons travel?

In straight lines.

What happens to electrons after interaction?

They scatter.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A range of energy forms varying in wavelength, frequency, and energy.

What is wavelength?

Distance between waves; shorter wavelength = higher energy.

What is frequency?

Number of waves per second (Hz).

What is energy measured in?

Electron volts (eV).

What are natural radiation sources?

Cosmic rays, terrestrial radiation, and internal radionuclides.

What are examples of man-made radiation?

Medical imaging, industrial sources, smoke detectors.

What is the NCRP?

An organization that provides radiation protection recommendations.

When was the NCRP established?

1964.

What does NCRP do?

Provides guidelines, research, and collaborates internationally on radiation safety.

What does ALARA stand for?

As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

What is the goal of ALARA?

Keep radiation exposure as low as possible while maintaining image quality.

What is the annual dose limit for radiation workers?

50 millisieverts (mSv).

What are the two main radiation interactions in radiography?

Photoelectric effect and Compton scattering.

What is the photoelectric effect?

Photon is absorbed and ejects an electron; increases contrast and dose.

What is Compton scattering?

Photon scatters after hitting an outer electron; causes image noise.

What is absorption in radiography?

X-rays absorbed by the body, increasing patient dose.

What are the two types of cells?

Somatic cells and germ cells.

What is the direct hit theory?

Radiation directly damages DNA.

What is the indirect hit theory?

Radiation creates free radicals from water, damaging cells.

Which cells are most sensitive to radiation?

Rapidly dividing cells (e.g., lymphocytes).

Which cells are least sensitive?

Mature, non-dividing cells (e.g., nerve cells).

What is the latent period?

Time between radiation exposure and appearance of effects (10–30 years).

What is Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)?

Severe effects from high radiation dose (burns, hair loss, death).

What are long-term radiation effects?

Cancer (somatic) and genetic mutations.

What are the three cardinal rules of radiation protection?

Time, Distance, Shielding.

How does time affect radiation exposure?

Less time = less exposure.

How does distance affect exposure?

Greater distance = lower exposure (inverse square law).

What is shielding?

Using barriers like lead to reduce exposure.

What is collimation?

Restricting beam size to reduce patient dose and improve image quality.

What is gonadal shielding?

Protecting reproductive organs from radiation.

What are OSL dosimeters?

Devices that use light to measure radiation exposure.

What are TLD dosimeters?

Devices that use heat to measure radiation exposure.

What is dosimetry?

Monitoring and measuring radiation exposure over time.

Why is radiation safety important?

To protect patients, healthcare workers, and the public from harmful effects.