RE: Radiation Safety Question on Portable X-Rays

["North, David" <DNorth@Lifespan.org>]

I took some scatter measurements in exactly this situation and wrote them up
for Health Physics a number of years ago. Check the July 1985 issue, pp.
92-93.

David L. North, Sc.M. DABR
Associate Physicist
Department of Medical Physics
Main Bldg Rm 317
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02903
ph: (401)444-5961
fax: (401)444-4446
dnorth@lifespan.org


> ----------
> From: 	Richard, Mack L
> Reply To: 	radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> Sent: 	Friday, January 19, 2001 08:56
> To: 	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: 	Radiation Safety Question on Portable X-Rays
> 
> Tim (Kensora), Chris (Alston), & Radsafers:
> 
> These types of questions and concerns crop up in most hospitals at one
> time
> or another.  There are a few actions one can take to deal with these
> issues.
> First, it's always best to take a few scatter measurements around a
> portable
> x-ray machine.  Set the machine up to shoot the most common films and take
> measurements at various locations around a phantom (use a bucket of water
> if
> you don't have a true phantom).  I'm not sure where the 8 feet distance
> recommendation came from, but I suspect you'll find that when you take
> scatter measurements 8 feet from a phantom, you won't measure much scatter
> radiation.
> 
> Once you get the measurements, compute how many times an individual would
> have to stand at a particular location to exceed certain values such as
> 100
> mrem (NRC's annual limit to a member of the public), 360 mrem (NCRP's
> estimate of the average, annual effective dose equivalent to a member of
> the
> general public from all sources), 500 mrem (NCRP's recommendation and
> NRC's
> limit for pregnant individuals), and 5000 mrem (annual occupational
> limit).
> These values are assuming that no shielding is provided.  If you want, you
> can perform the same computations with Pb aprons, but if you do, you enter
> the realm of partial body exposures, effective dose using the "Webster"
> equation, etc., so you may want to keep it simple.
> 
> Develop some simple guidelines for non-radiography staff (e.g., nurses) to
> follow when portable x-rays are taken.  Considerations such as wearing Pb
> aprons when they're within 6 ft of the patient (alternatively, standing
> behind the radiographer), standing at right angles to the primary beam,
> etc.
> 
> I would provide this information to your radiographers (politically
> correct
> term for x-ray techs).  If you can summarize the aforementioned
> information
> in a one or two page "handout", do so and give the radiographers copies to
> hand out to the various departments where they perform portable films (be
> sure to include your name and phone number for further questions).  You
> can
> also send the written information to key individuals (e.g., OR nursing
> director, ICU director, etc.).  
> 
> Aside from some very general statements on radiation risk, I would avoid
> detailed information about radiation risk because that's too complicated
> to
> address in a short document.  Simply provide references on the handout
> (e.g., websites, NRC Reg. Guide, etc.) or instruct individuals to contact
> you for copies and/or to discuss such information.
> 
> You could issue some personnel monitors (badges) to a few key individuals
> (ideally, persons most commonly around when portable x-rays are performed)
> for about 3 months to accumulate dosimetry information.  Even better, if
> you
> have (or can borrow) some direct reading dosimeters that respond properly
> to
> x-ray energies, give them to your radiographers who can in turn provide
> them
> to other individuals in the room during a portable x-ray (if you only have
> one, give it to the person closest to the patient being x-rayed).  For
> many
> doubters, the ability to see a real measurements helps alleviate their
> concerns.
> 
> You'll probably never be able to convince the truly "radiophobic" people,
> but this type of effort and information goes a long way to help alleviate
> some fears.  Hope this helps.
> 
> Regards,
> Mack R.
> 
> Mack L. Richard, M.S., C.H.P.
> Radiation Safety Officer - IUPUI/Indiana Univ. Med. Cntr.
> Phone #: (317) 274-0330   Fax #: (317) 274-2332
> E-Mail Address:  mrichar@iupui.edu
> 
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