Non-patient Exposure due to Nuc Med Procedures

[Jodi.Strzelczyk@UCHSC.EDU]

RE: "Re: NOT Off topic"



One could develop numerous projects and record such measurements in various

situations but there is little point in doing this. The 30 mCi

"no-restrictions" limit for outpatient administration of nuclear medicine

radiopharmaceuticals is based on calculations (the Gamma constants and

retention times for these isotopes are well established). They show that,

under normal circumstances, no member of a general public would receive more

than 500 mrem whole-body dose equivalent, accumulated over the decay period

of the isotope.



There are also dosimetry data available for nuc med personnel who routinely

and daily handle very large amounts of these radiopharmaceuticals and stay

around "hot" patients. Annual dose equivalent for these folks is generally

between 10 percent and 20 percent of the permissible occupational limit of

5,000 mrem - this statement is based on my observations and reviews of

dosimetry records in two large academic medical centers (9 years in one and

7 years in another) that perform several thousands of nuc med procedures

each year.



While it is true that initial dose rates, particularly measured on contact

with the body on a nuc med patient, are relatively high, they are transient.

It thus seems very unlikely that any person spending even a very long time

in close priximity of ONE patient would receive a whole-body dose in the

order of that of nuc med personnel. And why should we be concerned with the

doses in the ballpark of the natural background?



Jodi.         



Jodi Strzelczyk, Ph.D.

Asst. Professor, Radiological Sciences

University of Colorado, HSC, SOM



" Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 21:03:53 EST

From: BLHamrick@AOL.COM

Subject: Re: NOT Off topic



In a message dated 03/29/2002 1:53:15 PM Pacific Standard Time, 

muckerheide@attbi.com writes:



> After my second stress test I measured 20 mr/hr at my chest, could get

readings at 10 +  meters. Decayed over a few days but I didn't follow it all

> 



Ooo!  Thanks for reminding me!  I've been meaning to ask folks if they have

any numbers on this.  I'd like to get a feel for the dose to a neighboring

airline passenger (aside from the increase in cosmic) of a patient who just

underwent some of the common diagnostic tests...or, to the neighboring

patient in the waiting room while waiting for a scan, or the person next to

a recent patient at a movie theater...Does anyone have reliable measurements

at a foot or a meter from a person who has just been injected for, or

undergone a routine bone scan, for example?



Barbara"





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