Study of nuclear medicine practices in Portugal from an internal dosimetry perspective

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Bento, J (Author) Other; Teles, P (Author) Other; Neves, M (Author) Other; Santos, AI (Author) Other; Cardoso, G (Author) Other; Barreto, A (Author) Other; Alves, F (Author) Other; Guerreiro, C (Author) Other; Rodrigues, A (Author) Other; Santos, JAM (Author) Other; Capelo, C (Author) Other; Parafita, R (Author) Other; Martins, B (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Radiation Protection Dosimetry

Vol. 149

Pages: 438-443

ISSN: 0144-8420

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 10 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-AHA

DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncr319

Abstract (EN): Nuclear medicine practices involve the handling of a wide range of pharmaceuticals labelled with different radionuclides, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This work intends to evaluate the potential risks of internal contamination of nuclear medicine staff in several Portuguese nuclear medicine services and to conclude about the requirement of a routine internal monitoring. A methodology proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), providing a set of criteria to determine the need, or not, for an internal monitoring programme, was applied. The evaluation of the risk of internal contaminations in a given set of working conditions is based on the type and amount of radionuclides being handled, as well as the safety conditions with which they are manipulated. The application of the IAEA criteria showed that 73.1 of all the workers included in this study should be integrated in a routine monitoring programme for internal contaminations; more specifically, 100 of workers performing radioimmunoassay techniques should be monitored. This study suggests that a routine monitoring programme for internal exposures should be implemented in Portugal for most nuclear medicine workers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6