RAD PROTECTION REVIEW Flashcards
(27 cards)
List the natural background sources of radiation from largest to smallest
-Radon and Thoron(background)(37%)
-Space (background) (5%)
-Internal (background)(5%)
-Terrestrial (background)(3%)
List the man-made sources of radiation (largest to smallest)
-Computed Tomography (medical) (24%)
-Nuclear Medicine (Medical) (12%)
-Interventional Fluroscopy (medical) (7%)
-Conventional Radiograohy/Fluroscopy (medical) (5%)
-Consumer (2%)
Which organization has a recommended limit for radon levels? What is their recommended limit for radon?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
<4pCi/L
What are some consumer products that give off radiation that are still encountered in our era?
-airport surveillance systems
- electron microscopes
-Ionization type smoke detector alarms
-industrial static elimintors
For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from natural radiation
3.0 mSv
For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from medical radiation
3.2 mSv
For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from other man-made radiation sources
0.1 mSv
For the average equivalent dose, list the total average annual estimated dose for humans
6.3 mSv
List 2 ionizing electromagnetic radiations (excluding high-energy UV)
X-rays and Gamma rays
List 4 particulate radiations
-Alpha particles
-Beta particles
-Neutrons
-Protons
Define Radon
-Radon is the first decay producy of radium, a metallic chemical element, and is produced as radium decays in soil.
-It is a colorless, odorless, invisible, heavy radioactive gas that, along with its own decay products, polonium-218.
-It is the gaseous radionuclide.
-It can seep through the ground in houses through floors, drains, cracks, and foundations.
Explain cosmic rays as it relates to ‘background radiation’
-Cosmic radiation from the sun (solar) and beyond the solar system (galactic).
-Cosmic rays are of extraterrestrial origin and result from nuclear interactions that have taken place in the sun and other stars.
-The amount of cosmic rays varies with altitude relative to the earths surface.
-Exposure occurs at high altitudes at .5 mSv.
Explain terrestrial radiation as it relates to ‘background radiation’
-Terrestrial radiation comes from radioactive material. in the crust of the earth.
-ingested by us in small quantities.
-The types of ionizing radiation released by these radionuclides may include: alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (electrons), gamma rays (similar to xrays) but of higher energy.
-some types of radioactive decay also affect the distribution of electrons around the atom and result in the emission of xrays.
What other sources of natural background radiation is there?
-internal radiation from radioactive atoms, aka, radionuclides, which make up a small % of the body’s tissue.
-If radiation from any of these natural sources grows larger because of accidental or deliberate human actions such as mining radioactive elements, the sources are termed enhanced natural sources.
List the manmade sources of radiation (from the most recent NCRP report) in order from the largest share of annual average exposure to the least
-Computed Tomography (medical 24%)
-Nuclear Medicine (medical 12%)
-Interventional fluoroscopy (medical 7%)
-Conventional radiography/fluoroscopy (medical 5%)
-Consumer (2%)
-Occupational (<0.1%
-Industrial (<0.1%)
Annual natural and background radiation (according to NCRP 2006 data) shows ___ mSv.
3 mSv
Recent data says the average annual background dose is approx ____ from natural sources and manmade is _____.
-50%
-50%
means energy in transit; transfer of kinetic energy, or energy of motion, from one location to another.
Radiation
means the removal of an electron from an atom
Ionization. When passing through normal matter, x-rays were observed to produce electrically charged particles along their path. The altered atoms or molecules comprising these charged particles were called ions. Because of this effect the x-rays were classified as ionizing radiation. The production of these ions, as well as electrons ejected in the process, is the event that may cause injury in normal biologic tissue.
List and discuss the types of radiations on the electromagnetic spectrum as to their ability to produce biological effects (ionize vs. non-ionizing)
-The following are classified as ionizing: x-rays, gamma rays, UV radiation with energy >10 eV because they do not have sufficient kinetic energy to eject electrons from the atom.
-The following radiations are considered non-ionizing: UV radiation with energy <10 eV: visible light, infrared rays, microwaves, radio waves.
Besides energies on the electromagnetic spectrum there is a 2nd group of ionizing radiations that are particles (not waves of energy), these are called _______ radiations collectively.
Particulate
List the four types of particulate radiations
-Alpha particles
-Beta particles
-Neutrons
-Protons
-All these are subatomic particles that are ejected from the nucleus of atoms at very high speeds.
-They possess sufficient kinetic energy to be capable of causing ionization by direct atomic collision. However, no ionization occurs when the subatomic particles are at rest.
What does ALARA stand for
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
what does BERT stand for and what does it mean
-Background Equivalent Radiation Time Method (BERT)
-a way that radiographers can can improve understanding and reduce fear and anxiety for the patient.
-on occasion, the radiographer may receive the question “are x-rays safe?” radiologic techs are responsible for giving an honest and understandable answer to the patient. Ex: telling the patient that for normal DX exams, such as the one they are about to undergo, there is no. existing data of any unsafe effects from the x-rays used in exams.
