Ch. 9 Intro to Rad Protection Flashcards
What is the radiographers responsibility?
1) To ensure the patient receives the minimal dose to create a diagnostic quality image
2) To ensure the patient is not getting unnecessary dose
3) To use radiation safety habits to protect as needed
What type of radiation is produced in the x-ray tube during each exposure?
Ionizing radiation
What are the two main groups of ionizing radiation?
- Particulate radiation
- Electromagnetic radiation
What are alpha particles and their characteristics?
- Usually come from radioactive decay
- Very heavy (large mass
- Positive charge
- Travel only 5 cm in air
- Cannot penetrate skin
- Harmless externally, but cause great biological damage internally
What is a free radical in the context of ionizing radiation?
An unstable atom created when ionizing radiation knocks out an electron
Free radicals can potentially lead to biological responses such as mutations.
What is the responsibility of radiographers regarding radiation safety?
- Minimize patient dose
- Prevent unnecessary extra radiation exposure
- Use radiation safety habits
True or False: Ionizing radiation is always dangerous and has no benefits.
False
The benefits of ionizing radiation can outweigh the risks when used for disease detection.
Fill in the blank: Alpha particles usually come from _______.
[radioactive decay]
What are some examples of radiation safety habits?
- Gonadal shielding
- Thyroid shield
- Lead aprons
- Lead gloves
- Maintaining distance
Particulate radiation is produced by ________ _________.
Atomic collisions
What are beta particles?
Beta particles are lightweight particles that come from the nuclei of radioactive material and can cause biological harm.
They are lightweight and have a low mass
What is electromagnetic radiation?
Electromagnetic radiation includes forms such as X-rays and gamma rays, both of which can cause biological harm.
Where do X-rays originate from?
X-rays are man-made and originate from an X-ray tube.
Where do gamma rays originate from?
Gamma rays come from the nuclei of radioactive material.
What is the difference between X-rays and gamma rays?
The only difference is their source; both have very short wavelengths and can cause biological harm.
What are the biological effects of ionizing radiation?
Exposure can result in the development of a disease or pathology.
What factors must be considered in relation to radiation exposure?
Factors include:
* Amount of radiation received (dose)
* Time frame of radiation dose (rate)
* Type of radiation
* Person’s age
* Tissues and organs’ radiosensitivity.
How does the dose of radiation relate to risk?
Increased dose equals increased risk of biological effect.
What is the impact of the rate at which radiation is received?
The time frame of receiving a radiation dose affects biological effects; for example, 2 gy in 1 hour vs. 2 gy over 12 weeks.
What is the radiosensitivity of young individuals?
Young individuals (1-21 years) are radiosensitive due to immature stem cells.
What is the radiosensitivity of older individuals?
Very old individuals (75+) have increased radiosensitivity due to broken down cells.
Which tissues and organs are more radiosensitive?
Tissues with faster cell reproduction and immaturity are more radiosensitive, such as:
* Skin
* Bone marrow.
Which organs are more radioreistant?
More complex organs such as the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and liver are more radioreistant.
Fill in the blank: The faster the cells reproduce, the more _______ they are.
[radiosensitive]
What are the classifications of biological effects of radiation?
1) Somatic Effects 2) Genetic Effects
What are somatic effects?
Effects on all cells in the body other than sperm and egg cells
What are early effects of radiation exposure?
Biological symptoms that occur within minutes, hours, days, or weeks of exposure
Examples include immediate radiation sickness.
What are late effects of radiation exposure?
Biological symptoms that show up months or years later
These effects can include cancer or genetic mutations.
What are genetic effects?
Effects that occur to reproductive cells as a result of radiation exposure
These can cause mutations in future offspring.
What is a Geiger-Mueller Counter used for?
To detect the presence of radiation
It is most commonly used in nuclear medicine.