Intro to Radiation Protection

Question 1

• Radiation was discover in ___ by ___
• Radiation is defined as the transfer of ___ energy from one location to another.
• Ionization is defined as an ___ loses an ____ or adds an ___ to the ___

Answer 1

• Radiation was discover in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen
• Radiation is define as the transfer of kinetic energy from one location to another.
• Ionization is defined as an atom loses an electron or adds an electon to the orbital shell(s)

Question 2

Properties of Radiation​

• Penetrates ___
• ___ Wavelengths
• Electrically ___
• Effects ___
• Travels ___
• X-rays are ___
• Cannot be ___ by a lens
• Causes certain crystals to ___
• Creates ___ radiation
• Can cause ___ changes
• Generates ___ when passing through ___

Answer 2

Properties of Radiation​

• Penetrates matter
• Heterogeneous Wavelengths
• Electrically neutral
• Effects photographic film
• Travels in a straight line
• X-rays are invisible
• Cannot be focused by a lens
• Causes certain crystals to fluorescence
• Creates scatter and secondary radiation
• Can cause biological changes
• Generates energy when passing through matter

Question 3

Consequences of Ionization in Human Cells:

• ___ to the cells that can change the ___ cell function or ___ of function
• Creation of ___ atoms
• Creation of ___ reactive ___ molecules (called ___) capable of producing substances ___ to the cell
• Creation of new ___ molecules detrimental to the ___
• Production of ___ electrons
• Production of ___ photons

Answer 3

Consequences of Ionization in Human Cells:

• Injury to the cells that can change the normal cell function or loss of function
• Creation of unstable atoms
• Creation of highly reactive free molecules (called free radicals) capable of producing substances poisonous to the cell
• Creation of new biologic molecules detrimental to the living cells
• Production of free electrons
• Production of low energy photons

Question 4

Radiation Protection works on a team concept

• Between the healthcare workers and the ___ (RT, ___, radiologist, ____)
• Between Professional ___ (___, ARRT, ___, Joint ___)

Answer 4

Radiation Protection works on a team concept

• Between the healthcare workers and the patient (RT, nurses, radiologist, Specialty area)
• Between Professional organizations (ASRT, ARRT, ACR, Joint Commision)

Question 5

Control of Radiant Energy

• Radiographer and Radiologist: Educated in safe operations of the___ equiptment
• Use of ___ devices whenever possible
• Follow established ___ (technical factors, not repeating images)
• Select ___and ___ that significantly reduce ___ to the patients and themselves

Answer 5

Control of Radiant Energy

• Radiographer and Radiologist: Educated in safe operations of the x-ray producing equipment
• Use of protective devices whenever possible
• Follow established procedures (technical factors, not repeating images)
• Select technical factors and equipment that significantly reduce radiation exposure to the patients and themselves

Question 6

Radiation Protection is defined as:

___ measures employed by the radiation workers to safe guard patients, ___ and the ___ from ___ radiation exposure to ___.

Answer 6

Radiation Protection is defined as:

Effective measures employed by the radiation workers to safe guard patients, personnel and the general public from unnecessary radiation exposure to ionizing radiation.

Question 7

Radiation can be measured in units of…

Answer 7

Radiation can be measured in units of:

• Exposure
• Absorbed dose
• Effective dose

Question 8

Radiation measured in units

Define exposure and what the traditional and SI units are.

Answer 8

Radiation measured in units

Define exposure and what the traditional and SI units are.

amount of radiation produced in air

- traditional units = Roentgen (R) - radiation measured in air

- SI units = coulomb per kilogram (C/kg)

Question 9

Radiation measured in units

Define absorbed dose and what units it can be measured in.

Answer 9

Radiation measured in units

Define absorbed dose and what units it can be measured in.

amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit of mass of the material (what patient absorbs)

- traditional units = rad (radiation absorbed dose)

- SI units = gray (Gy) - milligray is 1/1000 of a gray (mGy)

Question 10

Radiation measured in units

Define effective dose and what the traditional and SI units are.

Answer 10

Radiation measured in units

Define effective dose and what the traditional and SI units are.

an attempt to a quantity that is a measure of general harm to humans (harm that could happen to body – if you receive X amount of this dose, Y could happen)

- traditional units - rem (radiation equivalent to man)

- SI units = Sievert (Sv) - millisievert is equal to 1/1000 of a sievert (mSv)

Question 11

Biological Effects

• Biological effects = ___ caused by exposure to ___
• To keep damage to a minimum, the profession uses the following — Principle of ___
• Does having this examination outweigh the risk of the exposure?

If so…

• Diagnostic Efficacy is used:
• • Is the degree to which the diagnostic study reveals the ___ or ___ of a disease in the patient while following to radiation safety guidelines.

Answer 11

Biological Effects

• Biological effects = damage caused by exposure to radiation
• To keep damage to a minimum, the profession uses the following — Principle of BENEFIT vs RISK
• Does having this examination outweigh the risk of the exposure?

If so…

• Diagnostic Efficacy is used:
• • Is the degree to which the diagnostic study reveals the presence or absence of a disease in the patient while following to radiation safety guidelines.

Question 12

ALARA Principle:

• ALARA = “___” - Optimization for radiation protection (ORP)
• GOAL: decrease ___ whenever possible
• does not eliminate ___
• provides guidelines to limit the risk of ___

Answer 12

ALARA Principle:

• ALARA = “as low as reasonably achievable” - Optimization for radiation protection (ORP)
• GOAL: decrease exposure whenever possible
• does not eliminate radiation exposure
• provides guidelines to limit the risk of bodily injury

Question 13

Practical Radiation Protection

Radiographers are responsible for radiation protection for…

Answer 13

Practical Radiation Protection

Radiographers are responsible for radiation protection for:

• fellow workers
• any others in the area
• themselves
• the patient

Question 14

Protection – Occupational Workers

What are the three principles that limit exposure?

Answer 14

Protection – Occupational Workers

What are the three principles that limit exposure?

• SHIELDING
• TIME
• DISTANCE

Question 15

1. TIME

• • keep time spent in “___” area ___ (5 min or less)
• do not be in room during ___ unless ___
• refers to radiographer’s “___” not time set on the ___

Answer 15

1. TIME

• • keep time spent in “active” area low (5 min or less)
• do not be in room during exposure unless needed
• refers to radiographer’s “working time” not time set on the control console

Question 16

2. DISTANCE

• ___ the distance between you & ___ (___)
• radiation divergence means radiation will ___ a ___ area as ___ increases
• learn & use ___

Answer 16

2. DISTANCE

• increase the distance between you & radiation source (scatter)
• radiation divergence means radiation will cover a larger area as distance increases
• learn & use Inverse Square Law

Question 17

Inverse Square Law

Inverse square law = The ___ of radiation is ___ related to the ___ of the ___.

What does this mean?
If you ___ your distance, you will receive ___ of the radiation exposure!

Answer 17

Inverse Square Law

Inverse square law = The INTENSITY of Radiation is inversely related to the square of the distance.

What does this mean?
If you double your distance, you will receive ¼ of the radiation exposure!

Question 18

3. SHIELDNG

• use ___ between yourself & radiation
• wear a ___ if you will be in the ___
• wear ___ if your hands will be near the ___ and ___
• use the ___ window as a ___

Answer 18

3. SHIELDNG

• use absorber between yourself & radiation
• wear a lead apron if you will be in the exposure room
• wear lead gloves if your hands will be near the direct beam and patient
• use the control console wall/window as a barrier

Question 19

BERT

BERT stands for…

• A way to ___ the radiation dose to ___ occurring in ___ or in the ___.
• Sometimes used to help ___

Ex) Chest x-rays. A patient is concerned.
The radiation received from having this chest x-ray would be compared to 10 days in your natural surroundings.

Answer 19

BERT

BERT stands for… background equivalent radiation time

• A way to compare the radiation dose to events occurring in nature or in the environment.
• Sometimes used to help educate personnel or patients

Ex) Chest x-rays. A patient is concerned.
The radiation received from having this chest x-ray would be compared to 10 days in your natural surroundings.

Question 20

BERT

• General population in the US receives ___ per year
• BERT does not use the ___ – only a way to ___

Answer 20

BERT

• General population in the US receives 3 mSv per year
• BERT does not use the Benefit vs risk – only a way to make comparisons

Question 21

Image Gently Campaign

• ___ for Radiation ___ in ___ Imaging (founded 2007)
• ___ safety for ___
• Educate RT on reduction of ___ during CT for children
• Reduced dosage by as much as ___ with no reduction in ___

Answer 21

Image Gently Campaign

• Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging (founded 2007)
• CT safety for children
• Educate RT on reduction of technical factors during CT for children
• Reduced dosage by as much as 50% with no reduction in image quality

Question 22

Image Wisely Campaign

• The ___ (ACR)
• Works with the ___ to ___ the amount of radiation used in ___ imaging studies and eliminating ___.
• www.ImageWisely.org

Answer 22

Image Wisely Campaign

• The American College of Radiologist (ACR)
• Works with the ASRT to lower the amount of radiation used in medically necessary imaging studies and eliminating unnecessary procedures.
• www.ImageWisely.org

Question 23

NEXT Program

• NEXT stands for…
• Compiled ___ values for patient ___, for patient ___, for different ___ for institutes to make comparisons with ___

Answer 23

NEXT Program

• NEXT stands for… NATIONWIDE EVALUATION OF X-RAY TRENDS
• Compiled reference values for patient dose, for patient exposures, for different examinations, for institutes to make comparisons with their own facility

Question 24

Protocols for Dose Alerts

• If a patient dose is predicated to or has actually exceeded present ___, the staff radiologists is ___.
• ___ is called to carry out the dose ___.

Answer 24

Protocols for Dose Alerts

• If a patient dose is predicated to or has actually exceeded present dose levels, the staff radiologists is notified.
• Medical physicist is called to carry out the dose estimate.