RAD PROTECTION REVIEW

Question 1

List the natural background sources of radiation from largest to smallest

Answer 1

-Radon and Thoron(background)(37%)
-Space (background) (5%)
-Internal (background)(5%)
-Terrestrial (background)(3%)

Question 2

List the man-made sources of radiation (largest to smallest)

Answer 2

-Computed Tomography (medical) (24%)
-Nuclear Medicine (Medical) (12%)
-Interventional Fluroscopy (medical) (7%)
-Conventional Radiograohy/Fluroscopy (medical) (5%)
-Consumer (2%)

Question 3

Which organization has a recommended limit for radon levels? What is their recommended limit for radon?

Answer 3

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
<4pCi/L

Question 4

What are some consumer products that give off radiation that are still encountered in our era?

Answer 4

-airport surveillance systems
- electron microscopes
-Ionization type smoke detector alarms
-industrial static elimintors

Question 5

For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from natural radiation

Answer 5

3.0 mSv

Question 6

For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from medical radiation

Answer 6

3.2 mSv

Question 7

For the average equivalent dose, list the total dose from other man-made radiation sources

Answer 7

0.1 mSv

Question 8

For the average equivalent dose, list the total average annual estimated dose for humans

Answer 8

6.3 mSv

Question 9

List 2 ionizing electromagnetic radiations (excluding high-energy UV)

Answer 9

X-rays and Gamma rays

Question 10

List 4 particulate radiations

Answer 10

-Alpha particles
-Beta particles
-Neutrons
-Protons

Question 11

Define Radon

Answer 11

-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.

Question 12

Explain cosmic rays as it relates to ‘background radiation’

Answer 12

-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.

Question 13

Explain terrestrial radiation as it relates to ‘background radiation’

Answer 13

-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.

Question 14

What other sources of natural background radiation is there?

Answer 14

-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.

Question 15

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

Answer 15

-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%)

Question 16

Annual natural and background radiation (according to NCRP 2006 data) shows ___ mSv.

Answer 16

3 mSv

Question 17

Recent data says the average annual background dose is approx ____ from natural sources and manmade is _____.

Answer 17

-50%
-50%

Question 18

means energy in transit; transfer of kinetic energy, or energy of motion, from one location to another.

Answer 18

Radiation

Question 19

means the removal of an electron from an atom

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

List and discuss the types of radiations on the electromagnetic spectrum as to their ability to produce biological effects (ionize vs. non-ionizing)

Answer 20

-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.

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

Particulate

Question 22

List the four types of particulate radiations

Answer 22

-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.

Question 23

What does ALARA stand for

Answer 23

As Low As Reasonably Achievable

Question 24

what does BERT stand for and what does it mean

Answer 24

-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.

Question 25

Since there is no dose limit for patients seeking medical treatment, what controls their dose and/or whether the test should be performed?

Answer 25

Risk vs. Benefit. Wear dosimeters that are recorded in charts and record doses for rad modalities.

Question 26

Differentiate between EqD and EfD.

Answer 26

-EqD takes into consideration only the type of ionizing radiation absorbed and the amount of radiation
-Whereas, the EfD takes into consideration both the type of radiation and the part of the body irradiated (organ sensitivities).

Question 27

When were x-rays discovered and by who?

Answer 27

November 8th, 1895 by Wilhem Conrad Roentgen