radiation protection

Question 1

effect of ionising radiations

Answer 1

damaging to human body and can produce deterministic and stochastic effects

Question 2

deterministic effects

Answer 2

only occurs when dose goes above threshold
severity increases above threshold

Question 3

what is dose measured in

Answer 3

Gy (GRAYS)

Question 4

dose of someone receiving a chest x-ray

Answer 4

0.02Gy

Question 5

what is the most significant source of environmental radiation

Answer 5

radon

Question 6

3 golden rules of radiation protection

Answer 6

1. less time spent = less dose
2. greater distance from source
3. shielding behind a source

Question 7

stochastic effects

Answer 7

don’t appear indefinitely, they can develop in the future and are connected with a small possibility

Question 8

why is the stochastic line linear

Answer 8

assumed to be linear function to dose without threshold because it can happen no matter the dose

Question 9

what are the two aims of radiation protection?

Answer 9

1. prevent deterministic effects by keeping doses below threshold
2. reduce risk of stochastic effects to levels considered acceptable

Question 10

outline justification as a principle of radiation protection

Answer 10

benefits must outweigh risks

Question 11

outline optimisation as a principle of radiation protection

Answer 11

• ALARP (as low as reasonably possible)
  -Assessment of patient dose
• Adherence to diagnostic reference levels (must be
  monitored)

Question 12

outline dose limitation as a principle of radiation protection

Answer 12

staff and general public (not patients as its for their benefit)

Question 13

what does IRR 2017 state

Answer 13

• employers must provide a safe working environment for staff and public
• requires employers to keep exposure to ionising radiations as low as reasonably practicable

Question 14

what are controlled areas

Answer 14

any restricted area where radiation doses could exceed 6mSv a year

Question 15

supervised areas

Answer 15

any area under review eg waiting room where doses are approx 1mSv

Question 16

local rules

Answer 16

written for each hospital with basic data protection guides with relation to specific departments and must be displayed at all times

Question 17

state IR(ME)R 2017

Answer 17

it protects the patient and patients must be informed of the benefits and risks prior to the exposure taking place

Question 18

skin eythema

Answer 18

3 Gy - small area

Question 19

nausea/ vomiting

Answer 19

1 Gy - whole body

Question 20

cataract

Answer 20

5 Gy - eyes

Question 21

who are the international commission of radiological protection

Answer 21

a non-government body that make recommendations based on research
- not mandatory but influential

Question 22

what are the dose limitations for radiation workers

Answer 22

20 milliSieverts per year

Question 23

what is the dose limitation for the public

Answer 23

1 milliSievert per year