Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 1 Radiation Safety Answer Key

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 2 Radiation What is radiation? Radiation is a form of energy. It is emitted by either the nucleus of an atom or an orbital electron. It is released in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 3 Nonionizing What are 4 types of non- ionizing radiation? radio microwave infrared ultraviolet

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 4 Ionizing What are 2 types of ionizing radiation? X-ray Gamma rays

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 5 Radiation What is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation? Energy levels: Ionizing radiation has enough energy to break apart (ionize) material with which it comes in contact. Nonionizing radiation does not.

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 6 Nucleus Electron Orbital path Atomic Structure Define Nucleus: - center of atom, consists of protons and neutrons Define Electrons: - negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus What are atoms held together by? a ttraction of unlike charges

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 7 Types of Ionizing Radiation What are types of ionizing radiation that are important in healthcare setting? Alpha particles Beta particles Gamma rays X-rays Neutrons

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 8 Sources of Exposure What are the sources of exposure to ionizing radiation? Naturally occurring sources Environmental radiation Medical procedures Occupational sources

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 9 Sources of Exposure What are some examples of environmental radiation? Fallout from nuclear weapons testing Effluents from nuclear facilities Emissions from consumer products (televisions, smoke detectors) Naturally occurring sources Radon, Uranium, etc.

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 10 Sources of Exposure What are some examples of medical sources? X-rays checking for broken bones Imaging with radioactive material Tumor treatments

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 11 What are the characteristics of x- rays? Penetrating electromagnetic waves Originate in outer part of atom Common example: type used in medical procedures Energy inversely proportional to wavelength The shorter the wave, the stronger the energy. X-Ray

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 12 State the penetrating needs for steel, and the human body: Steel needs high energy Human body needs low energy Rays come from outside the body, but cause damage inside the body. X-Ray

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 13 Sources of Exposure

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 14 Biological Effects of Radiation What is allowable background exposure per year? approximatel y 360 mrem/year What do the effects on body depend on: Type of radiation Energy of radiation Length of time in body

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 15 Biological Effects of Radiation What do effects from external source depend on? -Penetrating ability Alpha Beta Gamma or x-ray Electron

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 16 Biological Effects of Radiation Parent cell Cell division Normal cells

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 17 Biological Effects of Radiation Irradiated cell Cell division Cells damaged Parent cell

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 18 Biological Effects of Radiation What are the somatic effects of radiation? Affects cells originally exposed Affects tissues, organs, possibly entire body Effects range from slight skin reddening to death (acute radiation poisoning) What are the genetic effects of radiation? Affects cells of future generations Keep levels as low as possible

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 19 Biological Effects of Radiation List the sensitive cells, from most sensitive to least sensitive: Fetal cell Blood cell Intestinal cell Bone marrow cell Sperm cell Capillary cell Muscle cell Nerve cell

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 20 Biological Effects of Radiation List the sources of health hazard data: Early radiation workers Medical personnel Patients treated with radiation Radiation accident survivors Atomic bomb victims

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 21 Units of Measurement What are the units of measure associated with radiology? Quantity or concentration Absorbed dose (RAD) Dose equivalent (REM) Radiation exposure (R)

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 22 Roentgen (R) Exposure to x-rays and gamma rays in air is expressed in: Roentgens (R).

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 23 Roentgen Adsorbed Dose Describe RAD: Amount of energy released to matter when radiation comes into contact with it. Expressed in RAD

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 24 Roentgen Equivalent Man Describe REM: Injury from radiation depends on amount of energy imparted to matter. Expressed in REM Some types of radiation produce greater effects than others: Alpha particles produce more energy than beta particles.

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 25 Units of Measurement List the what the effect of ionizing radiation is determined by: Energy of radiation Material irradiated Length of exposure Type of effect Delay before effect seen Ability of body to repair itself

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 26 Standards and Guides Why is there a difference between occupational limits and public health limits? Occupational limits Healthy population Ages hr per day 350 days per year Public health limits Healthy and sick All age groups 24-hr per day 365 days per year Dose limits

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 27 Standards and Guides What is the permissible dose for the whole body, per quarter? 1.25 REMs What is the permissible dose for hands, forearms, and feet, per quarter? REMs What in the permissible dose for the skin of whole body per quarter? 7.50 REMs

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 28 Standards and Guides What should be posted in a radiation area? 5 mrem in 1 hour or 100 mrem over any 5 consecutive days What should be posted in a high radiation area 100 mrem in 1 hour What areas are to be labeled? Radiation areas High-radiation areas Airborne radioactivity areas Storage and use areas Containers Posting Requirements

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 29 Standards and Guides What is the Universal symbol?

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 30 Monitoring Instruments What are the 3 monitoring instruments? Personal monitoring Area monitoring Surface monitoring

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 31 Monitoring Instruments List 3 things that personal monitoring might include: Film badges, rings TLDs Pocket dosimeter

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 32 Basic Safety Factors What 3 things aid in keeping exposures As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)? Time Distance Shielding

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 33 Basic Safety Factors How does time affect ALARA? Keep exposure times to a minimum Minimizes dose

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 34 Basic Safety Factors  Distance:  Inverse square law: by doubling the distance from a source, the exposure is decreased by a factor of 4. I 1 R 1 2 = I 2 R 2 2

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 35 Basic Safety Factors I 1 R 1 2 = I 2 R 2 2 Inverse Square Law I 1 = initial intensity R 1 = initial distance R 2 = new distance I 2 = new intensity

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 36 Basic Safety Factors Inverse Square Law If a source emits 10 mR/hour at a distance of 1 foot, what is the exposure level at 4 feet away? I 2 = I 1 x (R 1 2 / R 2 2 ) I 2 = 5 mR/hour x ( 1ft 2 / 16 ft 2 ) I 2 = mR/hour

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 37 Basic Safety Factors How does shielding affect ALARA? Encloses the source or isolates workers from the radioactive environment. Must choose the appropriate shielding material, depending on the type of radiation present.

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 38 Basic Safety Factors Shielding

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 39 Basic Safety Factors Shielding

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 40 Nonionizing Radiation What are two forms of non- ionizing radiation? Sun Lasers

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 41 Biological Effects What types of light do lasers emit? Infrared (IR) light Ultraviolet (UV) light

Ferris State University & Michigan Department of Career Development 42 Safety Factors What are made for a specific wavelength of laser light? Safety Glasses You should make sure the safety glasses are specifically rated to what? the wave length you are working with.