A retrospective study of the dosimetry — Radioprotection relationship in a nuclear medicine diagnosis laboratory

In order to decrease the absorbed dose for professionally exposed workers in a Nuclear Medicine Laboratory, clear and precise risk assessments are needed in order for the personnel to fully understand the radioprotection rules and procedures. We propose a retrospective study of the impact of dosimetry on radioprotection in a diagnosis Nuclear Medicine Laboratory. The study had a two months timeframe and implied measuring methods such as area dose debit measurements and contaminated surfaces radioactivity determinations. The eluted activities of Tc-99m generators were correlated with several important factors: patients´ circuit, transit and stationary times, measured dose debit, contamination in specific points. A proportional relationship between the above mentioned factors was established. We determined that dosimetry has a crucial role in optimizing the radioprotection of professionally exposed workers, permitting the lowering of absorbed doses by enhancing working procedures and by choosing adequate area and individual shielding.