Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine

Hospital nuclear medicine departments commonly use various forms of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of certain medical conditions, making safety of paramount importance to employees working there. Safety officers scrupulously monitor radiation levels and nuclear medicine staff members observe several safety protocols to receive as little exposure as possible.

Methods

• Safe practices in the nuclear medicine department include maintaining as much distance as reasonably possible from the radiation source, and using protective clothing and shielding when necessary. The amount of emitted radiation, measured in mREM, determines the appropriate shielding material. X-ray and catheter laboratories typically utilize lead coats and gloves, thyroid collars and leaded goggles for protection. Each employee must wear radiation badges above waist level to indicate the amount of radiation exposure received, and ring badges worn on the finger to measure radiation exposure during the handling or administration of radiopharmaceuticals. Areas of the lab designated as "hot" are routinely swabbed to measure radiation levels and G-M (Geiger-Muller) survey meters are used to detect background radiation.

Storage

• Nuclear medicine departments store all radioactive materials in heavily secured, shielded and segregated areas, with each item kept independent of others in shielded containers. Nuclear medicine personnel store or dispose of bodily fluids and waste products from patients who receive diagnostic attention or treatment in shielded containers and receptacles marked as radioactive.

Pregnancy

• A nuclear medicine staff member who becomes pregnant must declare her pregnancy immediately to the radiation safety officer and her supervisor. She must receive monthly radiation monitoring and wear a fetal badge to measure radiation exposure. State and federal guidelines concerning acceptable levels of radiation for pregnant employees go into effect immediately upon declaration of pregnancy.