Dose rate measurements from radiopharmaceuticals: Implications for nuclear medicine staff and for children with radioactive parents

SUMMARYFollowing the introduction of a number of radiopharmaceuticals, we assessed the dose received by staff working in the nuclear medicine department and also by children who may be in close contact with a radioactive parent. We measured departure dose rates (μSv—h) at distances of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 m from the skin surface at the level of the thyroid, chest and bladder of patients undergoing the following nuclear medicine proceduresMUGA scans using Tc-labelled red blood cells, myocardial perfusion scans using Tc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals, lymphoscintigraphy using colloidal Tc (Re) sulphide, bone scans using Tc-labelled oxidronate, In-octreotide scans, In-labelled leukocyte studies and cardiac reinjection studies using Tl. The maximum dose rates at 0.1 m were those from MUGA studies (167.3 μSv—h) and myocardial perfusion studies (one-day protocol = 391.7 μSv—h, two-day protocol = 121.8 (μSv—h). The implications of these dose rates on both technical and nursing staff are assessed. Also, the dose received by an infant in close contact with a parent following a nuclear medicine investigation was estimated.