Article Figures & Data
Tables
Risk factor Nature of risk Use of pesticides Chemical toxicity from inhalation, ingestion, or absorption Obesity Heart disease Hypertension Stroke and kidney damage Exposure to pollutants Pulmonary disease, chemical toxicity, and heavy metal poisoning Lack of exercise Heart disease and shortened life span Risky behavior Nature of risk Use of tobacco Pulmonary disease Unprotected sex AIDS/venereal disease Alcohol consumption Cirrhosis Use of motor vehicles Injury or death Use of recreational and prescription drugs Overdose, chemical toxicity, and death Type of radiation Q X-rays, γ-rays, β-particles, and electrons 1 Thermal neutrons 5 Neutrons (other than thermal), protons, α-particles, and multicharged particles of unknown energy 20 Q = quality factor.
Data obtained from (8).
- TABLE 4
Typical Average Annual Occupational Radiation Doses of Various Personnel at UAB Medical Center in 2000
Personnel Dose* Radiologic technologists 0.3 (300) Nuclear medicine technologists 0.3 (300) Radiation therapy technologists 0.12 (120) Radiation therapy nurses 0.12 (120) Radiation safety technicians 0.24 (240) ↵* Data are expressed as approximate values in cSv, with mrem in parentheses.
UAB = University of Alabama.
Data based upon a review of whole-body film badge reports by the UAB Radiation Safety Officer.
Health risk Estimated life expectancy loss (average) Smoking 20 cigarettes per day 6 y Overweight by 15% 2 y Alcohol consumption (U.S. average) 1 y All accidents 1 y Home accidents 74 d Medical radiation 7 d Occupational exposure 0.3 cSv/y from 18 to 65 y of age 15 d 1.0 cSv/y from 18 to 65 y of age 51 d Data adapted and used with permission of Cohen (14).
- TABLE 6
Typical Patient Radiation Effective Dose Associated with Select Nuclear Medicine Tests
Study Radiopharmaceutical Median activity (MBq) cSv/MBq Median body dose cSv Bone 99mTc-MDP 555 1.9 × 10−4 0.10 Brain 99mTc-HMPAO 555 3.5 × 10−4 0.19 Cardiac 99mTc-MIBI 740 4.6 × 10−4 0.34 201T-thallous chloride 55.5 5.7 × 10−3 0.32 Hepatobiliary 99mTc-DISIDA 277.5 4.3 × 10−4 0.12 Inflammation 67Ga-citrate 148 7.0 × 10−3 1.04 Liver/spleen 99mTc-SC 55.5 5.1 × 10−4 0.03 Lung perfusion 99mTc-MAA 74 4.1 × 10−4 0.03 Lung ventilation 133Xe gas 370 3.8 × 10−5 0.014 Renal 99mTc-MAG3 277.5 1.9 × 10−4 0.05 Thyroid 123I-NaI 3.7 8.1 × 10−4 0.003 Adapted from Lombardi (21).
Patient doses were determined using median recommended activities found in package inserts for each product.