Units Used in Radiation Safety

erg

Roentgen

Rad

RemCurie

Sievert

Becquerel

Gray

joule

Units Definitions Really it’s not that hard.

Energy ftlb, erg, joule, electron-volt (1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 joules) Others: meV, keV, MeV, GeV, TeV1 erg = 10−7 joule

James Prescott Joule

One foot-pound is the amount of energy expended when one pound-force acts through a distance of one foot along the direction of the force. An electron volt (symbol eV) is equal to the amount of kinetic energy gained by a single unbound electron when it accelerates through an electrostatic potential difference of one volt.

Units cont. The Roentgen

Roentgen (symbol R) (coulomb/kg)

1 R = 2.58 x 10-4 C./kg

(1 esu charge in 1.293 mg of air)

87.6 ergs/gm for airThe röntgen or roentgen (symbol R) is a unit of measurement for ionizing radiation, and

is named after the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen. Adopted in 1928, 1 R is the amount of radiation required to liberate positive and negative charges of one electrostatic unit of charge (esu) in 1 cm³ of dry air at standard temperature and pressure (STP). This corresponds to the generation of approximately 2.08×109 ion pairs.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen

Exposure:

Units cont.The Rad

Absorbed DoseRad (or Gray in SI units)1 R 95 ergs/gm for

tissue 1 rad = 100 ergs/gm1 gray (Gy) = 0.01 J/kg =

100 rad

The rad (radiation absorbed dose) is a unit of absorbed radiation dose, with symbol rad. It was defined in CGS units in 1953 as the dose causing 100 ergs of energy to be absorbed by one gram of matter. It was restated in SI units (Gray) in 1970 as the dose causing 0.01 joule of energy to be absorbed per kilogram of matter. To gauge biological effects the dose in rads is multiplied by a 'quality factor' which is dependent on the type of ionizing radiation. This modified dose is now measured in rems (roentgen equivalent mammal, or man)

Louis Gray

Units cont.The REM

Dose Equivalent:

Rem (or Sievert in SI units)H = QD (H in rem if D in rad)Q is quality factor (Effects of Type of

Radiation)

1 for e, x, 2-10 for neutrons (E - dependent)10 for protons 20 for alpha1 sievert (Sv) = 100 rem

 A “Rem” is a unit of measurement also known as “dose equivalent” which numerically describes the relative amount of biological damage which occurs from doses of ionizing radiation. The rem is derived by the product of the dose received in rads and a quality factor which is unique to each type of radiation. This equates the effectiveness of each type of radiation to cause biological damage. The rem is used to report doses to persons or organs.

Rolf Sievert

How much is a millirem (mrem)?

•The annual background radiation exposure for a typical American is 620 mrems.

•The average dose from watching color TV is 2 mrem each year.

•The granite from Grand Central Station exposes its employees to 120 mrem of radiation each year

•People in Denver receive 50 mrem more each year than those in LA because of the altitude.

•The nuclear industry contributes to less than 1 mrem/year to an individual’s background radiation.

•A millimrem is a small unit of measure.

A millirem measures the amount of radiation energy absorbed into the tissue.

1000 millirems =1 rem =0.01 Gy

1 Joule = 0.24 calorie

1 calorie=amount of energy to heat up 1 milliliter of water 1 degree C.

1 Gy=1 Joule /kg times a quality factor to adjust for the type of radiation (alpha, beta, or gamma)

But how much energy is that?

Therefore 4.16 Gy would produce the same amount of energy it would take to heat up 1 milliliter of water 1 degree C.

Units Cont. The CurieCurie (or Becquerel in SI

units)1 Becquerel (Bq) = 1 dis./sec1 curie (Ci) = 3.7 x 1010 dis./sec1 curie (Ci) = 2.22 x 1012 dis./min1 mCi = 37 MBq

Activity

A “Curie” is a unit of measurement which quantifies the amount of radioactivity present as a disintegration rate. One Curie (Ci) is referenced as the amount of radioactivity present in 1 gram of radium and is equivalent to 3.7 x 1010 disintegrations per second (DPS).

Henri Becquerel Marie Curie

DOSE LIMITS

How much dose am I allowed to get?

Dose is usually reported in rems or millirems (mrem).

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DOSE FOR OCCUPATIONAL WORKERS

Annual Limits (rems)An annual limit, the more limiting of:

(1) Total effective dose equivalent, or----------------5 rem (0.05 Sv)(2) Sum of deep dose equivalent and committed dose equivalent to

any organ or tissue (not lens of eye)—50 rem (0.5 Sv)

AND—Annual limits to lens or eye, to skin, and to extremities of:

(1) Eye dose equivalent of -----------------------------15 rem (0.15 Sv)(2) Shallow dose equivalent to skin or extremity—50 rem (0.5 Sv)

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DOSE SPECIAL CASES

FERTILE WOMEN 0.5 rem (5 mSv) for 36 weeks (the period of gestation, the fetus is also monitored.)

If a woman decides to declare herself pregnant, she must do so in writing to her supervisor (the authorized user) and to the radiation safety office. A fetal monitoring badge will be issued.

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DOSE SPECIAL CASES (cont.)

ALL WOMEN Immediate supervisors are responsible for ensuring that any woman who works with ionizing radiation reads S90.75.2 in the WSU Safety Policies and Procedures Manual. "Possible Health Risks to Children of Women Who Are Exposed to Radiation During Pregnancy”.Women employees must sign the Prenatal Radiation Exposure Statement form after reading S90.75.2

Print the Prenatal Radiation Exposure Statement form on page S90.75.16.Return the original signed form to the Radiation Safety Office. Retain a copy for departmental files.

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DOSE SPECIAL CASES (cont.)

MINORS - Persons Under 18 years old.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

0.5 rem for 52 weeks

100 mrem (1 mSv) for 52 weeks from controlled sources of ionizing radiation.

RADIATION SAFETY OFFICEDosimetry Program

The Radiation Safety Office issues Personnel Dosimetry

About 850 Persons are badged at WSU.

Dosimetry ProgramTwo Types: External dosimetry

Internal dosimetry.

Dosimeter: A device used to estimate the amount of external radiation dose to the body.

External Dosimetry

Whole body badge: Monitors whole body exposure to , , X-ray

and neutrons.Extremity badge: Monitors exposure to hands or feet.

Pocket dosimeter: Direct reading instrument that monitors real time whole body exposure.

TLD Ring Thermoluninescence dosimeter Worn on index finger of dominant hand, with

the white face turned towards the radiation source.

OSL Body Badge optically stimulated

luminescence

Worn on torso, below chin and above waist

Dosimetry ProgramExternal dosimetry

Dosimetry Program (CONTINUED)

Internal Dosimetry - A technique used to monitor the dose from radioactive materials taken into the body.

Urinalysis: Analyzing urine samples to determine the amount of radionuclide excreted by the human body.

Thyroid monitoring: To determine the amount of radioactive iodine (125I and 131I) in the thyroid.

Whole body counting: This procedure would be performed elsewhere, if necessary.

Internal Dosimetry

Occupational Exposure record.

If you are required to wear a badge (dosimetry). Once a year you will receive an exposure report. This report tells you what your radiation exposure was for the previous year. This person received 16 mrem (0.016 rem). Far below the 5 rem limit. ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

Dosimetry Do’s and Don’tsAlways wear your dosimetry, both body and

ring, badges if required! Required by WAC 246-235-130

Never allow anyone else to use your dosimetry.

Most dosimetry is changed out quarterly, every three months. Return your previous dosimetry to the Radiation Safety Office prior to the 10th of the change out month.

Do not use radioactive materials or radiation machines without your dosimetry, if required.

Test Time!

Follow this link to the test. https://myresearch.wsu.edu

Use your WSU user name and password to sign in.

Click on the training tab.Then click on the available training tabFind the radiation safety training dose limits

course, in the “OR” section, click on it and take the test.