Shannen Christelle A.

Andrade
BS Applied Physics
Special Project Title: SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
HANDLING IN THE NUCLEAR MEDICINE DEPARTMENTS OF HOSPITALS IN
METRO MANILA

PACS (Physics & Astronomy Classification Scheme):

87.53.Bn Dosimetry/ Exposure assessment

87.55.N Radiation Monitoring
87.57.un Radiopharmaceuticals

Problem Statement:
This study aims to assess the risk of the procedures in handling radiopharmaceuticals by
generating a dose map of the nuclear medicine department of Philippine General Hospital.

Significance:

Appropriate handling of radiopharmaceuticals consists of proper delivery, reception,

storage, transport, administration to patient and waste storage and disposal of these
radiopharmaceuticals. If not properly taken care of, contamination or unnecessary exposure may
occur which could result in significant doses to the target organs and potentially raise the risk of
subsequent radiation-induced cancer. The goal of radiation protection is to prevent these effects
from happening. One way of implementing radiation protection is safety assessment. Safety
assessment procedures include identification of sources of routine and potential exposures,
estimation of the probability and magnitude of the doses received from exposure, and appraisal
of the quality and extent of radiation protection and safety measures.

Methodology:

Devices used to measure the radiation doses are as follows: a Geiger-Mueller survey
meter, an ion chamber survey meter, and a solid state survey meter. Radiation doses were used to
generate a dose map of the facility and asses for hot and cold spots. Mapping was done in grids
with 1 m increments. Radiation doses were evaluated against dose limits for the general public
set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). All data gathered were used to appraise
for possible contamination from radiopharmaceuticals. Radiopharmaceuticals used were also
identified by investigating the energy levels from the graphs that will be generated. Results
gathered were further analyzed to give recommendations for radiopharmaceuticals handling.
Major References:

[1] BUSHBERG, J. T. (2002). The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging. Philadelphia:

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
[2] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Applying Radiation Safety Standards in
Nuclear Medicine, Safety Reports Series No. 39, IAEA, Vienna (in press).
[3] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Optimization of Medical Exposure,
Therapeutic Procedures, Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine, IAEA, Vienna.

Submitted by:

Shannen Christelle A. Andrade

Student

Endorsed by:

Alvin C. Baclig
Special Project Adviser

Sarah C. Johnson
Special Project Adviser

Phoebe Alejo
Special Project Adviser