Abstract
Purpose Radiation exposure management has been strictly regulated for the radiation workers, but there are only a few studies on potential risk of radiation exposure to non-radiation workers, especially nurses in a general ward. The present study aimed to estimate the exact total exposure of the nurse in a general ward by close contact with the patient undergoing nuclear medicine examinations. Materials and Methods Radiation exposure rate was determined by using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and optical simulated luminescence (OSL) in 14 nurses in a general ward from October 2015 to June 2016. External radiation rate was measured immediately after injection and examination at skin surface, and 50 cm and 1 m distance from 50 patients (PET/CT 20 pts; Bone scan 20 pts; Myocardial SPECT 10 pts). After measurement, effective half-life, and total radiation exposure expected in nurses were calculated. Then, expected total exposure was compared with total exposures actually measured in nurses by TLD and OSL. Results Mean and maximum amount of radiation exposure of 14 nurses in a general ward were 0.01 and 0.02 mSv, respectively in each measuring period. External radiation rate after injection at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was as following; $376.0{\pm}25.2$, $88.1{\pm}8.2$ and $29.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $206.7{\pm}56.6$, $23.1{\pm}4.4$ and $10.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in bone scan; $22.5{\pm}2.6$, $2.4{\pm}0.7$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. After examination, external radiation rate at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was decreased as following; $165.3{\pm}22.1$, $38.7{\pm}5.9$ and $12.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $32.1{\pm}8.7$, $6.2{\pm}1.1$, $2.8{\pm}0.6$, respectively in bone scan; $14.0{\pm}1.2$, $2.1{\pm}0.3$, $0.8{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Based upon the results, an effective half-life was calculated, and at 30 minutes after examination the time to reach normal dose limit in 'Nuclear Safety Act' was calculated conservatively without considering a half-life. In oder of distance (at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients), it was 7.9, 34.1 and 106.8 hr, respectively in PET/CT; 40.4, 199.5 and 451.1 hr, respectively in bone scan, 62.5, 519.3 and 1313.6 hr, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Conclusion Radiation exposure rate may differ slightly depending on the work process and the environment in a general ward. Exposure rate was measured at step in the general examination procedure and it made our results more reliable. Our results clearly showed that total amount of radiation exposure caused by residual radioactive isotope in the patient body was neglectable, even comparing with the natural radiation exposure. In conclusion, nurses in a general ward were much less exposed than the normal dose limit, and the effects of exposure by contacting patients undergoing nuclear medicine examination was ignorable.
목적: 핵의학 검사를 시행한 병동 환자의 시간과 거리에 따른 방사선량률을 측정하여 방사성동위원소 투여를 받은 환자가 병동 간호사에게 미치는 피폭을 예측하고 실제 총 피폭량과 비교하여 보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 병동에서 근무하고 있는 간호사 14명을 대상으로 열형광 선량계와 광자극 선량계를 이용하여 방사선 피폭선량을 측정하였고 핵의학 검사를 시행한 환자 50명(PET/CT 20명, Bone scan 20명, Myocardial SPECT 10명)을 대상으로 방사성동위원소 투여 직후와 검사시행 직후에 표면, 50cm, 1m에서 외부 방사선량률을 측정하였다. 측정 결과를 바탕으로 유효반감기를 도출한 후 병동 간호사가 받을 수 있는 피폭량을 예측하였다. 그리고 열형광선량계와 광자극선량계로 측정된 병동 간호사의 실제 총 피폭량과 비교 하였다. 결과: 병동 간호사 14명을 대상으로 한 피폭선량 측정결과 평균값과 최대값은 각각 분기당 0.01 mSv, 0.02 mSv 이었고 핵의학 검사를 시행 받은 환자의 선량률은 표면, 50cm, 1m 거리 순으로 PET/CT는 $376.0{\pm}25.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, $88.1{\pm}8.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, $29.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/hr$ 이고 Bone scan은 $206.7{\pm}56.6{\mu}Sv/hr$, $23.1{\pm}4.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, $10.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}Sv/hr$이고 Myocardial SPECT는 $22.5{\pm}2.6{\mu}Sv/hr$, $2.4{\pm}0.7{\mu}Sv/hr$, $0.9{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$이다. 또한 검사를 시행한 후 측정한 선량률은 표면, 50cm, 1m 거리 순으로 PET/CT는 $165.3{\pm}22.1{\mu}Sv/hr$, $38.7{\pm}5.9{\mu}Sv/hr$, $12.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}Sv/hr$ 이고 Bone scan은 $32.1{\pm}8.7{\mu}Sv/hr$, $6.2{\pm}1.1{\mu}Sv/hr$, $2.8{\pm}0.6{\mu}Sv/hr$이고 Myocardial SPECT는 $14.0{\pm}1.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, $2.1{\pm}0.3{\mu}Sv/hr$, $0.8{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$이다. 위의 결과를 바탕으로 유효반감기를 도출한 후 검사종료 30분 후 원자력안전법에서 규정하는 일반인 선량한도까지 도달하는데 걸리는 시간을 반감기를 고려치 않고 보수적으로 계산하면 PET/CT는 표면, 50cm, 1m 거리 순으로 7.9시간, 34.1시간, 106.8시간이며 Bone scan은 40.4시간, 199.5시간, 451.1시간이고 Myocardial SPECT는 62.5시간, 519.3시간, 1313.6시간이다. 결론: 본 연구 결과에 의하면 병동 간호사는 일반인 선량한도 보다 훨씬 적은 피폭량을 받는 것으로 나타나, 실질적으로 판단할 때 핵의학 검사를 시행한 환자로 인하여 받는 피폭의 영향은 미미한 것으로 판단된다.