Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Butterworth filter mnemonic (impact of critical frequency and order on resolution and noise)

Transmission factor practice question

Assume there is an initial radiation level of 15 R/hr inside a facility. The walls of the facility are constructed with tungsten, having a 30% transmission factor, and fiberglass, with an 80% transmission factor. How much radiation reaches outside the facility?

Friday, December 8, 2023

Linear no-threshold model in radiation safety

The most conservative theory of radiation is the "linear no-threshold" (LNT) model. According to this model, there is no safe threshold for exposure to ionizing radiation, and any amount of radiation, no matter how small, has the potential to cause harm. The LNT model assumes a linear relationship between radiation dose and the risk of adverse health effects, extending this linear relationship down to zero dose.

In other words, the LNT model suggests that the risk of radiation-induced health effects, such as cancer, increases linearly with increasing radiation dose, and there is no level of radiation exposure considered completely without risk.

Deterministic vs Stochastic effects

Deterministic effects (or tissue reactions) of ionizing radiation are related directly to the absorbed radiation dose and the severity of the effect increases as the dose increases. 

Example: Cataracts

Mnemonic: DDD Deterministic severity Determined by Dose

Stochastic effects of ionizing radiation are chance events, with the probability of the effect increasing with dose, but the severity of the effect is independent of the dose received. Stochastic effects are assumed to have no threshold. 

Example: Cancer

Mnemonic:
Stochastic Severity No
Probability So

Stannous ions in equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography

A small amount of stannous chloride (SnCl2) is added to a vial containing a radiopharmaceutical precursor, such as pertechnetate (TcO4^-).

The stannous ions act as a reducing agent, converting TcO4^- to a reduced form of technetium (Tc-99m).

The radiotracer, now in the form of Tc-99m, can be easily incorporated into red blood cells or other carriers.