Lesson

2
Monday, October 17, 2016

11:30 AM

Dose units and Biological Effects

Roentgen (R)-measure of the strength of a radiation field (Geiger counters are in mR/hr)
Radiation absorbed dose (RAD)-takes into account energy of radiation and density of the absorbing material
There are proportionality constants to relate R to RAD, largest in bone. R*constant=RAD
REMmeasure of radiation dose equivalent. Takes into account different types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray)
Quality factors
X-rays, Gamma Rays, Beta Particles 1
Neutrons 10
Alpha particles 20
Gray (gy) = 1 joule/kg = 100 RAD
1 Seivert (Sv) = 100 REM
Does limitTotal Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE), deep dose equivalent (DDE) obtained from dosimeters worm by
workers
Committed Effective Dose Equivalent (CEDE) addresses long-lived isotopes in the body
You can ingest, inhale, or absorb radiation
Only source at USC that can cause internal doses is I-125. Use a fume hood.
No internal dose from X-ray machine, DDE read from dosimeter = TEDE
TEDE=CEDE+DDE
Annual limits
5 rem TEDE
50 rem total organ dose equivalent to any single organ of tissue
15 rem total dose to lens of the eye
0.5 rem for 9 month pregnancy
It is the Universities goal to keep radiation doses ALARA- As low as reasonably achievable
Biological Effects
Deterministicseverity of disease directly related to the amount of radiation received. Thresholds exist for cataracts, skin
damage, and lower red blood cell counts.
Stochasticseverity of disease doesnt depend on radiation dose. Survivors of atomic bombs dropped on Japan
developed leukemia
For stochastic only 0 exposure correlates to 0 risk, for deterministic no risk below a certain threshold
Faster the dose rate, the greater biological effect. Body can repair damage. (1000 RAD to the whole body at once is fatal,
overtime (months, years) is not)
1000 RADs to the whole body at once is fatal, but 1000 Rads to your finger is not
Not all humans react to radiation the same-sensitivity varies
LD50a dose that would be lethal to 50% of the population (4-5 Sv)
Cells that are more actively dividing are more radiosensitive (bone marrow, epidermal stem, blood-forming, immune
system, reproductive stem)
Brain, nerve, and muscle cells are radioresistant (differentiated and not dividing)
Acute doselarge dose over short period
Impair ability to produce blood cells
Micro-villa in the interstine killed and impairs ability to obtain nutrition
Cause hair to fall out (reversible)
Blistering Skin burns (beta, gamma, x-ray)
Radiation sickness-nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
chronic dosesmaller dose delivered more frequently
Mutation in germ cellsradiation damaged offspring
Mutation in other cells
Radiation is carcinogenic
Develop abnormalities in fetuses