Measurement and Modeling of Radiation dose Levels versus Activity used in the Working Areas of the Nuclear Medicine Unit of Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Radiation dose levels in nuclear medicine working areas have attracted the attention of many researchers. An extensive survey of radiation doses versus activity used in the working areas of the nuclear medicine unit of Mulago national Referral and teaching hospital has been carried out. This survey was done using two chip LiF TLD-100 dosimeter badges. The TLD badges and reader were calibrated using a standard 90-Strontium radiation source.          The mean monthly effective radiation dose levels for the working areas ranged from 0.09 ± 0.05 mSv/month in the staff room to 1.23 ± 0.05 mSv/month in the waste collection room while as annual effective radiation dose levels ranged from 1.03 mSv/year, which was the least to 14.77 mSv/year, which was the highest, in the staff room and waste collection room respectively. Monthly Radiation dose level versus activity used followed power distribution on statistical analysis using MatLab. The measured radiation dose levels were found to be below the recommended safety levels as provided by international agencies such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).