Researchers at MIT recently published a study on the effects of low dose-rate radiation on cell repair mechanisms.
One of the more interesting quotes in the story, suggesting that the human body already possesses substantial radiation repair capability: “DNA damage occurs spontaneously even at background radiation levels, conservatively at a rate of about 10,000 changes per cell per day.”
As part of the Secure the Cities campaign initiated after 9/11, many police departments and state agencies received grants from the federal government to purchase sensitive radiation monitoring devices for use by on-duty police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders. This article in Police Chief Magazine explains the history and intent of the program. In many cases, police were issued the Thermo Scientific RadEye PRD.
In Connecticut last Wednesday, a man returning from a nuclear stress test was stopped by a state trooper with a RadEye personal radiation detector.
About eight weeks ago I decided to test my home for radon, as I had bought the house “as-is” two years ago and never got around to testing for it.
I used RSSI’s Alpha-track Radon Detector and placed one in the living room on the first floor for six weeks. The reading came back at 6 pCi/L, which is a bit above the EPA recommended action level of 4 pCi/L. To put the pCi/L value into mrem terms, living for a year in an environment with a radon concentration of 4 pCi/L is roughly equivalent to a whole-body dose of 800 mrem. Much more information on radon and the average levels in your area of Illinois can be found by visiting the IEMA radon website.
I decided to install a sub-slab depressurization (SSD) system in the basement of my home. The system cost is around a thousand dollars for parts and labor, and my installation took one worker about four hours to complete. There are a variety of state-licensed companies and individuals that will do the installation, but I went through VSI. I thought they did a good job. You’ll find a lot of detailed information about the general specifications of an SSD system on their website. Below are some pictures of the installation and the sealed sump cover.
After only a few hours of the system running, I noticed that the typical musty smell of the basement had left, and the humidity had dropped to about 50%. The fan and the negative pressure field it creates below the slab of the concrete basement, draws out not only the radon, but also water vapor and other soil gases that would have normally just entered the house. I’m going to recheck the radon levels with a short-term test unit from Air Chek to confirm the effectiveness of the SSD system.
Thanks to Julie Kralis, Director of Imaging Services at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, IL for the following article concerning fines imposed by IEMA on two nurses and a registrant for unauthorized use of fluoroscopic machines.
32 Ill. Adm. Code Part 360.30 “General Requirements and Administrative Controls” Section a) 3) states that the registrant shall,
Verify that each individual required to be accredited by 32 Ill. Adm. Code 401 to apply x-rays for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is properly accredited with the Agency prior to allowing the individual to apply medical radiation procedures on human beings;
360.30 a) 4) continues,
[The registrant shall] permit operation of the x-ray systems only by individuals who are licensed in accordance with State law (see Section 360.10(a) of this Part), or who are accredited by the Agency pursuant to 32 Ill. Adm. Code 401 or who are exempt from such requirements in accordance with the provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 401.
Be sure to check out our previous article on the requirement for licensed radiographic technologist participation during fluoroscopic procedures.
In recent days we’ve been answering specific concerns regarding radiation safety practices associated with PET imaging and F-18. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a website that addresses specific questions concerning general information about the safe use of F-18.
For all practical purposes, the radiation safety program described in your radioactive materials license application would apply to the use of F-18.
A specific concern is the performance of medical procedures on patients who had received a diagnostic PET procedure earlier in the same day. This article from the IAEA highlights the fact that general ALARA practices that should already be in use by hospital staff would provide for a safe working environment around patients who have recently undergone a PET procedure.
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