Radiation protection and safety in the nuclear medicine laboratory

Abstract

Introduction: Nuclear medicine involves the handling and storing of radioactive materials known to pose a risk to human health. The size of the exposure depends on the radionuclide, the person’s activity and the type of one’s work in a nuclear medicine laboratory. Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the contribution of radiation protection and safety measures regarding the protection of professionals’ health working in the nuclear medicine laboratory, as well as patients who undergo relevant tests. Methodology: The study material consists of recent articles on the subject mainly found in Greek and international databases as the Medline, Google Scholar and the Hellenic Academic Libraries Association (HEAL-Link). Results: In Greece, the principles of radiation protection are defined by Law 4310/2014. Radiation protection regulations are provided for the procedures as regards the implementation of a radiation protection system in general and regulation of all issues related to the protection of the professionals’ health exposed to radiation as well as for the issues arising from ionizing radiation during the activities referred to the protection of the general public by legislation. Conclusion: The control of radiation exposure in nuclear medicine not only for health care professionals, but also for patients and the public, can be achieved effectively through many actions being crucial to this direction.