How far away should you be from radiation?
Remain at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from an x-ray radiation source. Radiation is significantly reduced by distance. Do not be near x-ray equipment, if not required, move away. Never stand in the line with the direct x-ray beam.
Here's a list of practices to protect you (the operator) from unnecessary X-‐ray exposure during dental imaging procedures: Stand behind a protective shield, or at least six feet from the X-‐ray source, and out of the path of the primary beam.
A greater distance from the radiation source can reduce radiation exposure. The amount of radiation exposure is not inversely proportional to the distance from the radiation source, but is inversely proportional to the square of the distance [2,4].
During mobile exams stand atleast 6 feet away and if possible at a 90 degree angle from the radiation source (the patient).
Elevated radiation area – up to several hundreds of miles: from 0.01 R/hr to 10 R/hr (0.0001 to 0.1Gy/h), potentially hazardous, and cumulative radiation exposure should be monitored. Most people in the LD zone will survive on their own, but critical injuries may still exist.
The initial radiation pulse from a 1 KT device could cause 50% mortality from radiation exposure, to individuals, without immediate medical intervention, within an approximate ½ mile (790 m) radius. This radius increases to approximately ¾ mile (1200m) for a 10 KT detonation.
In the most common scheme, treatment is given daily for a period of 4-8 weeks. To deliver an even dose of radiation to the target, which may be several centimeters thick, the radiation source is placed at a distance from the patient (usually 80-150 cm).
Safelights should be located approximately four feet from the working surface. A red light bulb may not offer the same protection as a safelight. The film manufacturer will have specific recommendations. If the darkroom is equipped with fluorescent lights, turn on the lights for two minutes.
Stay Inside. Staying inside will reduce your exposure to radiation. Close and lock windows and doors. Take a shower or wipe exposed parts of your body with a damp cloth.
Increase your distance from the phone. Putting a few inches (at best four or more feet) between you and your device will considerably reduce the amount of radiation absorbed by your body. Keeping your phone out of your bedroom at night will minimize radiation and promote healthy sleeping habits!
Can aluminum foil block nuclear radiation?
Alpha particles can be stopped completely by a sheet of paper. Beta particles travel appreciable distances in air, but can be reduced or stopped by a layer of clothing, thin sheet of plastic or a thin sheet of aluminum foil.
The guiding principle of radiation safety is “ALARA”. ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable”. This principle means that even if it is a small dose, if receiving that dose has no direct benefit, you should try to avoid it.
Scatter radiation exposure, the most common type of exposure you will receive in diagnostic radiology, is reduced to 1/1000 the exposure the patient is receiving if you stand one meter (approximately 3 feet) from the patient.
With respect to the surface of the Sun, the radiative zone extends from a depth of 515,000 km to 200,000 km. Just above the radiative zone there is a thin layer called the interface layer or overshoot zone which makes the transition between the radiative and convection zones.
The total area of the zone was about 1,017 square miles (2,634 square km), which was later expanded to 1,600 square miles (4,143 square km) to include additional areas that were later found to be heavily radiated.
The radiative zone extends outward from the outer edge of the core to the interface layer or tachocline at the base of the convection zone (from 25% of the distance to the surface to 70% of that distance). The radiative zone is characterized by the method of energy transport - radiation.
Kent Hansen, professor emeritus of nuclear science and engineering at MIT, said there are "several different kinds of radiation. The most penetrating are called gamma rays." Staying inside a house wouldn't do much against those, unless by house you mean more of a bunker--something with substantial concrete walls.
Ragusa recommends rural parts of Texas, Florida and California (far from large population centres which might make attractive targets) as places to survive a nuclear exchange. He says: 'The reason why I picked these three states is because they are near water and have warm climates.
External-beam radiation therapy delivers radiation from a machine outside the body. It is the most common radiation therapy treatment for cancer.
Lymphocytes (white blood cells) and cells which produce blood are constantly regenerating, and are, therefore, the most sensitive. Reproductive and gastrointestinal cells are not regenerating as quickly and are less sensitive. The nerve and muscle cells are the slowest to regenerate and are the least sensitive cells.
What are the most common distances used in radiography?
Exposures should never be made with the x-ray tube any closer than 15 inches from the patient except for some dental radiography procedures. Standard distances are 40", 44", 48" and 72" from x-ray tube (source) to the film (image receptor). This distance is referred to as the SID, or source to image distance.
The recommended minimum distance for the safelight lamps is 120cms (4 feet) above the working surface.
Do not place direct illumination closer than 4 feet (1.2 metres) from the work surfaces. Also avoid situations where pools of relatively bright light appear against a dark, unilluminated background.
This can be checked using TLD dosimeters. The acceptable level is <20 μGy/week. The dark room area must have a work surface at least 1.3 m long for the loading and unloading of cassettes. This surface should be constructed of a hard, anti-static material that is easily cleaned.
To do this, you can use three basic protective measures in radiation safety: time, distance, and shielding.
Phones only emit radio-frequency radiation when they're searching for or receiving a signal, so a phone that's off or in “airplane mode” is safe.
People are exposed to natural sources of ionizing radiation, such as in soil, water, and vegetation, as well as in human-made sources, such as x-rays and medical devices.
Keep your cell phone at least 3 feet away from your bed to limit radio frequency exposure. Turn your cell phone off before you go to bed (if you don't rely on your phone's alarm clock) Turn your phone on Airplane Mode.
Don't charge any electrical devices, including phones and tablets, on your bed or under your pillow while you sleep as they could overheat and cause a fire. If possible, avoid charging devices unattended or overnight, and when necessary only charge them on a hard surface such as a desk.
Most people tend to hold their cell phones only about 8 inches from their faces. Not good. Try holding yours at least 16 to 18 inches away from your eyes to give your eyes a break. It might feel funny at first but shouldn't take long to get used to.
What blocks out radiation?
Shielding: Barriers of lead, concrete, or water provide protection from penetrating gamma rays. Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body; as they pass through, they can cause damage to tissue and DNA. and x-rays. X-rays are capable of passing completely through the human body.
To reduce typical gamma rays by a factor of a billion, according to the American Nuclear Society, thicknesses of shield need to be about 13.8 feet of water, about 6.6 feet of concrete, or about 1.3 feet of lead. Thick, dense shielding is necessary to protect against gamma rays.
Stainless steels have excellent resistance to gamma radiation. However, under neutron flux, they produce capture gamma rays, with energies between 1 and 10 MeV, and activate at highly variable levels depending on the level of impurities (presence of Mn, CO, Ti, etc.).
A type of radiation treatment called proton beam radiation therapy may be safer and just as effective as traditional radiation therapy for adults with advanced cancer.
In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol — an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts — could protect against radiation sickness.
Plastic sheeting will not provide shielding from radioactivity nor from blast effects of a nearby explosion.
Surgeon cooling systems are ideal for keeping medical professionals cool in the OR. A typical cooling system includes a cooling vest and a surgeon will wear this vest during procedures. The system delivers temperature controlled cooled water to the cooling vest (CoolVest).
While most of the radiation continues through the substance to create the x-ray, some of the rays come apart and bounce off the substance (whether that be tissue, bone, medical equipment, or even the walls of the room).
The radiation doesn't travel very far from the treatment area. So it is usually safe to be with other people. However, as a precaution you will need to avoid very close contact with children and pregnant women for a time.
One approach is the 'ten day rule,' which states that "whenever possible, one should confine the radiological examination of the lower abdomen and pelvis to the 10-day interval following the onset of menstruation."
What is the 10-day rule in radiology?
What is the 10-day rule? The 10-day rule was established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection to minimize the potential for performing x-ray exams on pregnant women. The basis of the rule was to do abdominal and pelvic x-ray exams only during the 10 days following the onset of menstruation.
Some patients worry that undergoing radiation therapy can be harmful to others because they are radioactive. For example, patients sometimes think they can't cuddle with their partner or hold a grandchild on their lap until after treatment. However, most patients don't need to worry about being radioactive.
Protecting others from the radiation
Being in a room on your own (isolation) protects other people from radiation. Pregnant women and children are not allowed into your room. Other visitors may be able to stay for a short time when it is safe for them to do so.
Symptoms of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS), or radiation sickness, may include nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea. These symptoms start within minutes to days after the exposure, can last for minutes up to several days, and may come and go.
Permanent implants remain radioactive after the patient leaves the hospital. Because of this, for 2 months, the patient should not have more than 5 minutes of contact with children or pregnant people. Similarly, people who are treated with systemic radiation therapy should follow safety precautions.
Remain in the most protective location (basement or center of a large building) for the first 24 hours unless threatened by an immediate hazard (e.g., fire, gas leak, building collapse, or serious injury) or informed by authorities that it is safe to leave.
Distance yourself appropriately from sources of radiation. Use appropriate shielding for the type of radiation. Contain radioactive materials within defined work areas. Wear appropriate protective clothing and dosimeters.
Stay Inside
Staying inside will reduce your exposure to radiation. Close and lock windows and doors. Take a shower or wipe exposed parts of your body with a damp cloth. Drink bottled water and eat food in sealed containers.
- Keeping the time of exposure to a minimum,
- Maintaining distance from the source,
- When appropriate, placing a shield between yourself and the source, and.
- Protecting yourself against radioactive contamination by using proper protective clothing.
Shielding: Barriers of lead, concrete, or water provide protection from penetrating gamma rays. Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body; as they pass through, they can cause damage to tissue and DNA.
Why is the 15 rule important in radiology?
The 15% Rule is a useful approximation for Radiologic Technologists / Radiographers to adjust the mAs when changes to the kVp are desired in the x-ray protocol. The 15% Rule states: when the kVp is lowered by 15% the mAs needs to be increased by a factor of 2, and when the kVp is increased …
Introduction: The 28-day rule is utilized as a precautionary measure for irradiating the fetus at an early stage of conception for abdominal and pelvic radiography. There is a probability of the women being pregnant if the 28-day rule is applied for this examination and thus irradiating the conceptus.
Example Problem of the 15% Rule in Radiography.
First calculate 10% of 80 which is 8, then divide that by 2 to get 5% of 80 (8/2=4). Then we add 8+4=12, which is 15% of 80. Since 92 is 12 higher than 80 we see that the kVp has been increased by 15%.