Radiation protection involves protecting people from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. There are three types of radiation: primary radiation which is most intense; scattered radiation resulting from the Compton effect; and leakage radiation emitted from x-ray equipment. The three cardinal principles of radiation protection are time, distance, and shielding. The system of radiation protection justifies practices where benefits outweigh risks, uses ALARA to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable, and limits doses to individuals. Radiation can cause stochastic or non-stochastic effects depending on dose thresholds. Exposure includes medical exposure to patients, occupational exposure to workers, and public exposure. Radiation is monitored through personnel and workplace monitoring devices. Radiation facilities use controlled and

1. Basic Radiation Protection
Mae Minguillo

2. Radiation Protection
is a term applied to concept, requirements,
technologies and operation related to a protection of
the people against harmful effects of ionizing
radiation.

3. Radiation
Energy emitted and transfer through space.

4. Types of Radiation
Primary Radiation
 most intense therefore most hazardous and most difficult to shield.

5. Scattered Radiation
 inevitable in diagnostic radiology and is a direct result of the Compton
effect.
Leakage Radiation
radiation emitted from the x-ray tube housing assembly in all direction
other that of the useful beam.

6. Cardinal Principles of
Radiation Protection
Time
Distance
Shielding

7. System of Radiation
Protection
Justification of Practices
any exposure procedures sufficient benefit to offset the radiation harm that it might
cause.
BENEFIT
RISK

8. As Low As Reasonably Achievable
refers to the continual application of the
optimization principle in the day-to-day practice, i.e.,
while assuring adequate diagnostic image quality.
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9. Optimization of Protection
Optimization includes the criterion: doses should be
“as low as reasonably achievable” assuming image
quality is adequate for diagnostic purposes.
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10. Limitation of Doses
 The normal exposure of individuals shall be restricted so that
neither the total effective dose nor the total equivalent dose
to relevant organs or tissues.
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14. Biologic Effects of Radiation Effects
Stochastic Effects / Probablistic
 Have no threshold level of radiation dose.
 The probability of the effects is proportional to dose.
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15. Non Stochastic Effect / Deterministic
 Have definite threshold levels of radiation dose.
 The probability of the effects is proportional to dose.
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16. Types of Exposure

17. Medical Exposure
Exposure incurred by patients:
by persons, other than those occupationally exposed, knowingly while voluntarily helping in
the support and comfort of patients.
Gray(Gy) unit for RAD (Radiation Absorbed Dose) - most often used when one is describing the
quantity or radiation received by patient.
0.5mSv(50mrem)

18. Occupational Exposure
all exposures of worker incurred:
 exposures from practices or sources exempted by the standards.
Rem(Sv) unit for occupational radiation exposure - used to express the quantity of
radiation received by radiation workers and populations.
50msv(5mrem) *whole body effective dose equivalent
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19. Exposure of the Members of the Public
exposed incurred by public:
members of public in radiation source.
General Public 1mSv(100mrem) *frequent exposure
50mSv(500mrem) *infrequent exposure

20. Radiation Measurements and Monitoring
Radiation Monitoring
Personnel Monitoring
for individual radiation workers.
in form of radiation badges.
worn on the person of all workers.
allow estimation of individual doses.

21. Personal Monitoring Devices
 Film Badge
 Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)
 Pocket Ionization Chamber
Self reading
Non-self reading
 Thermoluminescence Dosimeter (TLD)

22. Workplace Monitoring
for entire workplace and radiation room.
usually require some forms of radiation detectors.
integrated for workspace.
allow estimation of exposure levels in the environment.

23. Design in Radiation Facilities
Controlled Areas
preventing or limiting the extent of potential exposures.
should be label appropriately and should have restricted area.

24. Supervised Area
usually located at periphery of the hospital complex.
whenever possible the area around the therapy machine should
be design as a controlled (including roofs in the machine)
mazes should be design whenever possible as they reduce need
for a heavy shielded door.

25. the controlled console should be provided w/ a watch
on the patient at all times.
Ducts for electrical material should always run through a
secondary barrier at an angle through it.
warning sign, lights and audible alarm should be
provided.
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