Application of portable γ-ray spectrometer in monitoring thyroid 131I in radiation workers / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective To apply InSpector 1000 portable γ spectrometer and its corresponding supporting software to the monitoring of thyroid 131I activity of radiation workers, and to estimate the internal radiation dose of medical staff in nuclear medicine department. Methods The spectrometer was calibrated and taken to participate in the 2018 thyroid radioactive iodine intercomparison program initiated by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States to ensure the accuracy of the measurement; the spectrometer was used to measure 131I activity ofthe radiation workers of the nuclear medicine departments of two grade-A tertiary hospitals in Beijing and Jinan to verify the feasibility of the method. Results The InSpector 1000 portable γ spectrometer was qualified for international intercomparison. Measurement results from the grade-A tertiary hospital in Beijing showed that the thyroid 131I activity of each of 10 radiation workers was below the detection limit (33.30 Bq). Measurement results from the grade-A tertiary hospital in Jinan showed that the thyroid 131I activities of the 4 radiation workers were 64.05 Bq, 160.77 Bq, 416.67 Bq, below the detection limit (35.18 Bq) respectively, and of 3 of the 4 subjects 131I was detected in the thyroid, and their corresponding thyroid accumulative organ doses were 0.70 μSv, 1.77 μSv, and 4.58 μSv, respectively. Conclusion InSpector 1000 portable γ spectrometer has a strong feasibility for thyroid 131I monitoring of radiation workers in nuclear medicine. The spectrometer has a good application prospect in the field of radiation monitoring, and can play an important role in the field of radiation protection and nuclear emergency detection.