Radiation safety issues relevant to radioisotope production medical cyclotron

Abstract

This paper highlights the important radiation safety aspects related to safe operation of radioisotope production medical cyclotrons. Medical cyclotrons are now constructed as turnkey facilities at nuclear medicine clinics and radioisotope production centers. High level of gamma and neutron radiation produced by the activated cyclotron components could impose radiation exposure to maintenance crew. Hence, radiation safety is imperative to safe and reliable operation of medical cyclotron facilities. This report presents two different approaches to verify if the existing walls thicknesses of the cyclotron vault for “IBA Cyclone 18/9 — ST” at the AUBMC are conforming to the national and international regulations: The first approach is a theoretical method laying on the source term of the cyclotron for neutrons and gamma rays, the existing wall thicknesses and the workload of the AUBMC. The second approach is based on the results of a Monte Carlo study. All comments and recommendations made in this article are in accordance with international and national radiation safety regulations.