Electronic Dosimeters Research Articles

Use of real-time electronic extremity dosimeters for monitoring and optimisation of radiopharmacy technique

Radiopharmacy staff members are subject to extremity radiation doses, particularly to the fingertips. Dosemeters, such as, thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) are currently used for monitoring fingertip doses. This study aimed to use real-time dosemeters to monitor radiopharmacy extremity doses to identify specific procedural steps associated with higher fingertip doses and, subsequently, reduce dose through promotion of optimised radiation protection practises. Five radiopharmacy operators were monitored using an ED3 active extremity dosemeter with a detector attached to each tip of the index fingers. Dose rate and accumulated dose data were matched to the handled radioactivity data, of99mTc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals only, with the dose per activity (μSv MBq-1) calculated for each step. Once baseline dose data was established, an educational session identified technique adjustments toward improved radiation protection. A subsequent monitored session was undertaken with the dose data compared to quantify changes in operator doses. Radiopharmacy steps which significantly contributed to extremity doses were identified. The average accumulated dose per activity across all procedural steps for the99mTc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals for all operators before the educational session was 0.042 ± 0.045μSv MBq-1and 0.042 ± 0.041μSv MBq-1(n= 89) for non-dominant and dominant index fingertips, respectively, and 0.030 ± 0.044μSv MBq-1and 0.031 ± 0.032μSv MBq-1(n= 97), respectively, afterwards. Overall, there was an average 40.7% reduction in the total extremity dose received after the educational session. Real-time electronic extremity dosemeters for monitoring radiopharmacy extremity dose presented as a useful tool for incorporation into radiation protection education and training, towards optimised radiopharmacy technique.

Estimation of the absorbed dose in simultaneous digital breast tomosynthesis and mechanical imaging.

Use of mechanical imaging (MI) as complementary to digital mammography (DM), or in simultaneous digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and MI - DBTMI, has demonstrated the potential to increase the specificity of breast cancer screening and reduce unnecessary biopsies compared with DM. The aim of this study is to investigate the increase in the radiation dose due to the presence of an MI sensor during simultaneous image acquisition when automatic exposure control is used. A radiation dose study was conducted on clinically available breast imaging systems with and without an MI sensor present. Our estimations were based on three approaches. In the first approach, exposure values were compared in paired clinical DBT and DBTMI acquisitions in 97 women. In the second approach polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantoms of various thicknesses were used, and the average glandular dose (AGD) values were compared. Finally, a rectangular PMMA phantom with a 45mm thickness was used, and the AGD values were estimated based on air kerma measurements with an electronic dosemeter. The relative increase in exposure estimated from digital imaging and communications in medicine headers when using an MI sensor in clinical DBTMI was . For the phantom measurements of various thicknesses of PMMA, the relative increases in the AGD for DM and DBT measurements were, on average, and , respectively. The relative increase in the AGD using the electronic dosemeter was in DM and in DBT. The average difference in dose between the methods was . Our measurements suggest that the use of simultaneous breast radiography and MI increases the AGD by an average of . The increase in dose is within the acceptable values for mammography screening recommended by European guidelines.

Quantitative radiation dosimetry by measuring thermoluminescence of resistors in electronic personal dosimeters

A study on retrospective dosimetry was performed using electronic personal dosimeters (EPDs) for reconstructing doses received by radiographic testing workers. The dosimetric properties of the thermoluminescence (TL) peak in the temperature range of 100–200 °C were investigated by measuring the TL of the resistors extracted from the EPDs in a darkroom environment. Results showed that this TL peak exhibited optimal dosimetric properties, with a minimum detectable dose as low as 13 mGy. To calculate the absorbed dose using the resistors, a simplified single aliquot regenerative (SAR) dose method using the TL peak was employed. The zero dose of the commercial EPD (model CLOVER) was determined to be 58 ± 72 mGy through the random selection of six EPDs. Additionally, a dose overestimation correction factor for compensating rapid sensitivity changes after TL measurement of the natural sample was calculated as 1.73 ± 0.09. Furthermore, it was observed that the TL signal faded exponentially to approximately 60% over a period of 12 weeks. Subsequently, retrospective dosimetry was performed by irradiating EPDs with a standard gamma ray dose of 1 Gy. The radiation exposure dose calculated from the TL peak of the resistors was found to be approximately 10% lower. These findings showed that the retrospective dosimetry with EPD can be utilized for accurately estimating the radiation exposure dose.

Mission Results: Creating a 3D Map of a Very High Radiation Confined Space Using the LiDAR-Equipped Elios 3 Drone

A prototype configuration of an Elios 3 indoor inspection drone, made by Flyability, comprising a lightweight light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system and a wide-range, electronic dosimeter was developed and tested to quickly measure radiation levels and collect three-dimensional (3D) spatial data from within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility at the U.S. Department of Energy−operated Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. The compact drone configuration was used for inspecting and collecting data from areas difficult or hazardous to access using conventional methods. Validation testing of the prototype drone configuration was performed, including maneuverability, radiation tolerance, dosimeter integration, and elevated ambient temperature testing. The drone configuration was shown to operate successfully in an ionizing radiation field as high as 100 Gy/h (10 000 rad/h), with an accumulated radiation dose of 40 Gy (4000 rad) and ambient air temperatures of 54°C (130°F). On November 16, 2022, the LiDAR and dosimeter-equipped prototype drone was used to successfully collect 3D spatial data and radiation measurements from within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility at the INL site, where it encountered radiation levels up to 7 Gy/h (700 rad/h). The mission, which included three flights of the prototype drone configuration, represents the first-ever drone flight within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility. On the third flight into the storage facility, the drone was unable to produce adequate lift necessary to fly back out of the facility. The lessons learned suggest the loss of adequate lift was due to the added weight of the dosimeter payload and the increasing temperature of the air inside the facility due to radioactive decay. Although the prototype drone was not retrievable, the drone’s wireless transmission system successfully transmitted the radiation measurements to engineers outside of the facility.

Improving a regional project on diagnostic reference levels for interventional procedures (OPRIPALC) with the support of a dose management system for the protection of patients and staff

Interventional radiology is a clinical practice with important benefits for patients, but which involves high radiation doses. The optimisation of radiation protection (RP) for paediatric interventional cardiology is a priority for both patients and staff. The use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) has been proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection to improve RP in imaging procedures. Dose management systems (DMSs) allow the automatic collection of dosimetric, geometric and technical data to assist the optimisation process, with a continuous audit of the procedures, generating alerts to implement corrective actions when necessary. Patient dose indicators may be analysed individually and for different radiation events (fluoroscopy and cine runs). Occupational doses per procedure may be analysed (if electronic dosimeters are available) and linked with patient doses for an integrated approach to RP. Regional optimisation programmes require data collection and processing from several countries to set and periodically update the DRLs. Patient data is anonymised, and each participating hospital has access to their data in a central computer server. Using DMSs may be one of the best ways to support these programs in the collection and analysis of data, raising alerts about high patient and occupational doses and suggesting optimisation actions.

Alerts to improve occupational protection during Interventional Radiology. More attention is needed for simple but frequent procedures

Occupational protection could be improved in interventional radiology. The monthly personal dosimetry cannot alert on some occupational doses with anomalous values for certain procedures. Active electronic personal dosimeters linked wireless to a dose management system (DMS), allow for the measurement of occupational doses per procedure, integrating this information with patient dose indicators and with technical and geometrical conditions of the procedures.We analysed around 3100 occupational dose values for individual procedures collected during the last two years, in an interventional radiology laboratory of a University Hospital and two groups, with patient doses higher than 100 Gy.cm2, and lower than 30 Gy.cm2.An unshielded reference dosimeter located at the C-arm registers the ambient dose equivalent (ADE) per procedure to be compared with the personal dose equivalent (PDE) over the apron. The ratio between both values PDE/ADE is a good indication of occupational protection. Alerts for occupational protection optimisation are suggested.For the full sample, 8.4 % of occupational doses measured over the protective apron of the interventionists were higher than 100 µSv and 3.8 % higher than 200 µSv per procedure. Occupational protection for complex procedures (>100 Gy.cm2) had median values of 46 µSv for PDE and 3.3 % for PDE/ADE. However, for simple procedures, (<30 Gy.cm2) the median values were 10 µSv and 28.4 %. This last percentage is 9 times higher than the value for complex procedures. This lack of protection should be corrected and the need to reduce some occupational doses reinforced in radiation protection training programmes for interventionists.

Urinary thymidine dimer excretion reflects personal ultraviolet radiation exposure levels

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) leads to skin DNA damage, specifically in the form of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, with thymidine dimers being the most common. Quantifying these dimers can indicate the extent of DNA damage resulting from UVR exposure. Here, a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method was used to quantify thymidine dimers in the urine after a temporary increase in real-life UVR exposure. Healthy Danish volunteers (n = 27) experienced increased UVR exposure during a winter vacation. Individual exposure, assessed via personally worn electronic UVR dosimeters, revealed a mean exposure level of 32.9 standard erythema doses (SEDs) during the last week of vacation. Morning urine thymidine dimer concentrations were markedly elevated both 1 and 2 days post-vacation, and individual thymidine dimer levels correlated with UVR exposure during the last week of the vacation. The strongest correlation with erythema-weighted personal UVR exposure (Power model, r2 = 0.64, p < 0.001) was observed when both morning urine samples were combined to measure 48-h thymidine dimer excretion, whereas 24-h excretion based on a single sample provided a weaker correlation (Power model, r2 = 0.55, p < 0.001). Sex, age, and skin phototype had no significant effect on these correlations. For the first time, urinary thymidine dimer excretion was quantified by LC–MS to evaluate the effect of a temporary increase in personal UVR exposure in a real-life setting. The high sensitivity to elevated UVR exposure and correlation between urinary excretion and measured SED suggest that this approach may be used to quantify DNA damage and repair and to evaluate photoprevention strategies.Graphical abstract

Radiation dose to multidisciplinary staff members during complex interventional procedures

IntroductionComplex interventional radiology procedures involve extensive fluoroscopy and image acquisition while staff are in-room. Monitoring occupational radiation dose is crucial in optimization. The purpose was to determine radiation doses received by staff involved in complex interventional procedures performed in a dedicated vascular or neuro intervention room. MethodsIndividual real-time radiation dose for all staff involved in vascular and neuro-interventional procedures in adult patients was recorded over a one-year period using wireless electronic dosimeters attached to the apron thyroid shield. A reference dosimeter was attached to the C-arm near the tube housing to measure scattered, unshielded radiation. Radiology staff carried shoulder thermo-luminescent dosimeters with monthly read-out to monitor dose over time. ResultsOccupational radiation dose was measured in 99 interventional procedures. In many cases prostate artery embolization procedures exposed radiologists to high radiation doses with a median of 15.0 μSv and a very large spread, i.e. 0.2–152.5 μSv. In all procedures except uterine fibroid embolization radiographers were exposed to lower doses than those of radiologists, with endovascular aortic repair being the procedure with highest median exposure to assisting radiographers, i.e. 2.2 μSv ranging from 0.1 to 36.1 μSv. Median radiation dose for the reference dosimeter was 670 μGy while median staff dose for all procedures combined was 3.2 μGy. ConclusionRadiation doses for multiple staff were determined and the ratio between staff dose and reference dosimeter indicated proper use of shielding in general. Some high-dose procedures may need further optimization for certain staff members, especially those not primarily employed in radiology. Implications for practiceThe study provides benchmark doses that may be used widely in audits and in the ongoing effort to optimize radiation protection for staff in interventional radiology.

3D wrist imaging - Is it time for superman to retire?

Computed tomography (CT) of the wrist may be challenged, due to patients' inability to extend the arm for a "Superman pose" resulting in increased radiation dose due to scatter. Alternative positions and less dose administering modalities such as 3D Cone-beam CT (CBCT) and single-shot CT could be considered. This phantom study aimed to estimate scatter radiation dose in different phantom positions using helical and single-shot CT and 3D CBCT. Wireless electronic dosimeters attached to the head and chest of an anthropomorphic phantom in various clinically relevant positions were used to measure scatter radiation. In helical CT, the following positions were used: Superman pose, semi-superman pose, wrist on the abdomen, and single-shot CT with the patient sitting in front of and behind the gantry. In 3D CBCT, the phantom was in a supine position with the arm extended laterally. Helical CT using the Superman pose resulted in a total scattered radiation dose of 64.8 µGy. The highest total dose (269.7 µGy) was obtained with the wrist positioned on the abdomen while the lowest total dose was achieved in single-shot CT with the phantom sitting behind the gantry with the forearm placed inside the gantry (3.2 µGy). The total dose in 3D CBCT was 171.1 µGy. The commonly used semi-superman and wrist-on-abdomen positions in CT administer the highest scattered doses and should be avoided when either single-shot CT or 3D CBCT is available. Radiographers should carefully consider alternatives when a patient referred for wrist CT cannot comply with the Superman position.

Reduction of Radiation Risk to Cardiologists and Patients during Coronary Angiography: Effect of Exposure Angulation and Composite Shields

Purpose: This study aimed to design an improved form of a composite shield with different materials and shapes and simultaneously reduce the radiation dose to both the patient and operator.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A female phantom study was performed with and without bismuth belt-shaped composite shields on the breast region at different beam projections used in coronary angiography. Dose measurements were conducted using GR-200 thermo-luminescence dosimeters, dose area product (DAP), and air kerma (AK) over regular and large breast locations, with and without using bismuth shields. An electronic personal dosimeter was used for operator dose assessment. Patients received doses between 2.27 mSv and 3.38 mSv, depending on the size and strength of beam projections.&#x0D; Results: The use of the developed shields caused a dose reduction of 18%–25% of sensitive breast tissue due to breast size and shield type. During coronary angiography, the mean values of DAP and AK were 2.02 (1.24-2.80) mGy.m2 and 314.1 (202.8-500) mGy, respectively. The highest recorded dose was at the LAO/CRA and LAO/CAU beam projections for both the patient and operator. After applying a belt shield, the operator's radiation dose was decreased by approximately 32%. We found a statistically significant correlation between the radiation dose received by the operator and the patient's breast radiation exposure dose (p&lt;0.001, r2=0.93).&#x0D; Conclusion: The designed belt shield can be a potentially promising protective device for decreasing the radiation risk to the patient's breast and the operator during coronary angiography. However, further studies will be considered before the application of this shield in standard clinical practice.

Smart City and the digital measurement of solar ultraviolet radiation in Outdoor workers in the City of Lisbon

Abstract The growing incidence of skin cancer over the years has made it a significant public health problem. However, technology can be used to tackle the skin cancer which is highly preventable, mainly through reduced exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Digital services can be used to promote individual and collective protective measures and interventions. Specifically, there is an opportunity when the exposure is intermittent or continuous, and occurs in an occupational or leisure setting. We are using a digital platform to contribute to raising public and policy awareness on solar UVR-inflicted occupational skin cancers in the municipality of Lisbon. The digital platform is performing direct measurements of the solar UVR dose received by outdoor workers. Results will likely contribute to further understanding the risk estimates for keratinocyte cancer estimations in this population. The digital platform integrates a personal electronic dosimeter (GENESIS-UV system) to assess occupational solar UVR doses of gardeners, masons, and gravediggers of the municipality of Lisbon. Two hundred and ten outdoor workers were selected to wear the dosimeter for 1 month each, between April and October during their daily working hours. The digital platform that offers private access to information through dashboard visualization provided information for the outdoor workers and facilitate communication with the participants. Study data provides the outdoor workers with information on their personal solar UVR exposure during their working hours and an estimate of their risk of developing skin cancer. The results prospectively should flow into the design of adequate prevention campaigns for skin cancer in outdoor workers.

PDOZ: innovative personal electronic dosimeter for electron and gamma H *(d) dosimetry

The personal (or active) electronic dosimeters (PEDs) are devices used to determine the individual exposure to ionizing radiations and they are employed in hospitals, research laboratories and nuclear power plants. The PDOZ project is a personal electronic dosimeter able to detect, discriminate and measure the delivered dose by beta particles and gamma rays. In this paper, several Monte Carlo simulations are described. The first one is regarding the ICRU sphere, [11,12] implemented to evaluate the ambient dose equivalent, H *(10), and the fluence-to-dose equivalent conversion coefficients for gamma rays and beta particles. The second simulation is carried out to study the prototype dosimeter response to gamma rays and beta particles and, also thanks to previous one, to obtain the conversion curve necessary to calculate the ambient dose equivalent from the silicon photomultipliers counts. In the last one, instead, the performance of a prototype dosimeter, composed by a small plastic scintillator coupled to two SiPMs, is evaluated and a simulation with different radioactive sources is made whose results are compared with the experimental measurements. All simulations are carried out by Geant4 including the optical photon transport.

Digitally measuring solar ultraviolet radiation in outdoor workers: A study protocol for establishing the use of electronic personal dosimeters in Portugal.

The rising incidence of skin cancer over the years has made it a significant public and occupational health issue. However, skin cancer is highly preventable, mainly through reduced exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which can be achieved by a variety of individual and collective protective measures and interventions. The relative risk associated with different patterns of exposure to solar UVR differs for the subtypes of keratinocyte cancers (KC). Specifically, whether the exposure is intermittent or continuous, and occurs in an occupational or leisure/recreational setting. The main aim of the study using this protocol is to contribute to raising public and policy awareness on solar UVR-inflicted occupational skin cancers in Lisbon. This will be achieved by performing direct measurements of the solar UVR dose received by outdoor workers using a digital platform. Results will likely contribute to further understanding the risk estimates for keratinocyte cancer estimations in this population. A prospective observational study will be conducted in Lisbon, Portugal. Personal electronic dosimeters (GENESIS-UV system) integrated with a digital platform will be used to assess occupational solar UVR doses of gardeners, masons, and gravediggers of the municipality of Lisbon. Two hundred and ten outdoor workers will be selected to wear the dosimeter for 1 month each, between April and October during their daily working hours. A digital web-based platform that offers private access to information through dashboard visualization will provide information for the outdoor workers and facilitate communication with the participants. The expected results of the overall proposal comprise the occupational solar UVR doses, expressed in standard erythemal dose (SEDs) per day of outdoor work for 7 months. Study data will provide outdoor workers with information on their personal solar UVR exposure during their working hours and an estimate of their risk of developing skin cancer. It is expected that the occupational solar UVR doses of the outdoor workers in Portugal will be above the threshold of 1 to 1.33 SED/day, due to the latitude of Lisbon and the nature of the occupations. The results prospectively should flow into the design of adequate prevention campaigns for skin cancer in outdoor workers.

SAFETY OF RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR QUASI-EXPERIMENT CASE STUDY

The aim of this paper is to present the results of the safety level measurement of radiological andnuclear (RN) quasi-experiment (q-E), which was carried out in 2016 in the Chernobyl ExclusionZone, in Pripyat town, as part of the End-user driven DEmo for cbrNe project (EDEN, FP7/2012-2016, under grant agreement no. 313077). The paper analyses the q-E executed in such a radiologicallycontaminated area of the town to verify a hypothesis that is formulated as follows: providing a safetyplan and the correct execution of the q-E, including using appropriate personal protective equipmentas well as following strict safety rules, guarantee an acceptable safety level for first responders takinga part in q-E conducted in Pripyat area as per relevant legal regulations. The experimental methodwith the quantitative measurements of effective gamma dose, using thermoluminescent dosimeters(TLD) and task related monitoring using electronic dosimeters (ED)was utilised. The individualeffective gamma doses for each q-E participant, for two days of the exposure, have been measured.The total effective gamma doses for each participant have been calculated and compared witheffective dose rates limits regulations. The received results proved that the assumed hypothesis waspositively verified from the international and Polish legal standpoint, which defines gamma radiationthresholds for exposed personnel and ordinary persons.

Anatomical Distribution of Ultraviolet Radiation Depends on Phototherapy Unit Design and on Personal Height and Body Mass

Phototherapy using ultraviolet radiation (UVR) treatment units of various designs is common in dermatology. The anatomical distribution of UVR should be even, regardless of individual body shapes. Using electronic dosimeters, we measured the irradiance at 31 body sites on 12 persons of different heights and body mass (BMI). Five different treatment unit designs were tested: cabinet units with standing patients, units with patients lying down, and a unit where patients rotated in front of flatly arranged UVR tubes. In treatment units with short tubes, persons taller than 170 cm received low irradiance on the face, neck, and shoulders. In cabinet-type units, higher BMI lowered the irradiance on the chest and belly. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of irradiance was smallest for the rotating unit, and for the unit with patients lying down while irradiated from above only. A higher RSD was found in the unit designs where patients stood inside cabinets, and where patients lay down and were simultaneously irradiated from both sides. In general, longer tubes lower the overall RSD. The irradiance of the different body areas is about 60% of the measured calibration values, but to avoid provoking any erythema, the treatment dose can only be increased by 10%.

Occupational and patient doses for interventional radiology integrated into a dose management system.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends managing patient and occupational doses as an integrated approach, for the optimisation of interventional procedures. The conventional passive personal dosimeters only allow one to know the accumulated occupational doses during a certain period of time. This information is not enough to identify if there is a lack of occupational radiation protection during some procedures. This paper describes the use of a dose management system (DMS) allowing patient and occupational doses for individual procedures to be audited. The DMS manages patient and occupational doses measured by electronic personal dosimeters. One dosemeter located at the C-arm is used as a reference for scatter radiation. Data have been collected from five interventional rooms. Dosimetry data can be managed for the whole procedure and the different radiation events. Optimisation is done through auditing different sets of parameters for individual procedures: patient dose indicators, occupational dose values, the ratio between occupational doses, and the doses measured by the reference dosemeter at the C-arm, and the ratio between occupational and patient dose values. The managed data correspond to the year 2021, with around 4500 procedures, and 8000 records on occupational exposures. Patient and staff dose data (for 11 cardiologists, 7 radiologists and 8 nurses) were available for 3043 procedures. The DMS allows alerts for patient dose indicators and occupational exposures to be set. The main advantage of this integrated approach is the capacity to improve radiation safety for patients and workers together, auditing alerts for individual procedures. The management of patient and occupational doses together (measured with electronic personal dosimeters) for individual interventional procedures, using dose management systems, allows alerting optimisation on high-dose values for patients and staff.

Personal neutron dosimetry: State-of-the-art and new technologies

Neutron personal dosimetry is necessary for the monitoring of exposed workers, not only in nuclear industry and related activities but also in the growing number of neutron producing facilities, so new techniques and devices are continuously developed and improved. This article provides a review of the present state-of-the-art as well as the main new results and innovative developments in neutron personal dosimetry using electronic personal dosimeters (EPDs), track dosimeters (etched track dosimeters, FNTD), luminescent dosimeters (TL, OSL, RPL), superheated drop dosimeters and direct ion storage (DIS) dosimeters.

An electronic dosimeter for diagnostic X-ray beams based on a differential amplifier circuit with MOSFETs

An electronic dosimeter for diagnostic X-ray beams based on a differential amplifier circuit with MOSFETs

Radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists performing a V/Q PET: Comparison with conventional V/Q scintigraphy, [18F]FDG PET and [68Ga]Ga DOTATOC PET procedures.

Ventilation/Perfusion (V/Q) PET/CT is an emerging imaging modality for regional lung function evaluation. The same carrier molecules as conventional V/Q scintigraphy are used but they are radiolabelled with gallium-68 (68Ga) instead of technetium-99m (99mTc). A recurrent concern regarding V/Q PET imaging is the radiation dose to the healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total effective dose and the finger dose received by the technologist when performing a V/Q PET procedure, and to compare them with the radiations doses received with conventional V/Q scintigraphy, FDG PET and Ga DOTATOC PET procedures. The whole body dose measurement was performed 10 times for each of the evaluated procedures using an electronic personal dosimeter (ED). For V/Q PET and V/Q scintigraphy procedures, ventilation and perfusion stages were separately evaluated. Internal exposure was measured for ventilation procedures. Finger dose measurements were performed 5 times for each of the PET procedures using Thermoluminescence (TL) pellets. The technologist effective dose when performing a V/Q PET procedure was 2.83 ± 0.67 μSv, as compared with 1.16 ± 0.34 μSv for conventional V/Q scintigraphy, 2.13 ± 0.77 μSv for [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, and 2.86 ± 1.79 μSv for FDG PET procedures, respectively. The finger dose for the V/Q PET procedure was similar to the dose for a [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC scan (0.35 mSv and 0.32 mSv, respectively). The technologist total effective dose for a V/Q PET procedure is ~2.4 higher than the dose for a conventional V/Q scintigraphy, but in the same range than the radiation exposure when performing common PET procedures, both in terms of total effective dose or finger dose. These results should be reassuring for the healthcare workers performing a V/Q PET procedure.

The GENESIS-UV study on ultraviolet radiation exposure levels in 250 occupations to foster epidemiological and legislative efforts to combat nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Several hundred million of the 3 billion formally employed people worldwide are at risk from high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Chronic light damage to the skin can lead to nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), especially when irradiation is too high and is acquired for decades. However, data with uniform metrics, high resolution over time and in-depth occupational profiles are not available. To build a worldwide usable matrix of UVR exposure in occupations and to show use cases for the data. One thousand test persons were recruited to wear electronic data logger dosimeters during their working time for 7 months each. The measurements yielded 3.7 billion data points for around 48 000 days with high-quality data capture covering more than 250 occupations and 650 activities. Scientific evaluation of the data included daily and half-hourly means, geographical transfer calculations to the world, threshold exceedance quotas, transcriptome effects, and occupational disease estimates. A compendium for global use is presented. In-depth analyses and the resulting implications for research have been elaborated to directly link exposure data to effects in the human body. Interestingly, the annual irradiances of the different occupations span a wide range of values: from about 650 to 50 standard erythemal doses, with different distributions over the months. Detailed exposure data per occupation were derived, and the risk on an occupational or activity basis assuming different exposure level quotas was quantified. This showed that, for example, in temperate latitudes, all activities with a duration of > 2 h outdoors are associated with increased NMSC risk. We offer our work to enable sound studies on the nature of ultraviolet-induced skin cancer, dose-response relationships, intermittency of skin exposure, and derivation of limit values. Sociological studies on prevention are now possible. Practitioners may use the findings for their daily work with employees.