LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of the course, students will know:
about the biological effects of ionizing radiation about the equipment and its operation for the measurement of radiation and radioactivity the implementation of the ALARA principle and Diagnostic Reference Levels about dose limits, calculation of the risk from exposure to radiation and radiation protection rules about Dosimetry and room characterization depending on room occupancy protection issues in order to address problems in the workplace (radiology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine) the risks of ionizing radiation and the standards of radiation protection for workers, patients and the public
THEORY
The course aim is to present students with issues relating to radiation protection in Departments of Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, dosimetry and biologic effects of radiation.
Equipment for radiation measurements, personal protection, personal dosimetry, calculation of radiation shielding.
Ionizing radiations and food. Familiarization with radiation measurements and indices for patients, staff and the general public. Radiation protection protocols, DRLs, Regulations.
LABORATORY
- Measurements under real conditions of x-ray beams. Evaluation of measurements.
- DRL compliance
- Equipment Quality control.
- Visit Greek Atomic Energy Commission and Hospitals.
SYLLABUS
THEORY
1. Basic knowledge of nuclear physics, naturally and artificially produced radioactivity and its units, charged particles, X and gamma-rays, neutrons, penetration of these, radiation units.
2. Circulatory, respiratory, digestive system, the cell. Principles of radiobiology, physical and hereditary results
3. Cosmic radiation, radiation from terrestrial sources, artificial sources of radiation, radiation detectors (ionization chamber GM tube and analogue solid-state detectors). Scintillation counters, thermoluminescent detectors, photographic dosimeter
4. Methods of radiation protection (distance, shielding, time) neutron shielding. The characteristics of shielding materials
5. Waste Disposal (solids, liquids, gases, radioactive waste). Legislation.
6. Radiation protection from unsealed sources, internal contamination, X-ray protection equipment, X-ray room, control room. Quality control of x-ray tube, mammography, angiography, CT, portable x-ray unit, dental x-ray unit.
7. DRLs and their use on the patient.
8. X-ray radiotherapy, dynamic treatments, pregnancy, systematic examinations, radiation protection of patients.
9. Radiation Protection in Brachytherapy, intracavitary and interstitial applications
10. Radiation protection in nuclear medicine laboratory
11. Iradiation protection in children and neonates
12. Industrial applications of radiation
13. Major nuclear accidents and radioactive corpses. Reduction of doses from radiological examinations, factors taken into account in the shielding study of an Xray room.
14. Non ionizing radiation. Dosimetry of non ionizing radiation.
15. Exercises in radiation protection
LABORATORY
1) Introduction in the theory of measurements and observational errors
2) Familiarization with measuring equipment, technical characteristic dose limits, performance and errors
3) Measurement of scatter radiation around a water tank. Dependanve on exposure parameters.
4) Measurement of exposure parameters of X-Ray systems 3phase multi pulse rectification. Taking measurements with exposure factors.
5) Measurement of exposure parameters of X-Ray systems 3phase with 6-peak correction. Taking measurements with exposure factors.
6) Measurement of exposure parameters of mobile X-Ray systems. Taking measurements with exposure factors.
7) Measurement of exposure parameters of mammography. Taking measurements with exposure factors on a mammography phantom.
8) Evaluation and use of the performed measurements
9) Theoretical evaluation of doses in Nuclear medicine
10) Theoretical evaluation of doses in Interventional Radiology
11) Visit the Greek Atomic Energy Commission
12) Visit Hospitals