OCULAR ORGAN DOSE ASSESSMENT OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE WORKERS HANDLING DIAGNOSTIC RADIONUCLIDES

Abstract

The dose distribution in the ocular organs of nuclear medicine workers during the handling of diagnostic radionuclides was assessed via simulation in virtual space. The cornea and lenses received the highest dose, and the dose distribution tended to be proportional to the gamma-ray energy emitted from the radiation source being handled. Moreover, calculations on the dose-reduction effects of eyewear protectors for the eyes of the workers showed that the effects were inversely proportional to the emitted gamma-ray energy, with the dose-reduction effect decreasing in the order of Tl-201, I-123, Tc-99m, Ga-67, In-111 and F-18. Among the considered sources, the dose-reduction effect was significant for sources that emit relatively less energy, namely I-123, Tl-201 and Tc-99m, while it was lower for the remaining sources, namely F-18, In-111 and Ga-67.