Radiation exposure to operator and patients during cardiac electrophysiology study,radiofrequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures

The purpose of this study was to measure the radiation exposure to operator and patient during cardiac electrophysiology study, radiofrequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures and to calculate the allowable number of cases per year. We carried out 9 electrophysiology studies, 40 radiofrequency catheter ablation and 11 cardiac device implantation procedures. To measure occupational radiation dose and dose–area product (DAP), 13 photoluminescence glass dosimeters were placed at eyes (inside and outside lead glass), thyroids (inside and outside thyroid collar), chest (inside and outside lead apron), wrists, genital of the operator (inside lead apron), and 6 of photoluminescence glass dosimeters were placed at eyes, thyroids, chest and genital of the patient. Exposure time and DAP values were 11.7?±?11.8?min and 23.2?±?26.2?Gy?cm² for electrophysiology study; 36.5?±?42.1?min and 822.4?±?125.5?Gy?cm² for radiofrequency catheter ablation; 16.2?±?9.3?min and 27.8?±?16.5?Gy?cm² for cardiac device implantation procedure, prospectively. 4591 electrophysiology studies can be conducted within the occupational exposure limit for the eyes (150?mSv), and 658-electrophysiology studies with radiofrequency catheter ablation can be carried out within the occupational exposure limit for the hands (500?mSv). 1654 cardiac device implantation procedure can be conducted within the occupational exposure limit for the eyes (150?mSv). The amounts of the operator and patient's radiation exposure were comparatively small. So, electrophysiology study, radio frequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures are safe when performed with modern equipment and optimized protective radiation protect equipment.     

210Pb in magnesium dietary supplements

The idea behind this study was to investigate the most popular magnesium dietary supplements as a potential additional source of ²¹⁰Pb in the human diet. The paper presents the results of ²¹⁰Pb activities determined in different magnesium supplements, as well as an estimation of the annual effective radiation doses from ²¹⁰Pb decay. The results showed that the highest value of ²¹⁰Pb activity was found in a magnesium supplement of natural origin (dolomite) with a value of 2.97?±?0.18 mBq g^–1. The highest annual radiation dose from ²¹⁰Pb obtained from the magnesium daily recommended value (0.4 g of pure Mg) was calculated for dolomite tablets as 3.71?±?0.02 µSv·year^–1.     

Radiometrische Bandwaage mit Rechnerschaltkreis zur Signalaufbereitung

Es wird eine radiometrische Bandwaage zur Koksaustragsmengen-Messung in BHT-Kokereien beschrieben. Voranstellend werden einige analytische Ausdrücke zur theoretischen Behandlung dieses Bandwaagentyps mitgeteilt. Die Waage zeichnet sich durch hohe Stabilität der Anzeige, durch die Möglichkeit des routinemäßigen Umsetzens von Meßstelle zu Meßstelle innerhalb kurzer Zeit und durch einen relativ kleinen Wägefehler (Meßunsicherheit ≦ 2,9%) aus. Die Signalaufbereitung innerhalb der Elektronik erfolgt durchgängig digital unter Verwendung eines Rechnerschaltkreises.     

Quellenformen für γ-Bestrahlungsanlagen mit Reaktorbrennelementen

Wesentliche Bedeutung für die Strahlenausnutzung in γ-Bestrahlungsanlagen mit Reaktorbrennelementen hat die Quellenform, wobei der besonderen Quelldichteverteilung Rechnung zu tragen ist. Es wurden Bewertungskenngröβen abgeleitet, mit deren Hilfe Optimalvarianten der Quellenform für verschiedene Bestrahlgutbedingungen bestimmt werden können. Für fünf Quellen-grundformen sind Formeln zur Berechnung der Strahlenfelder angegeben. Mit Hilfe der ermittelten Kenngröβen wurden die verschiedensten Quellenformen verglichen. Die hieraus abgeleiteten Optimalbedingungen sind abschlieβend zusammengefaβt.     

Flux and fluence dependence of disorder produced during implantation of 11B in silicon

The flux and fluence dependence of disorder produced in silicon during the implantation of ¹¹B has been investigated at room temperature, -50°C. and -120°C. Implantations were carried out with 200 keV ¹¹B ions using current densities in the range from 0.06μA/cm² to 15μA/cm², and the disorder monitored by measuring the energy spectra of backscattered protons which were incident on the sample at 450 keV parallel to a (110) axis. Significant differences in the dependence of the disorder on ¹¹B flux and fluence were observed between the implantations performed at room temperature and those carried out at the two lower temperatures.     

Computed positron lifetimes in vacancies and vacancy-iron clusters in gold

Annihilation characteristics are calculated for positrons trapped in clean and impurity decorated vacancy clusters in Au. The positron lifetime depends strongly on the structure of the clusters. In a strongly relaxed vacancy cluster, the lifetime can become smaller than the lifetime in a single vacancy. The substitution of some neighbour atoms of a vacancy cluster by Fe atoms has only a minor effect on the positron lifetimes.     

Chemical aspects of the radiation stability of macrocyclic extractants designed for 90Sr separation

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Some effects of foaming of the poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) modified by electron radiation

Investigation of the effect of electron radiation and foaming agent on some properties of poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) was the aim of the present paper. The mass flow rate, weight‐average molecular weight of irradiated PBAT as well as the morphological structure of foamed samples, their density, tensile strength, and specific strength were determined. It was found that irradiation of PBAT induces growth in weight‐average molecular weight and decrease in mass flow rate, and as a consequence of this increase in viscosity of this polymer. It was also found that foaming of irradiated PBAT causes formation of homogeneous cellular structure or structure with a clear separation of large and small cells. Simultaneously, the irradiated and foamed PBAT shows smaller density than that of non‐irradiated and foamed PBAT. Moreover, electron radiation does not influence tensile strength of the foamed PBAT; however, it increases its specific strength, although only if the content of foaming agent is 1 wt%.     

Radiological safety assessment inside ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara

Many archaeological sites in Egypt are unique worldwide, such as ancient tombs and pyramids, because they document fundamental developments in human civilization that took place several thousands of years ago. For this reason, these sites are visited by numerous visitors every year. The present work is devoted to provide a pre-operational radiological baseline needed to quantify occupational radiation exposure at the famous Saqqara region in Cairo, Egypt. A hyperpure Ge detector has been used in the γ-ray spectrometric analysis while the ²²²Rn concentration was measured using a portable radon monitor RTM 1688-2, SARAD. The mean specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the samples collected from the interior walls of the Saqqara tombs were determined and found to show average values of 16, 8.5 and 45 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The concentration of radon was measured inside the tombs Serapeum, South tomb and the Zoser Pyramid (fifth level) and an associated average working level of 0.83 WL was obtained. In order to avoid the health hazards associated with the exposure to radon during the long period of work inside these tombs, proposed solutions are introduced.