RADIATION SAFETY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ALARA - Answer-As Low As Reasonably Achievable
DOT - Answer-a. Department of transportation governs the use of the nations
transportation systems. Included in these regulations are rules defining radioactive
materials and prescribing authorized modes for their transport.
Dose Equivalent - Answer-a. (HT) means the product of the absorbed dose in tissue,
quality factor, and all other necessary modifying factors at the location of interest. The
units of dose equivalent are the rem and the Sv
Effective Dose Equivalent - Answer-a. (HE) is the sum of the products of the dose
equivalent to the organ or tissue (HT) and the weighting factors (WT) applicable to each
of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated (HE=Sum of WTHT)
NRC - Answer-a. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a federal governing body that has
the primary mission of protecting public health and safety and the environment from the
effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials and waste facilities. The NRC also
regulates nuclear materials and facilities to promote the common defense and security
Radiation Area - Answer-a. An area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels
could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 0.005 rem in 1 hour
at 30 cm from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates
Restricted Area - Answer-Means an area whose access is limited by the licensee for the
purpose of protecting individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and
radioactive materials. Restricted areas do not include areas used as residential
quarters, but separate rooms in a residential building may be set apart as restricted
areas
RSO - Answer-Radiation Safety Officer: is an individual responsible for the day-to-day
operation of an institution's radiation safety program. RSOs must meet minimum training
and experience requirements in order to oversee the radiation safety program and
comply with the regulatory minimum qualifications
Public Dose Limits - Answer-i. 100 mrem effective dose equivalent
ii. 500 mrem effective dose equivalent for a preapproved exposure related to a medical
procedure. Note that this must be preapproved and justified
Occupational Dose Limits - Answer-i. An annual limit, which is the more limiting of
1. The total EDE being equal to 5 rems or
, 2. The sum of the deep dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any
individual organ or tissue other than the lens of the eye being equal to 50 rems
ii. The annual limits to the lens of the eye, to the skin of the whole body, and to the skin
of the extremities, which are
1. A lens dose equivalent of 15 rems and
2. A shallow dose equivalent of 50 rem to the skin of the whole body or the skin of any
extremity
Minors are limited to 10% of the occupational limit
Pregnant Occupational Dose Limits - Answer-50 mrem per month, 500 mrem per
gestational period
How do you perform a leak/wipe test on a radioactive package? - Answer-wearing
gloves and using a sheet or other type of paper, wipe down each side of the box of
radioactive material and then put the paper in a well counter to measure the amount,
hoping its 0, of radiation on the outside of the box.
If a package is found to be leaky, how long do you have to report it to the NRC? -
Answer-Up to 5 days
How are exposure rate Surveys to be conducted? - Answer-in an unrestricted area to
ensure that the public isn't being to dose rates that would add up to more than 100
mrem in 1 year
How should radioactive contamination surveys be conducted? - Answer-such that both
fixed and removable contamination can be identified
When is the release of radioactive patients allowed? - Answer-If exposure from the
patient will not exceed 500mrem to any individual of the public or any individual of the
patients immediate family
How is dry waste disposed of? - Answer-most dry waste can be left to decay for 10 half-
lives due to them having relatively short half-lives
How is liquid waste disposed of? - Answer-small quantities of water soluble liquid waste
can be dumped down a designated sink or flushed through a designated sewer system
How is gaseous waste disposed of? - Answer-certain gases, like Xe 133, are typically
disposed of into the atmosphere. Unused Xe 133 is held to decay.
What is the purpose of radioactive waste management? - Answer-to prevent human
contact with concentrations of material or radiation levels significantly above
background level.
True or false: records of waste disposal must be kept. - Answer-True
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ALARA - Answer-As Low As Reasonably Achievable
DOT - Answer-a. Department of transportation governs the use of the nations
transportation systems. Included in these regulations are rules defining radioactive
materials and prescribing authorized modes for their transport.
Dose Equivalent - Answer-a. (HT) means the product of the absorbed dose in tissue,
quality factor, and all other necessary modifying factors at the location of interest. The
units of dose equivalent are the rem and the Sv
Effective Dose Equivalent - Answer-a. (HE) is the sum of the products of the dose
equivalent to the organ or tissue (HT) and the weighting factors (WT) applicable to each
of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated (HE=Sum of WTHT)
NRC - Answer-a. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a federal governing body that has
the primary mission of protecting public health and safety and the environment from the
effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials and waste facilities. The NRC also
regulates nuclear materials and facilities to promote the common defense and security
Radiation Area - Answer-a. An area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels
could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 0.005 rem in 1 hour
at 30 cm from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates
Restricted Area - Answer-Means an area whose access is limited by the licensee for the
purpose of protecting individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and
radioactive materials. Restricted areas do not include areas used as residential
quarters, but separate rooms in a residential building may be set apart as restricted
areas
RSO - Answer-Radiation Safety Officer: is an individual responsible for the day-to-day
operation of an institution's radiation safety program. RSOs must meet minimum training
and experience requirements in order to oversee the radiation safety program and
comply with the regulatory minimum qualifications
Public Dose Limits - Answer-i. 100 mrem effective dose equivalent
ii. 500 mrem effective dose equivalent for a preapproved exposure related to a medical
procedure. Note that this must be preapproved and justified
Occupational Dose Limits - Answer-i. An annual limit, which is the more limiting of
1. The total EDE being equal to 5 rems or
, 2. The sum of the deep dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any
individual organ or tissue other than the lens of the eye being equal to 50 rems
ii. The annual limits to the lens of the eye, to the skin of the whole body, and to the skin
of the extremities, which are
1. A lens dose equivalent of 15 rems and
2. A shallow dose equivalent of 50 rem to the skin of the whole body or the skin of any
extremity
Minors are limited to 10% of the occupational limit
Pregnant Occupational Dose Limits - Answer-50 mrem per month, 500 mrem per
gestational period
How do you perform a leak/wipe test on a radioactive package? - Answer-wearing
gloves and using a sheet or other type of paper, wipe down each side of the box of
radioactive material and then put the paper in a well counter to measure the amount,
hoping its 0, of radiation on the outside of the box.
If a package is found to be leaky, how long do you have to report it to the NRC? -
Answer-Up to 5 days
How are exposure rate Surveys to be conducted? - Answer-in an unrestricted area to
ensure that the public isn't being to dose rates that would add up to more than 100
mrem in 1 year
How should radioactive contamination surveys be conducted? - Answer-such that both
fixed and removable contamination can be identified
When is the release of radioactive patients allowed? - Answer-If exposure from the
patient will not exceed 500mrem to any individual of the public or any individual of the
patients immediate family
How is dry waste disposed of? - Answer-most dry waste can be left to decay for 10 half-
lives due to them having relatively short half-lives
How is liquid waste disposed of? - Answer-small quantities of water soluble liquid waste
can be dumped down a designated sink or flushed through a designated sewer system
How is gaseous waste disposed of? - Answer-certain gases, like Xe 133, are typically
disposed of into the atmosphere. Unused Xe 133 is held to decay.
What is the purpose of radioactive waste management? - Answer-to prevent human
contact with concentrations of material or radiation levels significantly above
background level.
True or false: records of waste disposal must be kept. - Answer-True
