CLINICAL GENETICS TECHNOLOGY - RADIATION
SAFETY & TDG
What information should be included on a workplace safety label for a solution made in
the lab? - Answer -Product Identifier
Precautionary statements
Reference to SDS
Date of preparation/dispensing
Initials of person who prepared/dispensed solution
Ionizing radiation - Answer -enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming
ions; capable of causing cancer
Examples of ionizing radiation - Answer -X rays, gamma rays
Examples of non-ionizing radiation - Answer -microwaves, ultraviolet light, lasers, radio
waves, infrared light, and radar
Non-ionizing radiation - Answer -Longer wave length radiation that has enough energy
to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to
remove electrons
What is the current radiation exposure limit for workers? - Answer -Currently, the
concept of ALARA is promoted for worker exposure limits.
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
Limits range from 1 to 500 milliSieverts depending on person (worker, member of
public, pregnant) and location of exposure (whole body, lens of eye, hand and feet)
Background Radiation - Answer -Ionizing radiation that occurs naturally in the
environment (ie. cosmic radiation)
Types of ionizing radiation - Answer -Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-ray, and Neutron
Gamma rays - Answer -Penetrating electromagnetic radiation arising from the
radioactive decay of atomic nuclei
X-rays - Answer -Penetrating electromagnetic radiation arising from electron
interactions that result in the release of energy. Identical to gamma rays but their
sources are different
Beta particles - Answer -A negatively charged particle (an electron) emitted from the
nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay
, Have the mass of an electron and can be -ve or +ve
Alpha particle - Answer -A cluster of 2 protons and 2 neutrons emitted from a nucleus
during alpha decay
What is the activity of a radioactive source? - Answer -The number of atoms in the
source that decay per second (ie. Bq/Ci)
Half Life - Answer -Length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample
to decay
Think of radiation like a ball full of holes plugged into a garden hose.
As you walk nearer to the ball you begin to get wet from the spray. That is your
*exposure* and it increases in rate as you get nearer to the ball (by inverse square law).
The longer you stand there the wetter you get, the greater your *exposure*.
If we were to use an umbrella to stop the water, we would get less wet. This would be
like adding *shielding*.
What equipment is important to have in a lab to monitor radioactivity? - Answer -A
survey meter and a dosimeter
Three principles to limit radiation exposure - Answer -Minimize time
Maximize distance
Incorporate shielding
alpha radiation shielding - Answer -paper, clothing
beta radiation shielding - Answer -metal foil (ie. aluminum)
EXCEPT when high energy beta particles are emitted. Must use low atomic weight
materials like plastic, wood, water. This reduces generation of bremsstrahlung X rays.
gamma radiation shielding - Answer -meters of concrete, centimeters of lead
(incomplete shields)
neutron radiation shielding - Answer -???
What regulating body in canada deals with radiation safety? - Answer -CNSC -
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Who should you speak to in your organization about radiation safety? - Answer -
Radiation Safety Officer
SAFETY & TDG
What information should be included on a workplace safety label for a solution made in
the lab? - Answer -Product Identifier
Precautionary statements
Reference to SDS
Date of preparation/dispensing
Initials of person who prepared/dispensed solution
Ionizing radiation - Answer -enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming
ions; capable of causing cancer
Examples of ionizing radiation - Answer -X rays, gamma rays
Examples of non-ionizing radiation - Answer -microwaves, ultraviolet light, lasers, radio
waves, infrared light, and radar
Non-ionizing radiation - Answer -Longer wave length radiation that has enough energy
to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to
remove electrons
What is the current radiation exposure limit for workers? - Answer -Currently, the
concept of ALARA is promoted for worker exposure limits.
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
Limits range from 1 to 500 milliSieverts depending on person (worker, member of
public, pregnant) and location of exposure (whole body, lens of eye, hand and feet)
Background Radiation - Answer -Ionizing radiation that occurs naturally in the
environment (ie. cosmic radiation)
Types of ionizing radiation - Answer -Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-ray, and Neutron
Gamma rays - Answer -Penetrating electromagnetic radiation arising from the
radioactive decay of atomic nuclei
X-rays - Answer -Penetrating electromagnetic radiation arising from electron
interactions that result in the release of energy. Identical to gamma rays but their
sources are different
Beta particles - Answer -A negatively charged particle (an electron) emitted from the
nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay
, Have the mass of an electron and can be -ve or +ve
Alpha particle - Answer -A cluster of 2 protons and 2 neutrons emitted from a nucleus
during alpha decay
What is the activity of a radioactive source? - Answer -The number of atoms in the
source that decay per second (ie. Bq/Ci)
Half Life - Answer -Length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample
to decay
Think of radiation like a ball full of holes plugged into a garden hose.
As you walk nearer to the ball you begin to get wet from the spray. That is your
*exposure* and it increases in rate as you get nearer to the ball (by inverse square law).
The longer you stand there the wetter you get, the greater your *exposure*.
If we were to use an umbrella to stop the water, we would get less wet. This would be
like adding *shielding*.
What equipment is important to have in a lab to monitor radioactivity? - Answer -A
survey meter and a dosimeter
Three principles to limit radiation exposure - Answer -Minimize time
Maximize distance
Incorporate shielding
alpha radiation shielding - Answer -paper, clothing
beta radiation shielding - Answer -metal foil (ie. aluminum)
EXCEPT when high energy beta particles are emitted. Must use low atomic weight
materials like plastic, wood, water. This reduces generation of bremsstrahlung X rays.
gamma radiation shielding - Answer -meters of concrete, centimeters of lead
(incomplete shields)
neutron radiation shielding - Answer -???
What regulating body in canada deals with radiation safety? - Answer -CNSC -
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Who should you speak to in your organization about radiation safety? - Answer -
Radiation Safety Officer
