Internal radiation exposure among nuclear medicine workers involved in iodine-131 therapy in Hunan Province, China
10.20001/j.issn.2095-2619.20251219
- VernacularTitle:湖南省核医学碘-131工作人员内照射水平分析
- Author:
Junzhe PENG
1
;
Xiaoliang LI
;
Zipo ZHAI
;
Donghui CHEN
;
Yanmeng CHENG
Author Information
1. Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Disease, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Nuclear medicine;
Iodine-131;
Radiation workers;
Internal radiation;
Thyroid
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2025;52(6):701-704
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To analyze the development of nuclear medicine services in Hunan Province and to assess internal radiation doses among the nuclear medicine workers (NMWs) involved in iodine-131 radionuclide therapy. Methods Based on a survey of nuclear medicine institutions in Hunan Province, a total of 61 NMWs from seven hospitals providing iodine-131 therapy for thyroid cancer were selected as the study subjects by convenience sampling method. Thyroidal iodine-131 activity was measured using a portable gamma spectrometer to estimate internal dose and total annual effective dose. Results A total of 47 nuclear medicine institutions were reported in Hunan Province by 2023, most of which were public and tertiary hospitals, accounting for 38. Iodine-131 therapy was performed in 30 institutions, including nine for thyroid cancer. A total of nine participants had detectable thyroidal iodine-131 activity among 61 workers involved in iodine-131 thyroid cancer treatment, with the detection rate of 14.8%. Their internal radiation annual committed effective doses ranged from 0.100 to 1.584 mSv, with a mean of 0.499 mSv and median of 0.426 mSv. Except for one cleaner, the remaining eight physicians and nurses had the total annual effective doses ranging from 0.311 to 3.007 mSv, with a mean of 1.305 mSv, all below the annual dose limit of 20.000 mSv among radiation workers specified in national standard. Conclusion Internal exposure to iodine-131 among the NMWs should not be neglected. Standardized procedures and strengthened internal dose monitoring are recommended.
