Skin contamination of nuclear medicine technologists: incidence, routes, dosimetry and decontamination

Nuclear medicine technologists are exposed daily to the risk of skin contamination with radiopharmaceuticals. This study deals with the different elements associated with skin contaminations. In 10 months 560 inspections were performed. Local contamination was found on the fingers of nuclear medicine technologists in 40 cases. But the increasing awareness caused a significant reduction over time. The measured activities ranged from 211Bq/cm² to 460kBq/cm², resulting in cumulated skin doses between 0.02 and and 809 mSv. The poor efficacy of decontamination during daily practice is supported by the in-vitro results. The course of a contamination is characterized by an effective first decontamination followed by relatively ineffective steps. Skin contamination can be found in large doses on the skin. Single contamination can result in local skin doses exceeding the yearly dose limit bacause of the contribution of electrons at shallow depths and should therefore be prevented at any time.