Radiation protection Review questions (revised 081124)Date:__________________

_________________________________________ ___________________________
Name (First, last) Civic registration number

______________________________________________________________________
Department/corresponding.

______________________________________________________________________
E-mail

_________________________________________________ ____________________
Adress: P.O. Box

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Signature Phone
This part of the assignment is intended to assist you in reviewing the course contents and help
you to check up what the regulations say. You will find the indicated regulations at:
http://www.stralsakerhetsmyndigheten.se/Lagar-forfattningar/Stralskydd/ (in Swedish) and at
http://www.stralsakerhetsmyndigheten.se/In-English/Regulations/Radiation-protection/ in English.
Review questions
On the regulations on dose limits at work with ionising radiation (SSI FS 1998:4).
A1 The regulation on dose Limits at Work with Ionising Radiation apply, at
practises with ionising radiation, to limitation of radiation doses to:

a
workers

b
students and trainees

c
the general public

d
pregnant women who else may be exposed to

ionising radiation at work

e
all the above

B1 The equivalent dose represents an absorbed dose to an organ or tissue,

weighted by factors, WR, taking into account the biological efficiency of the
type of radiation.

You are now asked to rank the different types of radiations from more harmful
radiations per unit absorbed dose to those being less harmful.

(continued on next page)

 Indicate your answer by checking one of the answers, a, b or c.

More damaging, higher WR


less damaging, lower WR

a
beta- and gamma-radiation > protons > alphas.

b
alphas > protons > beta- and gamma-radiation.

c
beta- and gamma-radiation > alphas > protons.

C1 The effective dose represents the sum of all equivalent doses to organs or
tissues, weighted with factors, WT, for their different sensitivity for radiation.

Rank the different types of tissues or organs from those that are more sensitive
to radiation, higher WT , to the less sensitive ones having lower WT.

Indicate your answer by checking one of the answers, a, b or c.

Higher WT, more sensitive


Lower WT less sensitive

a
gonads > red bone marrow > thyroid > skin

b
thyroid > red bone marrow > skin > gonads

c
skin > thyroid > red bone marrow > gonads

D1 If exposed to external irradiation, we refer to:

a
a situation where the source of radiation is situated outside the

human body.

b
a natural source of natural radiation within the human body

c
activation products that enters the human body through the food-
chain: Lichens-Reindeer-Man.

d
all of the above

E1 Exposure to radioactive materials resulting in internal exposure may occur by

the following routes:

a
intake into the body orally

b
intake into the body by inhalation

c
intake into the body by absorption from skin

d
all of the above (a, b and c)

F1 Justification of a practise with ionising radiation refers to:

a
the use of radiation in such a manner that it always results in an

estimated health detriment not exceeding the expected risk as
judged from the linear non-threshold hypothesis.

b
the use of radiation results in a benefit that exceeds the estimated

health detriment caused by the radiation

c
the prevention of any benefits from the practise with ionising

radiation rather than prevention of ill health.

G1 When, at work with radiation, the absorbed doses are as low as reasonably
achievable, social and economical factors taken into account, we have achieved
a certain state in the practise with ionising radiation which is referred to as:

a
balanced

b
rugged and reliable

c
optimistic

d
optimised

e
foolproof and cost-effective

H1 Dose limits given in the regulation SSI FS 1998:4 shall not be exceeded,
the given dose limits shall however not be applied to (mark three of the answers)
Link to the regulation on dose limits:

a
scientists at work

b
the general public

c
medical exposures, as defined in the Council Directive

97/43/EURATOM(June 30, 1997)

d
people who knowingly and willingly (outside their occupations)

helping in support and comfort of patients undergoing medical
exposure

e
volunteers participating in medical or biomedical research

programmes

f
campus site guests

I1 The maximum annual dose limits for adult persons working with
 ionising radiation is: (please, mark three of the answers)

a
5 mSv effective dose, in addition,

for five consecutive years 10 mSv effective dose

b
50 mSv effective dose, in addition,

for five consecutive years 100 mSv effective dose

c
Dose equivalent to the lens of the eye: 150 mSv

d
Dose equivalent to the lens of the eye: 15 mSv

e
Dose equivalent to the skin: 50 mSv

f
Dose equivalent to the skin: 500 mSv

J1a Suppose now that both external and internal exposure occur. Then, on
comparison with the dose limits, the radiation dose contributions from the two
exposure pathways should be (SSI FS 1998:4)

a
multiplied on comparison with the dose limits.

b
calculated as the root of the summed squared contributions.

c
summed on comparison with the dose limits.

d
considered as two separate cases.

J1b Indicate below the alternative that best corresponds to the

dose range in which your employer should categorise a worker or
workplace as belonging to category B. ( SSI FS 1998:3 )

a
effective dose < 1 mSv/ year,

dose equivalent to the lens of the eye < 15 mSv/year and,
dose equivalent to skin and extremities < 50 mSv/year.

b
effective dose < 6 mSv/ year,

dose equivalent to the lens of the eye < 45 mSv/year and,
dose equivalent to skin and extremities < 150 mSv/year.

c
effective dose > 6 mSv/ year,

dose equivalent to the lens of the eye > 45 mSv/year and,
dose equivalent to skin and extremities > 150 mSv/year.

J1c A worker shall belong to category A if the risk is not negligible that the dose
ranges given above are exceeded, taking into account the
 risks of even unlikely mistakes or accidents.

A workplace where the workers may exceed any of the annual doses
in the previous review question, or from which radioactive contamination may
be spread, shall be a categorised as a:

a
contamined area.

b
condemned area.

c
condensed area.

d
controlled area.

J1d The sign says:

A
“Supervised area”

B
“Controlled area”

J1e The sign says:

Kontrollerat område

A
“Supervised area”

Obehöriga äga ej tillträde B
“Controlled area”

J1f Any one who runs a practise with ionising raditation must carefully consider to
categorise a person in category A if (please, mark three of the answers)

a
anyone works with more than 100 MBq at the same moment in
practices with open radioactive sources emitting gamma-radiation

b
anyone works with more than 10 MBq at the same moment if the
maximum beta-ray energy is more than 0.3 MeV.

c
anyone works with more than 1 MBq at the same moment if the
maximum beta-ray energy is more than 0.3 MeV.

d
anyone works with more than 100 MBq at the same moment if the
maximum beta-ray energy is between 0.1 and 0.3 MeV.
K1 An unsealed radioactive source is any radioactive substance which neither is
(SSI FS 2000:7)
a
temporarily sealed within a radioactive capsule nor is firmly
bound to a radioactive solid which prevents spreading of the
radioactive substance

b
permanently sealed within a non radioactive capsule nor is firmly

bound to a non radioactive solid which prevents spreading of the
radioactive substance

L1 Before work with ionising radiation commences, all persons in the practise shall
(mark one, please)

a
turn their radiation monitors on

b
order a film- or TL-badge for dosimetry

c
get education on radiation protection

d
synchronise their wristwatches

e
Verbally warn all people in the vicinity

M1 Before commencing work with unsealed radioactive substances it is

a
necessary to obtain information on the hazards that might be

connected with the work.

b
necessary to clearly define and mark up the area where the planned
work with unsealed radioactive substances will be carried out.

c
obtain knowledge on the use of radiation protection devices and

safety systems and their inherent limitations.

O1 Work in the laboratory shall be

a
performed using good laboratory practise

b
planned and performed in such way that the spread of

contamination to air or surfaces is minimised

c
subjected to regular contamination checks of laboratory

surfaces and equipment and when contamination is suspected

d
performed using protective gloves and protective clothing

P1 When radioactive substances are stored, the nuclides shall be stored in a way
that prevents access by unauthorised persons and

a
the storage shall be shielded so that the dose rate at any

temporarily accessible area outside the storage
do not exceed 2 µSv/h

b
the storage shall be shielded so that the dose rate at any

temporarily accessible area outside the storage
do not exceed 20 µSv/h

c
the storage shall be shielded so that the dose rate at any

permanently accessible area outside the storage
do not exceed 2 µSv/h

d
the storage shall be shielded so that the dose rate at any

permanently accessible area outside the storage
do not exceed 20 µSv/h

Q1 The storage of radioactive substances shall be marked “Förvaringsplats för

radioaktiva ämnen” by which is meant:

a
Decaying radioactive substances

b
Radioactive substances sold here

c
Radioactive substances are stored here

d
A pair of forceps must be used when handling

radioactive substances

R1 The radionuclides P-32, S-35 and Am-241 in amounts of 20 MBq, 80 MBq and
600 Bq respectively, corresponds, when summed, to a total amount of:

a
8 ALImin

b
7 ALImin

c
6 ALImin

d
5 ALImin

e
4 ALImin

An ALImin represents an annual limit on intake of a radioactive substance that,

if ingested or inhaled, corresponds to a committed effective dose of 50 mSv.
Please, use ALImin values given in the regulation SSI FS 1983:7.
S1 The dose rate at the surface of a package supplied to the municipal refuse
disposal plant or corresponding must not exceed a certain dose rate
(SSI FS 1983:7)

a
5 mGy/h

b
500 µGy/h

c
50 µGy/h

d
5 µGy/h

e
0,5 µGy/h

T1 And each such package when sent away to the municipal refuse disposal plant
must not contain more than

a
100 ALImin

b
10 ALImin

c
1 ALImin

U1 The waste package shall carry the following markings

a
the warning symbol for ionising radiation

b
information as to the sender

c
information as to the dominant radionuclide and its activity

d
a statement that the dose rate does not exceed the dose rate 5
microgray per hour

e
All the above

Part 2 General knowledge (review questions on the textbook “Nuclide Technique”)

A2: Mark four of the radionuclides listed below that can be regarded as naturally
occurring radioactive nuclides.
a
Pu-238 (with a half-life of 24 000 years)
9
b
U-238 (with a half-life of 4,5 ⋅10 years)
9
c
Th-232 (with a half-life of 14,1 ⋅10 years)

d
Cs-137 (with a half-life of 30 years)

9
e
K-40 (with a half-life of 1,28⋅10 years)

f
C-14 (with a half-life of 5730 years)

B2: On a list of the early pioneers in radiation research the indicated persons should
 included:

a
Antoine Henri Becquerel

b
Marie and Pierre Curie

c
Irène Joliot-Curie

d
Nadine Gordimer

e
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul

C2 Ionising radiation is

a
electromagnetic waves, like those emitted inside a

microwave oven.

b
visible light, with the ability to blacken photographic film

c
particles or photons, energetic enough to cause interactions

that allows electrons escaping or leaving the atom or molecule .

d
heat that causes alteration of certain protein structures as in eggs.

D2 When accelerated by an electric field of one volt (1 V),

the electron will gain an amount of energy equal to one electronvolt (1 eV).
This amount of energy, one electronvolt (1 eV) corresponds to
-29
a
1,602⋅10 Joule
-19
b
1,602⋅10 Joule
-9
c
1,602⋅10 Joule
9
d
1,602⋅10 Joule
19
e
1,602⋅10 Joule

E2 Which relation could be applied in converting mass into energy

Where m = the mass and c = speed of light.
2
a
E=m ⋅c
2
b
E=m⋅c
2
c
2⋅ E=m⋅c

d
E=m⋅c
F2 A certain force act to repel protons from protons. If neutrons were not present in
 the nucleus that force would tear the nucleus apart. The force is called

a
the weak force

b
the nuclear force

c
the Coriolis force

d
the strong force

e
the Coulomb force

G2 Nuclear transformations can convert a neutron into a proton or a proton into a

neutron. Suppose now that an atom of C-14 undergoes a nuclear transformation
into N-14. Which of the following writings would best depict this event.
14 14 - - -
a
C⇒ N+β + ν+E

14 14 + - -
b
C⇒ N+β + ν +E

14 14 +
c
C⇒ N+β + ν+E

14 14 - - -
d
N⇒ C+β + ν+E

- - -
(Symbols explained: ν is the neutrino and ν is its anti-particle, β is a beta-
+
particle and β its anti-particle (the positron), E represents the energy distributed
to the particles)

H2 At given kinetic energy the following applies to charged particles on their

journey through matter (please, mark 2)

a
The heavier the particle is, the more energy is transferred per
collision

b
The lighter the particle is, the more energy is transferred per
collision

c
The higher the kinetic energy of the particle is, the more energy is
transferred

d
The lower the kinetic energy of the particle is, the more energy is
transferred
I2 An incoming electron is deflected from its path under influence of the Coulomb
force near a heavy nucleus. In this process the electron looses some of its kinetic
energy and a photon is emitted. This type of radiant energy loss is called

a
Background radiation

b
Geiger-Muller radiation

c
Geigenshein

d
Bremsstrahlung

e
Cosmic radiation

J2 A measure of energy deposited along the track per unit track length of a charged
particle is reflected by

a
keV, kilo electronvolt

b
LET, Linear Energy Transfer

c
TSL The Svedberg Laboratory

d
MGR Mass Gain Rate

K2 Photons and neutrons are two different types of radiation sometimes referred to
as

a
non ionising radiation

b
indirectly ionising radiation

c
black radiation

d
white radiation

L2 When photons interact with matter, three different processes of interaction can
be distinguished, namely:

a
The Photoelectric effect

b
The Kelvin effect

c
The Pair production effect

d
The Compton effect

e
The Hall effect

M2 For purposes of radiation protection and on comparison with dose limits we
refer to the following two dose quantities:

a
Evasive dose

b
Efficient dose

c
Energy Implosion

d
Dose Equivalent

e
Effective dose

N2 On a microscopic scale, which part of a human cell is considered to be the

critical radiosensitive entity.

a
cell membrane

b
RNA, ribonucleic acid

c
DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid

d
the mitochondrias

e
the lysosomes

O2 Cells undergoing a high rate of division (proliferative cells) are more

radiosensitive than non-proliferative cells, examples of such organs where cells
divides comparatively rapidly are: (mark 4 of the alternatives)

a
red bone marrow

b
central nervous system

c
gastro-intestinal tract

d
muscular tissue

e
skin

f
small bone
 Use the links listed on the last page in order to find information on the
properties of each radioactive element .
P2: Indicate for each radionuclide which you would describe as
a) pure beta-ray emitters,
b) emitting gamma- and/or x-rays,
c) undergoes decay by utilising electron capture,
d) also, being produced by natural processes in the atmosphere.

a) b) c) d)
Nuclide Pure beta- Gamma- Electron also naturally produced
ray emitter and x-rays capture in the atmosphere

I) H-3

II) C-14

III) S-35

IV) P-32

V) Ca-45

VI) I-125

VII) Cs-137

Q2: Indicate for each radionuclide its known or expected characteristics or properties
in laboratory use.

a) volatile and/or forms vapors or gaseous compounds b) accumulates in the

thyroid, c) becomes distributed in the whole body after an intake d) have a long
residence time in bone.
a) b) c) d)
nuclide volatile, thyroid even long time
gaseous bodily in bone
vapors distribution

I) H-3

II) C-14

III) S-35

IV) P-32

V) Ca-45

VI) I-125

VII) Cs-137




R2: Indicate for each radionuclide ways to measure your internal contamination.

a) by collecting and measuring activity in urine samples or from breath samples,

b) externally, by direct measurement of the uptake of activity by the thyroid,
c) through whole body measurement.
a) b) c)
urine or Thyroid Whole body
breath count measurement
samples

nuclide
I) H-3

II) C-14

III) S-35

IV) P-32

V) Ca-45

VI) Cr-51

VII) I-125

VIII) I-131

A3 Detectors and detection of radiation

In order to create an ionisation in air or tissue it would be needed to expend, on

average, an amount of energy about

a
3000 eV per ion-pair

b
300 eV per ion-pair

c
30 eV per ion-pair

d
3 eV per ion-pair
B3 Indicate which detector type is suitable to be used as a monitor for tritium (H-3).

a
Geiger-Muller tube

b
a thin Na(Tl)I scintillation-detector

c
an ionisation chamber

d
a liquid scintillation detector

e
a film badge or a TLD

C3 Indicate which detector type is suitable to be used as a monitor for I-125 on

laboratory surfaces and on the skin or hands.

a
Geiger-Muller tube

b
a thin Na(Tl)I scintillation-detector

c
an ionisation chamber

d
a liquid scintillation detector

A4 Working safely with radiation

Mark four of the listed parameters that should be taken in account in order to
minimise the risks involved in the work,

a
Time, the shorter time spent handling radioactivity the

smaller the dose.

b
Time, the shorter time spent handling radioactivity the

smaller the amount of waste.

c
Distance, doubling the distance from the source quarter the

radiation dose.

d
Distance, doubling the distance from the source squares the

radiation dose.

e
Shielding, 10 mm Plexiglas (Perspex) will stop all betas, use lead

acrylic or lead bricks of a suitable thickness for X and gamma
emitters.

f
Monitoring, after completion of work - monitor yourself, wash

and monitor again.
B4 Give your opinion on the video “Working safely with radioactivity”

a
I think the film is very informative and the given advice and rules
are easy to apply in the daily work with radioactivity.

b
I think the film is informative and easy to understand.

c
____________________________________________

d
I think it is not very informative and difficult to apply.

e
I would like to have corresponding information on other types of

work with ionising radiation:_____________________________
____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Your answers should be in print, please remember to sign with your name, date and complete
address and your civic registration number. Please, make sure you also have written your
name on all submitted papers.

I would like to receive your reply on the assignment and the given review questions no later
than the 15th of January 2009.

If you need more time or help, contact me.

Vänliga Hälsningar / Best regards

Aaro Ravila
***********************************************
Aaro Ravila, PhD
Radiation protection Adviser
Uppsala University
Buildings Office,
Environment, Work Environment and Security
Box 256, St.Olofsgatan 10 B
Phone: 018-471 14 97
e-mail:Aaro.Ravila@uadm.uu.se
***********************************************