Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Irradiator Commissioning and Dosimetry for Assessment of LQ α and β Parameters, Radiation Dosing Schema, and in vivo Dose Deposition
Published on: March 11, 2021
Beta and electron dose calculations to skin due to contamination by common nuclear medicine radionuclides
1John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, AR.
Abstract:
We present dose calculations to the basal cell layer of the epidermis resulting from skin contamination by radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. Dose calculations were made using the computer code VARSKIN, as modified by us to include these radionuclides and to account for their monoenergetic electron emissions. Results indicate that basal skin doses (taken to be at a depth of 0.007 cm) are approximately 1 cGy h-1 per 3.7 X 10(-4) Bq cm-2 (1 rad h-1 per muCi cm-2) from 99mTc, 111In and 201Tl, implying that established limits may be approached under certain circumstances. The implication of these results for small areas of contamination is also discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Effects of Radiation
Types of Radioactivity
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing...
Positron Emission Tomography
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body...

