Apparent versus real exposures of nuclear medicine technologists during aerosol lung ventilation scanning

The exposure of nuclear medicine technologists to airborne radiocontaminants is generally far below the compliance limits. Most of the contamination is external rather than internal deposition. Higher contamination levels approaching the allowable limits are rare. Personal respiratory protection is unwarranted and may have undesirable impressions on patients undergoing lung scanning. Exposures are well controlled by suitable work practices that are in keeping with as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles.