Gamma-Ray Protection in Radium Therapy

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Abstract
It is suggested that if the γ-ray dosage received by radium therapists during their radium work could be assessed (even if only roughly), more specific opinion might be formed as to what levels of exposure have proved to be safe. Calculations and measurements of local dosage and integral dose received by radium mould technicians and radium therapists are made in order to make such assessment. On the basis of these results the implications of the various proposed standards of protection are examined and set out in terms of actual working conditions. For this purpose protection is considered in the categories in which it seems the subject should be divided, viz., local exposure of the hands, local exposure of the gene material and integral dose throughout the whole body. In relation to medical work it is concluded (1) that many busy radium personnel may receive local exposure to the hands in excess of that now recommended in the U.S.A. as a safe amount (1 r per day), (2) that if circumstances dictate it should be practicable, by the use of suitable screenage, to reduce the local dose received by the genitals of mould technicians and therapists to the low figure recently suggested by Sievert (0·01 r per day), and (3) that this low figure may be impossible of realisation for the integral dose received by personnel handling radium. It is suggested that in respect of integral dose, past experience indicates that a figure of 0·1 r per day may be safe. It is, however, desirable to achieve 0·01 r per day, particularly for personnel continually receiving radiation at a low but approximately uniform dose-rate over the whole body—this is because injury to the gene material is the foremost consideration. Suggestions are made for the future collection of data which will assist in placing protection standards on a surer foundation.
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