Muonic atom spectroscopy with microgram target material.

Muonic atom spectroscopy-the measurement of the x rays emitted during the formation process of a muonic atom-has a long standing history in probing the shape and size of nuclei. In fact, almost all stable elements have been subject to muonic atom spectroscopy measurements and the absolute charge radii extracted from these measurements typically offer the highest accuracy available. However, so far only targets of at least a few hundred milligram could be used as it required to stop a muon beam directly in the target to form the muonic atom. We have developed a new method relying on repeated transfer reactions taking place inside a 100 bar hydrogen gas cell with an admixture of 0.25% deuterium that allows us to drastically reduce the amount of target material needed while still offering an adequate efficiency. Detailed simulations of the transfer reactions match the measured data, suggesting good understanding of the processes taking place inside the gas mixture. As a proof of principle we demonstrate the method with a measurement of the 2p-1s muonic x rays from a 5  µ g gold target.

A Holistic Approach to Assessment of Population Exposure to Radiation: Challenges and Initiatives of a Regulatory Authority.

A regulatory authority for radiation safety should continuously evaluate and improve the national safety framework, in line with current requirements and standards. In this context, the Greek Atomic Energy Commission initiated a series of concerted actions. The radiation dose to the population due to public and medical exposures was assessed. The assessment of dose due to public exposure was based on measurements of radon concentrations in dwellings, radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples, and air dose rates; the assessment of dose due to medical exposure was based on dose measurements for typical examinations or procedures and data on their frequency. The mean effective dose to a member of the population was found to be 4.5 mSv (1.8 mSv and 2.7 mSv from medical and public exposures, respectively). Regarding occupational exposure, aircrew dose assessment, eye lens monitoring, and the national dose registry were significantly improved. With respect to artificial tanning (sun beds), the ultraviolet radiation produced was assessed and the practices followed were observed. Results demonstrated exceedance of the 0.3 W m erythema effective irradiance limit set in European Union standards by 63.5% of the sun beds measured, along with general noncompliance with standards. An overarching activity was the upgrade of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission information system in order to collect and disseminate radiation data electronically, launch a networking strategy for interaction with stakeholders, and facilitate the process of regulatory control. In response to the above findings, regulatory actions have been initiated.

Collective effective dose in Europe from X-ray and nuclear medicine procedures.

Population doses from radiodiagnostic (X-ray and nuclear medicine) procedures in Europe were estimated based on data collected from 36 European countries. For X-ray procedures in EU and EFTA countries (except Liechtenstein) the collective effective dose is 547,500 man Sv, resulting in a mean effective dose of 1.06 mSv per caput. For all European countries included in the survey the collective effective dose is 605,000 man Sv, resulting in a mean effective dose of 1.05 mSv per caput. For nuclear medicine procedures in EU countries and EFTA (except Liechtenstein) countries the collective effective dose is 30,700 man Sv, resulting in a mean effective dose of 0.06 mSv per caput. For all European countries included in the survey the collective effective dose is 31,100 man Sv, resulting in a mean effective dose of 0.05 mSv per caput.

Analysis of factors correlating with medical radiological examination frequencies.

The European Commission (EC) funded project Dose Datamed 2 (DDM2) had two objectives: to collect available data on patient doses from the radiodiagnostic procedures (X-ray and nuclear medicine) in Europe, and to facilitate the implementation of the Radiation Protection 154 Guidelines (RP154). Besides the collection of frequency and dose data, two questionnaires were issued to gather information about medical radiological imaging. This article analyses a possible correlation between the collected frequency data, selected variables from the results of the detailed questionnaire and national economic data. Based on a 35 countries dataset, there is no correlation between the gross domestic product (GDP) and the total number of X-ray examinations in a country. However, there is a significant correlation (p < 0.01) between the GDP and the overall CT examination frequency. High income countries perform more CT examinations per inhabitant. That suggests that planar X-ray examinations are replaced by CT examinations.

Thyroid cancer radioiodine therapy: health service performance and radiation safety.

Greek Atomic Energy Commission collected data related to radioiodine I-131 therapy (RAIT) delivery to differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients, for the period 2003-13, corresponding to 100 % of hospitals at national level. Radiation safety and health service performance outcome indicators were assessed. The numbers of hospitals and nuclear medicine (NM) therapy wards, as well as RAIT annual frequencies, have increased. Geographical inhomogeneous distribution of existing infrastructure is recorded. In some cases, the observed inefficient use of NM therapy wards seems to be due to lack of human resources (e.g. nurses). Regular assessment of appropriate key indicators could serve as a useful tool for radiation safety monitoring and health service performance improvement.

Diagnostic reference levels and patient doses in computed tomography examinations in Greece.

The purpose of this study is to present a national survey that was performed in Greece for the establishment of national Dose Reference Levels (DRLs) for seven common adult Computed Tomography (CT) examinations. Volumetric computed tomography dose index and dose-length product values were collected from the post-data page of 65 'modern' systems that incorporate tube current modulation. Moreover, phantom dose measurements on 26 'older' systems were performed. Finally, the effective dose to the patient from a typical acquisition during these examinations was estimated. The suggested national DRLs are generally comparable with respective published values from similar European studies, with the exception of sinuses CT, which presents significantly higher values. This fact, along with the large variation of the systems' dose values that were observed even for scanners of the same type, indicates a need for further patient protection optimisation without compromising the clinical outcome.

Establishment of dose reference levels for nuclear medicine in Greece.

Greek Atomic Energy Commission's Department of Licensing and Inspections conducted a national survey for the establishment of nuclear medicine (NM) dose reference levels (DRLs) for adult patients, in Greece. The administered activities (AAs) (MBq) were collected from 120 NM departments (88 % of total), during on-site inspections for licensing purposes. Factors influencing the image quality were also investigated. The established national DRLs represent the AA value corresponding to the 75th percentile of the AA frequency distributions. In their majority, national DRLs and average AAs are comparable with the ones published in the international literature. In the light of new technologies, there might be potential for reducing the higher values of AAs, in co-operation with the nuclear medicine experts.

Image quality evaluation and patient dose assessment of medical fluoroscopic X-ray systems: a national study.

This study presents the results from a survey conducted by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), during the period 1998-2003, in 530 public and private owned fluoroscopic X-ray systems in Greece. Certain operational parameters for conventional and remote control systems were assessed, according to a quality control protocol developed by GAEC on the basis of the current literature. Public (91.5%) and private (81.5%) owned fluoroscopic units exhibit high-contrast resolution values over 1 lp mm(-1). Moreover, 88.5 and 87.1% of the fluoroscopic units installed in the public and private sector, respectively, present Maximum Patient Entrance Kerma Rate values lower than 100 mGy min(-1). Additionally, 68.3% of the units assessed were found to perform within the acceptance limits. Finally, the third quartile of the Entrance Surface Dose Rate distribution was estimated according to the Dose Reference Level definition and found equal to 35 mGy min(-1).

Performance of medical radiographic X-ray systems in Greece for the time period 1998-2004.

This study presents the results of the on-site inspections performed by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on conventional X-ray systems, both in public and private medical radiology departments. A part of the inspection concerns the assessment of important radiographic parameters obtained according to a specified quality control protocol and the comparison of the measured parameter values with the corresponding acceptance limits. A total number of 1011 radiographic systems were inspected by the GAEC during the period 1998-2004, with 63.4% of them being privately owned. Analysis of 8 different operational parameters is carried out providing information on the overall performance, as well as on each parameter of the inspected X-ray systems. Tube voltage reproducibility values show the highest percentage of acceptability (98.9%, 99.5% for private and public owned radiographic systems respectively), while linearity of radiation output for private systems (72.5%) and time accuracy for public ones (72.7%) show the worst results. The comparison of the results for the private sector to those of a similar study carried out during the period 1995-1997 indicates a substantial improvement in X-ray systems performance. Higher level of improvement shows exposure time accuracy (12.2% percentile increase) and linearity of radiation output (12.5% percentile increase). Nevertheless, the situation can be further optimized if maintenance and quality control of the radiographic systems are carried out on a more regular basis.