A benchmark for Monte Carlo simulations in gamma-ray spectrometry Part II: True coincidence summing correction factors.

The goal of this study is to provide a benchmark for the use of Monte Carlo simulation when applied to coincidence summing corrections. The examples are based on simple geometries: two types of germanium detectors and four kinds of sources, to mimic eight typical measurement conditions. The coincidence corrective factors are computed for four radionuclides. The exercise input files and calculation results with practical recommendations are made available for new users on a dedicated webpage.

Dose assesment with fast Monte Carlo codes in interventional radiology.

This study presents the performance of two fast Monte Carlo codes, PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR in order to assess operator doses in interventional radiology. In particular, it aims to validate the calculations when workers are protected with shielding located between the patient and the operator. The experiments are performed in a calibration laboratory and measurements are gathered using Thermo EPD and Mirion DMC personal active dosemeters. Calculation efficiency of the fast Monte Carlo codes is approximately four orders of magnitude greater than for a standard Monte Carlo code. Satisfactory agreement between measurements and calculations is shown.

Feasibility study of computational occupational dosimetry: evaluating a proof-of-concept in an endovascular and interventional cardiology setting.

Individual monitoring of radiation workers is essential to ensure compliance with legal dose limits and to ensure that doses are As Low As Reasonably Achievable. However, large uncertainties still exist in personal dosimetry and there are issues with compliance and incorrect wearing of dosimeters. The objective of the PODIUM (Personal Online Dosimetry Using Computational Methods) project was to improve personal dosimetry by an innovative approach: the development of an online dosimetry application based on computer simulations without the use of physical dosimeters. Occupational doses were calculated based on the use of camera tracking devices, flexible individualised phantoms and data from the radiation source. When combined with fast Monte Carlo simulation codes, the aim was to perform personal dosimetry in real-time. A key component of the PODIUM project was to assess and validate the methodology in interventional radiology workplaces where improvements in dosimetry are needed. This paper describes the feasibility of implementing the PODIUM approach in a clinical setting. Validation was carried out using dosimeters worn by Vascular Surgeons and Interventional Cardiologists during patient procedures at a hospital in Ireland. Our preliminary results from this feasibility study show acceptable differences of the order of 40% between calculated and measured staff doses, in terms of the personal dose equivalent quantity Hp(10), however there is a greater deviation for more complex cases and improvements are needed. The challenges of using the system in busy interventional rooms have informed the future needs and applicability of PODIUM. The availability of an online personal dosimetry application has the potential to overcome problems that arise from the use of current dosimeters. In addition, it should increase awareness of radiation protection among staff. Some limitations remain and a second phase of development would be required to bring the PODIUM method into operation in a hospital setting. However, an early prototype system has been tested in a clinical setting and the results from this two-year proof-of-concept PODIUM project are very promising for future development.

Fast Monte Carlo codes for occupational dosimetry in interventional radiology.

PURPOSE: Interventional radiology techniques cause radiation exposure both to patient and personnel. The radiation dose to the operator is usually measured with dosimeters located at specific points above or below the lead aprons. The aim of this study is to develop and validate two fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes for radiation transport in order to improve the assessment of individual doses in interventional radiology. The proposed methodology reduces the number of required dosemeters and provides immediate dose results. METHODS: Two fast MC simulation codes, PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR, have been developed. Both codes have been validated by comparing fast MC calculations with the multipurpose PENELOPE MC code and with measurements during a realistic interventional procedure. RESULTS: The new codes were tested with a computation time of about 120 s to estimate operator doses while a standard simulation needs several days to obtain similar uncertainties. When compared with the standard calculation in simple set-ups, MCGPU-IR tends to underestimate doses (up to 5%), while PENELOPE/penEasyIR overestimates them (up to 18%). When comparing both fast MC codes with experimental values in realistic set-ups, differences are within 25%. These differences are within accepted uncertainties in individual monitoring. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the fact that computational dosimetry based on the use of fast MC codes can provide good estimates of the personal dose equivalent and overcome some of the limitations of occupational monitoring in interventional radiology. Notably, MCGPU-IR calculates both organ doses and effective dose, providing a better estimate of radiation risk.

PERSONAL DOSIMETRY USING MONTE-CARLO SIMULATIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL DOSE MONITORING IN INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY: THE RESULTS OF A PROOF OF CONCEPT IN A CLINICAL SETTING.

Exposure levels to staff in interventional radiology (IR) may be significant and appropriate assessment of radiation doses is needed. Issues regarding measurements using physical dosemeters in the clinical environment still exist. The objective of this work was to explore the prerequisites for assessing staff radiation dose, based on simulations only. Personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), was assessed using simulations based on Monte Carlo methods. The position of the operator was defined using a 3D motion tracking system. X-ray system exposure parameters were extracted from the x-ray equipment. The methodology was investigated and the simulations compared to measurements during IR procedures. The results indicate that the differences between simulated and measured staff radiation doses, in terms of the personal dose equivalent quantity Hp(10), are in the order of 30-70 %. The results are promising but some issues remain to be solved, e.g. an automated tracking of movable parts such as the ceiling-mounted protection shield.

Determining the probability of locating peaks using computerized peak-location methods in gamma-ray spectra as a function of the relative peak-area uncertainty.

The probabilities of locating peaks with a high relative peak-area uncertainty were determined empirically with nine types of peak-location software used in laboratories engaged in gamma-ray spectrometry measurements. It was found that it is not possible to locate peaks with a probability of 0.95, when they have a relative peak-area uncertainty in excess of 50%. Locating peaks at these relatively high peak-area uncertainties with a probability greater than 0.95 is only possible in the library-driven mode, where the peak positions are supposed a-priori. The deficiencies of the library-driven mode and the possibilities to improve the probabilities of locating peaks are briefly discussed.

Dose calculations in aircrafts after Fukushima nuclear power plant accident - Preliminary study for aviation operations.

There is little information to decision support in air traffic management in case of nuclear releases into the atmosphere. In this paper, the dose estimation due to both, external exposure (i.e. cloud immersion, deposition inside and outside the aircraft), and due to internal exposure (i.e, inhalation of radionuclides inside the aircraft) to passengers and crew is calculated for a worst-case emergency scenario. The doses are calculated for different radionuclides and activities. Calculations are mainly considered according to International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations and Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, a discussion on potential detectors installed inside the aircraft for monitoring the aerosol concentration and the ambient dose equivalent rate, H*(10), for during-flight monitoring and early warning is provided together with the evaluation of a response of a generic detector. The results show that the probability that a catastrophic nuclear accident would produce significant radiological doses to the passengers and crew of an aircraft is very low. In the worst-case scenarios studied, the maximum estimated effective dose was about 1 mSv during take-off or landing operations, which is the recommended yearly threshold for the public. However, in order to follow the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) criteria and to avoid aircraft contamination, the installation of radiological detectors is considered. This would, on one hand help the pilot or corresponding decision maker to decide about the potential change of the route and, on the other, allow for gathering of 4D data for future studies.

Systematic influences on the areas of peaks in gamma-ray spectra that have a large statistical uncertainty.

A method is presented for calculating the expected number of counts in peaks that have a large relative peak-area uncertainty and appear in measured gamma-ray spectra. The method was applied to calculations of the correction factors for peaks occurring in the spectra of radon daughters. It was shown that the factors used for correcting the calculated peak areas to their expected values decrease with an increasing relative peak-area uncertainty. The accuracy of taking the systematic influence inducing the correction factors into account is given by the dispersion of the correction factors corresponding to specific peaks. It was shown that the highest accuracy is obtained in the peak analyses with the GammaVision and Gamma-W software.

Impact of Region-of-Interest Delineation Methods, Reconstruction Algorithms, and Intra- and Inter-Operator Variability on Internal Dosimetry Estimates Using PET.

PURPOSE: Human dosimetry studies play a central role in radioligand development for positron emission tomography (PET). Drawing regions of interest (ROIs) on the PET images is used to measure the dose in each organ. In the study aspects related to ROI delineation methods were evaluated for two radioligands of different biodistribution (intestinal vs urinary). PROCEDURES: PET images were simulated from a human voxel-based phantom. Several ROI delineation methods were tested: antero-posterior projections (AP), 3D sub-samples of the organs (S), and a 3D volume covering the whole-organ (W). Inter- and intra-operator variability ROI drawing was evaluated by using human data. RESULTS: The effective dose estimates using S and W methods were comparable to the true values. AP methods overestimated (49 %) the dose for the radioligand with intestinal biodistribution. Moreover, the AP method showed the highest inter-operator variability: 11 ± 1 %. CONCLUSIONS: The sub-sampled organ method showed the best balance between quantitative accuracy and inter- and intra-operator variability.

Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado sobre el impacto de las medidas fast track en la cirugía abierta de aneurismas de aorta abdominal / Randomised, prospective study on the impact of fast track measures in the open surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysms

INTRODUCCIÓN: La implantación de las medidas fast track (FT) en la reparación abierta (RA) de aneurismas de aorta abdominal (AAA) no está convenientemente evaluada en nuestro medio. OBJETIVO: Queremos valorar el impacto de la instauración de medidas FT en nuestros pacientes. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado (grupo control, grupo FT) de pacientes consecutivos intervenidos de manera electiva de AAA >55 mm infrarrenal por vía retroperitoneal mediante injerto recto. En el grupo FT se instauran medidas de optimización perioperatorias: ausencia de preparación intestinal, reducción del ayuno preoperatorio, administración de bebida carbohidratada 2 h antes de la intervención, control del dolor con elastómero preperitoneal, movilización y dieta precoces. Hemos comparado las variables postoperatorias: síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica (SIRS) postoperatorio, necesidad de transfusión, estancia en reanimación, días de ingreso y reintervenciones. RESULTADOS: De julio de 2011 a enero de 2014 se ha incluido a 38 pacientes (edad 68 años DE = 6,28; 97,4% hombres), 24 pacientes en grupo control y 14 en el grupo FT. La media de días de ingreso (6,17 vs. 4,64 en grupo FT) y de transfusiones son menores en el grupo FT (p < 0,05). La estancia en reanimación y las reintervenciones son menores en el grupo FT, aunque sin significación estadística. La incidencia de SIRS tras 48 h desde la intervención en el grupo FT fue 21,4% y del 54,16% en el grupo control (RR = 0,38; IC 95%: 0,15-0,61). CONCLUSIONES: Las medidas de optimización tipo FT podrían disminuir la incidencia de SIRS y reducir la estancia hospitalaria de los pacientes intervenidos de AAA

INTRODUCTION: Implementation of fast track (FT) measures for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) open repair (OR) has not been sufficiently evaluated in our area. OBJECTIVE: The impact of implementing FT measures in our patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, randomised study (control and FT groups) was designed and conducted on patients with an infrarenal AAA >55 mm between July 2011 and January 2014 undergoing elective OR by retroperitoneal approach using straight graft interposition were included. The following perioperative optimisation measures were established in the FT group: No bowel preparation, reduced pre-operative fasting, administration of carbohydrate drink up to 2 h before surgery, pain control with pre-peritoneal elastomer, early onset of mobilisation and diet. A comparison was made of the postoperative variables: Postoperative systematic immune response syndrome (SIRS), need for transfusion, stay in resuscitation, hospital stay, and further interventions. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were included, with a mean age of 68 years (SD = 6.28), of which 97.4% were men. There were 24 patients in control group and 14 in FT group. No statistically significant differences (NSSD) were found in comorbidities of both groups. Mean hospital stay was 6.17 vs. 4.64 days in the FT group, and transfusions were lower in the FT group, with statistically significant differences. Stay in resuscitation unit and re-interventions were also lower in FT group, although NSSD. The incidence of SIRS 48 h after surgery in FT group was 21.4% compared to 54.16% in control group (RR = 0.38, 95% CI; 0.15 - 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The FT optimisation measures may reduce the incidence of SIRS, and reduce hospital stay in patients undergoing open repair of AAA

Influence of long-range atmospheric transport pathways and climate teleconnection patterns on the variability of surface 210Pb and 7Be concentrations in southwestern Europe.

The variability of the atmospheric concentration of the 7Be and 210Pb radionuclides is strongly linked to the origin of air masses, the strength of their sources and the processes of wet and dry deposition. It has been shown how these processes and their variability are strongly affected by climate change. Thus, a deeper knowledge of the relationship between the atmospheric radionuclides variability measured close to the ground and these atmospheric processes could help in the analysis of climate scenarios. In the present study, we analyze the atmospheric variability of a 14-year time series of 7Be and 210Pb in a Mediterranean coastal city using a synergy of different indicators and tools such as: the local meteorological conditions, global and regional climate indexes and a lagrangian atmospheric transport model. We particularly focus on the relationships between the main pathways of air masses and sun spots occurrence, the variability of the local relative humidity and temperature conditions, and the main modes of regional climate variability, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO). The variability of the observed atmospheric concentrations of both 7Be and 210Pb radionuclides was found to be mainly positively associated to the local climate conditions of temperature and to the pathways of air masses arriving at the station. Measured radionuclide concentrations significantly increase when air masses travel at low tropospheric levels from central Europe and the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, while low concentrations are associated with westerly air masses. We found a significant negative correlation between the WeMO index and the atmospheric variability of both radionuclides and no significant association was observed for the NAO index.

Evolución del perfil de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía abierta de aneurisma de aorta abdominal en la era endovascular / Changes in the profile of patients subjected to open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the endovascular era

INTRODUCCIÓN: El incremento del uso de la cirugía endovascular en el tratamiento del aneurisma de aorta abdominal (AAA) puede haber modificado el perfil de los pacientes que son tratados mediante cirugía abierta (CA) y sus resultados. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la evolución, las características clínicas y anatómicas de los pacientes tratados mediante CA electiva de AAA en los últimos años en nuestro servicio y su relación con los resultados postoperatorios. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo de pacientes tratados mediante CA electiva de AAA entre 2008 y 2014 con TAC preoperatoria disponible. Registramos: datos demográficos (edad, sexo), comorbilidad (cardíaca, respiratoria, renal), medicación preoperatoria, características anatómicas (diámetro, longitud, calcificación, trombo y angulación del cuello aórtico proximal) y parámetros analíticos. Definimos cuello aórtico proximal hostil como: <10 mm de longitud o >50% de la circunferencia de trombo o >50% calcificación o angulación infrarrenal >60°. Registramos: mortalidad, complicaciones, reintervenciones y reingresos. Dividimos la muestra en 2 periodos: 1 (2008-2011) y 2 (2012-2014). RESULTADOS: Incluimos a 107 pacientes con edad media de 69,26 años (DE = 6,239). El tiempo medio de seguimiento fue 28,39 meses (DE = 23,13) con una supervivencia del 78,6% (n = 92) a los 64 meses. En el periodo 2 aumentó la incidencia de cuello hostil (45,2 vs. 64,6%; p < 0,05) y la calcificación >50% en el cuello aórtico (8,1 vs. 24,1%; p < 0,05). También en el periodo 2 se requirió un mayor número de transfusiones sanguíneas (26,2 vs. 56,9%; p < 0,05) pero se produjeron menos complicaciones cardiológicas en los 30 primeros días (16,7 vs. 4,6%; p < 0,05). Las tasas de mortalidad, reintervención y reingreso fueron similares en ambos periodos (p > 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: En nuestra serie los pacientes tratados mediante CA de AAA presentan características anatómicas progresivamente menos favorables, sin que ello se acompañe de una mayor morbimortalidad postoperatoria

INTRODUCTION: The increasing use of endovascular repair in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may have modified the profile of patients undergoing open repair (OR), as well as the results. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to evaluate the clinical and anatomical characteristics of patients with AAA undergoing elective OR in our department over the last few years, and their relationship with the post-operative results. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing elective AAA OR between 2008 and 2014 and who had a pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan available. The following variables were recorded: Demographics (age, gender), comorbidities (cardiac, respiratory, renal), pre-operative medication, anatomical characteristics (proximal neck diameter, length, calcification, thrombus, and angulation), and blood test parameters. A hostile proximal infrarenal aortic neck was defined as: <10 mm length and/or >50% circumference thrombus and/or >50% calcification and/or >60° angulation. The mortality, complications, re-interventions and re-admissions were recorded. The sample was divided into 2 periods: 1 (2008-2011) and 2 (2012-2014). RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were included, with mean age of 69.26 years (SD = 6.239). Mean follow-up was 28.39 months (SD = 23.13), with a survival rate of 78.6% (n = 12) at 64 months. It was found that there was a greater incidence of hostile neck (45.2 vs. 64.6%; P<.05) and proximal neck calcification >50% (8.1 vs. 24.1%; P<.05) in the second period of time. During period 2 a greater number of blood transfusions were required (26.2 vs. 56.9%; P<.05), but fewer cardiac complications were recorded during the first 30 days post-surgery (16.7 vs. 4.6%; P<.05). The mortality, re-intervention, and re-admission rates were similar in both periods (P>.05). CONCLUSION: In our series, the patients with AAA who underwent elective OR showed increasingly less favourable anatomical characteristics, but this does not lead to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality

Comparison of different sampling methods for the determination of low-level radionuclides in air.

The aim of this work is to check the consistency of results given by different air dust samplers (flow-rates between 2 and 700m(3)/h) and measurement protocols at a single location. The study is focussed on (210)Pb since is the only nuclide that can be easily assessed through all the studied sampler types. Results from high- and mid-volume samplers agreed well to within the associated uncertainties. Gross beta activity from low-volume samplers can be used as a good indicator of the evolution of (210)Pb concentration in air.

AIR KERMA TO Hp(3) CONVERSION COEFFICIENTS FOR IEC 61267 RQR X-RAY RADIATION QUALITIES: APPLICATION TO DOSE MONITORING OF THE LENS OF THE EYE IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS.

Recent studies highlight the fact that the new eye lens dose limit can be exceeded in interventional radiology procedures and that eye lens monitoring could be required for these workers. The recommended operational quantity for monitoring of eye lens exposure is the personal dose equivalent at 3 mm depth Hp(3) (ICRU 51). However, there are no available conversion coefficients in international standards, while in the literature coefficients have only been calculated for monoenergetic beams and for ISO 4037-1 X-ray qualities. The aim of this article is to provide air kerma to Hp(3) conversion coefficients for a cylindrical phantom made of ICRU-4 elements tissue-equivalent material for RQR radiation qualities (IEC-61267) from 40 to 120 kV and for angles of incidence from 0 to 180°, which are characteristic of medical workplace. Analytic calculations using interpolation techniques and Monte Carlo modelling have been compared.

Nanoscale imaging of buried topological defects with quantitative X-ray magnetic microscopy.

Advances in nanoscale magnetism increasingly require characterization tools providing detailed descriptions of magnetic configurations. Magnetic transmission X-ray microscopy produces element specific magnetic domain images with nanometric lateral resolution in films up to ∼100 nm thick. Here we present an imaging method using the angular dependence of magnetic contrast in a series of high resolution transmission X-ray microscopy images to obtain quantitative descriptions of the magnetization (canting angles relative to surface normal and sense). This method is applied to 55-120 nm thick ferromagnetic NdCo5 layers (canting angles between 65° and 22°), and to a NdCo5 film covered with permalloy. Interestingly, permalloy induces a 43° rotation of Co magnetization towards surface normal. Our method allows identifying complex topological defects (merons or ½ skyrmions) in a NdCo5 film that are only partially replicated by the permalloy overlayer. These results open possibilities for the characterization of deeply buried magnetic topological defects, nanostructures and devices.

Eye lens dose in interventional cardiology.

The ICRP has recently recommended reducing the occupational exposure dose limit for the lens of the eye to 20 mSv y(-1), averaged over a period of 5 y, with no year exceeding 50 mSv, instead of the current 150 mSv y(-1). This reduction will have important implications for interventional cardiology and radiology (IC/IR) personnel. In this work, lens dose received by a staff working in IC is studied in order to determine whether eye lens dose monitoring or/and additional radiological protection measures are required. Eye lens dose exposure was monitored in 10 physicians and 6 nurses. The major IC procedures performed were coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The personnel were provided with two thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs): one calibrated in terms of Hp(3) located close to the left ear of the operator and a whole-body dosemeter calibrated in terms of Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) positioned on the lead apron. The estimated annual eye lens dose for physicians ranged between 8 and 60 mSv, for a workload of 200 procedures y(-1). Lower doses were collected for nurses, with estimated annual Hp(3) between 2 and 4 mSv y(-1). It was observed that for nurses the Hp(0.07) measurement on the lead apron is a good estimate of eye lens dose. This is not the case for physicians, where the influence of both the position and use of protective devices such as the ceiling shield is very important and produces large differences among doses both at the eyes and on the thorax. For physicians, a good correlation between Hp(3) and dose area product is shown.

Silicon-nanowire based attachment of silicon chips for mouse embryo labelling.

The adhesion of small silicon chips to cells has many potential applications as direct interconnection of the cells to the external world can be accomplished. Hence, although some typical applications of silicon nanowires integrated into microsystems are focused on achieving a cell-on-a-chip strategy, we are interested in obtaining chip-on-a-cell systems. This paper reports the design, technological development and characterization of polysilicon barcodes featuring silicon nanowires as nanoscale attachment to identify and track living mouse embryos during their in vitro development. The chips are attached to the outer surface of the Zona Pellucida, the cover that surrounds oocytes and embryos, to avoid the direct contact between the chip and the embryo cell membrane. Two attachment methodologies, rolling and pushpin, which allow two entirely different levels of applied forces to attach the chips to living embryos, are evaluated. The former consists of rolling the mouse embryos over one barcode with the silicon nanowires facing upwards, while in the latter, the barcode is pushed against the embryo with a micropipette. The effect on in vitro embryo development and the retention rate related to the calculated applied forces are stated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy inspection, which allowed high-resolution imaging, also confirms the physical attachment of the nanowires with some of them piercing or wrapped by the Zona Pellucida and revealed extraordinary bent silicon nanowires.

On the suitability of ultrathin detectors for absorbed dose assessment in the presence of high-density heterogeneities.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of several detectors for the determination of absorbed dose in bone. METHODS: Three types of ultrathin LiF-based thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs)-two LiF:Mg,Cu,P-based (MCP-Ns and TLD-2000F) and a (7)Li-enriched LiF:Mg,Ti-based (MTS-7s)-as well as EBT2 Gafchromic films were used to measure percentage depth-dose distributions (PDDs) in a water-equivalent phantom with a bone-equivalent heterogeneity for 6 and 18 MV and a set of field sizes ranging from 5 x 5 cm2 to 20 x 20 cm2. MCP-Ns, TLD-2000F, MTS-7s, and EBT2 have active layers of 50, 20, 50, and 30 µm, respectively. Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculations (PENELOPE code) were used as the reference and helped to understand the experimental results and to evaluate the potential perturbation of the fluence in bone caused by the presence of the detectors. The energy dependence and linearity of the TLDs' response was evaluated. RESULTS: TLDs exhibited flat energy responses (within 2.5%) and linearity with dose (within 1.1%) within the range of interest for the selected beams. The results revealed that all considered detectors perturb the electron fluence with respect to the energy inside the bone-equivalent material. MCP-Ns and MTS-7s underestimated the absorbed dose in bone by 4%-5%. EBT2 exhibited comparable accuracy to MTS-7s and MCP-Ns. TLD-2000F was able to determine the dose within 2% accuracy. No dependence on the beam energy or field size was observed. The MC calculations showed that a[Formula: see text] thick detector can provide reliable dose estimations in bone regardless of whether it is made of LiF, water or EBT's active layer material. CONCLUSIONS: TLD-2000F was found to be suitable for providing reliable absorbed dose measurements in the presence of bone for high-energy x-ray beams.

Measurements of eye lens doses in interventional cardiology using OSL and electronic dosemeters†.

The purpose of this paper is to test the appropriateness of OSL and electronic dosemeters to estimate eye lens doses at interventional cardiology environment. Using TLD as reference detectors, personal dose equivalent was measured in phantoms and during clinical procedures. For phantom measurements, OSL dose values resulted in an average difference of -15 % vs. TLD. Tests carried out with other electronic dosemeters revealed differences up to ±20 % versus TLD. With dosemeters positioned outside the goggles and when TLD doses were >20 µSv, the average difference OSL vs. TLD was -9 %. Eye lens doses of almost 700 µSv per procedure were measured in two cases out of a sample of 33 measurements in individual clinical procedures, thus showing the risk of high exposure to the lenses of the eye when protection rules are not followed. The differences found between OSL and TLD are acceptable for the purpose and range of doses measured in the survey.

Validation of aerosol low-level activities by comparison with a deep underground laboratory.

The activities on air filters of the radionuclides (40)K and (137)Cs were measured in an above ground laboratory and compared with the activities measured in an underground laboratory. The average relative differences were lower than 20% for (137)Cs and (40)K. The temporal series of these radionuclides in the period 2006-2010 are also presented. These results form the baseline of these radionuclides in the studied period, and are particularly interesting because they correspond to the radioactive background in Barcelona before the Fukushima accident.