Application of a tungsten apron for occupational radiation exposure in nursing care of children with neuroblastoma during 131I-meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine therapy

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-01, Vol.12 (1), p.1-7, Article 47
• Main Authors: Taniguchi, Yuka, Wakabayashi, Hiroshi, Yoneyama, Hiroto, Chen, Zhuoqing, Morino, Kei, Otosaki, Akiko, Yamada, Masako, Inaki, Anri, Kayano, Daiki, Kinuya, Seigo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/1005; 639/766/930; 692/308/3187; Children; Gamma rays; Guanidine; Humanities and Social Sciences; Measuring instruments; multidisciplinary; Neuroblastoma; Nuclear medicine; Nurses; Nursing care; Occupational exposure; Patients; Radiation; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Tungsten
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03843-2

The use of effective shielding materials against radiation is important among medical staff in nuclear medicine. Hence, the current study investigated the shielding effects of a commercially available tungsten apron using gamma ray measuring instruments. Further, the occupational radiation exposure of nurses during 131 I-meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine ( 131 I-MIBG) therapy for children with high-risk neuroblastoma was evaluated. Attachable tungsten shields in commercial tungsten aprons were set on a surface-ray source with 131 I, which emit gamma rays. The mean shielding rate value was 0.1 ± 0.006 for 131 I. The shielding effects of tungsten and lead aprons were evaluated using a scintillation detector. The shielding effect rates of lead and tungsten aprons against 131 I was 6.3% ± 0.3% and 42.1% ± 0.2% at 50 cm; 6.1% ± 0.5% and 43.3% ± 0.3% at 1 m; and 6.4% ± 0.9% and 42.6% ± 0.6% at 2 m, respectively. Next, we assessed the occupational radiation exposure during 131 I-MIBG therapy (administration dose: 666 MBq/kg, median age: 4 years). The total occupational radiation exposure dose per patient care per 131 I-MIBG therapy session among nurses was 0.12 ± 0.07 mSv. The average daily radiation exposure dose per patient care among nurses was 0.03 ± 0.03 mSv. Tungsten aprons had efficient shielding effects against gamma rays and would be beneficial to reduce radiation exposures per patient care per 131 I-MIBG therapy session.