PNNL

Abstract

Radio-pharmaceuticals are found at detectable levels in about one in 2600 Americans. Such individuals are thus commonly found at border crossings where equipment exists for radiation detection, and the resulting alarms must be handled by cognizant officials. A total of approximately 14.4 million medical procedures using radionuclides were performed in the U.S. during 2001. Of this total number of procedures during 2001, approximately 14.2 million were diagnostic procedures and 0.2 million were therapeutic procedures. Although there were over 45 different commercially-available products used in over 75 different types of procedures, 17 isotopes comprise the complete set of active ingredients in the commercially available radiopharmaceuticals in the U.S. Of these, 12 are customarily administered to outpatients, and 9 of these produce energetic photons. At 91.5%, the isotope 99mTc is the one most likely administered by an overwhelming margin. This paper reports on various impacts of radiopharmaceuticals observed at border crossings. Calculations were performed to simulate the photon response of portal radiation monitors to these types of sources. It is shown that at any time, about one in 2600 Americans carries a detectable radiation burden. (PIET-43741-TM-326)