To understand the activity concentration of ¹³¹I aerosol in the air of the iodine treatment workplace and estimate the internal dose of ¹³¹I inhaled by medical staff in nuclear medicine.

Using CF-1001BRL portable large capacity air sampler, the ¹³¹I aerosol in the iodine treatment workplace of nuclear medicine department of 6 hospitals in Shandong province was collected by iodine box, and the HPGe-γ energy spectrometer was used to measure the samples. The¹³¹I activity concentration in iodine treatment workplace at 6 hospitals was obtained, and the internal dose to medical staff was estimated.

The ¹³¹I activity concentration in the air in iodine treatment workplaces at 6 hospitals ranged from 3.64 to 2.94×10³ Bq/m³. The ¹³¹I activity concentration in the controlled area (ward, patient passageway, subpacking room, operation administration room) was significantly higher than that in the supervised area. The highest ¹³¹I activity concentration, 2.62×10² Bq/m³, in the supervised area was found in the medical care passageway. The estimated effective dose to nuclear medicine workers was 0.07-5.68 mSv, not exceeding the national limit.

The phenomenon of ¹³¹I aerosol contamination still exists in the iodine treatment workplaces of nuclear medicine departments in hospitals, so it is necessary to carry out internal radiation monitoring for nuclear medicine departments all around the country, and explore more reasonable protection standards and methods.

Thyroid cancer; ¹³¹I treatment; Air sampling; Iodine box; Internal radiation