NMTCB Radiation Safety & Regulations 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which regulatory body requires an Agreement State to have a radiation control program at least as stringent as NRC regulations?
- NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) (Correct answer)
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
- DOE (Department of Energy)
Correct answer: NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
The NRC grants Agreement State status, requiring states to adopt and enforce radiation regulations at least equivalent to NRC standards.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a wipe test (smear test) in nuclear medicine?
- Detect removable radioactive surface contamination (Correct answer)
- Measure airborne radioactivity levels
- Verify the activity of a radiopharmaceutical dose
- Test the sensitivity of survey meters
Correct answer: Detect removable radioactive surface contamination
Wipe tests detect removable (transferable) contamination on surfaces by wiping and counting the collected sample in a dose calibrator or scintillation counter.
Question 3: Under NRC regulations, how long must records of radiation surveys in restricted areas be retained?
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
- Until license termination
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
10 CFR 20.2103 requires that radiation survey records be retained for 3 years after the record is made.
Question 4: A nuclear medicine technologist receives an extremity dose of 45 rem in one year. Is this within NRC limits?
- Yes, because the extremity limit is 50 rem/year (Correct answer)
- No, because the extremity limit is 25 rem/year
- Yes, because the extremity limit is 100 rem/year
- No, because all dose limits are 5 rem/year
Correct answer: Yes, because the extremity limit is 50 rem/year
The NRC sets the annual extremity (hands, feet) dose equivalent limit at 50 rem (500 mSv), so 45 rem is within limits.
Question 5: What is 'restricted area' as defined by 10 CFR Part 20?
- Any area where access is limited to protect individuals from radiation (Correct answer)
- Any area where radiation levels exceed 100 mR/hr
- Any room where radioactive material is stored
- Any area requiring whole-body dosimetry
Correct answer: Any area where access is limited to protect individuals from radiation
A restricted area is defined by NRC as any area where access is controlled for purposes of protecting individuals from radiation or radioactive material.
Question 6: Which radioactive gas released during Xenon-133 ventilation studies requires special precautions?
- Xe-133 exhaled by the patient can accumulate to hazardous levels without a charcoal trap (Correct answer)
- Xe-133 emits neutrons that penetrate room walls
- Xe-133 is absorbed through skin and requires full barrier precautions
- Xe-133 decays to a toxic chemical requiring chemical safety protocols
Correct answer: Xe-133 exhaled by the patient can accumulate to hazardous levels without a charcoal trap
Exhaled Xe-133 must be captured by a charcoal adsorption trap to prevent room accumulation and staff inhalation exposure.
Question 7: Which agency regulates the transportation of radioactive materials by highway in the United States?
- Department of Transportation (DOT) (Correct answer)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Correct answer: Department of Transportation (DOT)
The DOT (via 49 CFR) regulates packaging, labeling, placarding, and transport of radioactive materials on public roads.
NMTCB Radiation Safety & Regulations 4
Which regulatory body requires an Agreement State to have a radiation control program at least as stringent as NRC regulations?