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

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.