Occupational exposure assessment following a 99mTc radiopharmaceutical incident

Abstract

Technetium-99 m (^99mTc) is a cornerstone isotope in nuclear medicine diagnostics, utilized globally for over four decades in clinics worldwide. However, accidental spills during handling pose risks of substantial occupational radiation exposure. This study modeled a simulated incident involving vial breakage and footwear contamination using the SkinDose simulator (v 1.3, developed by Renaissance Code Development -RCD). It evaluated both beta and gamma radiation pathways, calculating equivalent dose equivalents and probabilistic risks over exposure durations. Findings revealed that occupational skin dose limits are exceeded within 1–3 h, emphasizing the critical importance of immediate decontamination procedures. Moreover, the results underscore the often-overlooked contribution of gamma radiation in such scenarios. These insights challenge traditional dosimetry models, including VARSKIN, and strongly advocate for the adoption of advanced computational tools to refine and strengthen radioprotection frameworks in nuclear medicine practices.