Evaluating air kerma at a medical cyclotron after refined shielding design using the TLD approach

Cyclotrons are increasingly constructed at medical universities in Taiwan to produce nuclear medicine. However, their operation generates amounts of highly energetic photons from 18O(p, γn)18F reactions. This reaction posed a health hazard to the public. Chung Shan University Hospital had to increase its 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose products in 2011 to 11.5 times that in 2004 and redesign the self-shielded (CTI) Radioisotope Delivery System (RDS)-111 to meet guild requirements regarding the production of positron emission tomography (PET). This study is the first to evaluate air kerma in a CTI RDS-111 cyclotron center with a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD). Air kerma of up to 17.0±2.8 mGy/mo indicated that heavy leakage of photons penetrated the PET/CT facility. The new L-shaped concrete shield and added d2 door can adequately protect the public. The minimum detectable limit of air kerma is discussed to demonstrate the reliability of the TLD approach.