ICRP Publication 94: Release of Patients after Therapy with Unsealed Radionuclides

After some therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures with unsealed radionuclides, precautions may be needed to limit doses to others, but this is rarely the case after diagnostic procedures. Iodine-131 results in the most dose to medical staff, public, caregivers, and family members. Other radionuclides used in therapy are usually simple beta emitters (e.g. 32P, 89Sr, 90Y) that pose much less hazard. Dose limits apply to the exposure of the public and medical staff from patients. Prior ICRP recommendations are that no dose limit but a source-related dose constraint for optimisation of a few mSv per episode applies to the family, visitors, and caregivers at home. Here, it is recommended that young children and infants, as well as visitors not engaged in direct care or comforting, be treated as members of the public (i.e., be subject to the public dose limit).