Open AccessMisuse of a Medical Radioisotope: 125I Labeled Playing Cards in Germany, a Case Study
Author(s) -
E.A. Kroeger,
Alexander Rupp,
J. Gregor
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
health physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1538-5159
pISSN - 0017-9078
DOI - 10.1097/hp.0000000000001245
Subject(s) - radiological weapon , radioactive iodine , radiation dose , radiation protection , radionuclide , radiation exposure , medical physics , business , nuclear medicine , radiochemistry , computer security , computer science , medicine , chemistry , physics , thyroid , quantum mechanics
The security of medical radioactive sources, both open and sealed, is an important consideration for reducing the risk of an intentional or inadvertent additional radiation dose to the public, according to the principle of keeping any additional radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable. The detection and following radiological investigation of the misuse of iodine-125 (I), a medically used radionuclide, in Germany is described in detail with the aim of sharing experience and raising awareness. The misuse of I shows that the security of I is not guaranteed completely at the present time.