Hot Cell - Nuclear Medicine Industry

Nuclear Medicine Industry

Hot cells are commonly used in the nuclear medicines industry: - for the production of radiopharmaceuticals, according to GMP guidelines (industry) - for the manipulation and dispense of radiopharmaceuticals (hospitals) The user must never be subject to shine paths that are emitted from the radioactive isotopes and therefore there generally is heavy shielding around the containment boxes, which can be made out of stainless steel 316 or other materials such as PVC or Corian. This shielding can be ensured by the use of lead (common) or materials such as concrete (very large walls are therefore required) or even tungsten. The amount of radioactivity present in the hot cell, the energy of the gamma photons emitted by the radioisotopes, and the number of neutrons that are formed by the material will prescribe how thick the shielding must be. For instance a 1 kCi source of cobalt-60 will require thicker shielding than a 1 kCi source of iridium-192 to give the same dose rate at the outer surface of the hotcell. Also if some actinide materials such as Cf or spent nuclear fuel are used within the hotcell then a layer of water or polyethylene may be needed to lower the neutron dose rate.