Development of the occupational exposure during the production and application of radiopharmaceuticals in Germany

Abstract

Abstract An increasing number of radiopharmaceuticals and proteins are available for diagnosing and treating various diseases. The demand for existing and newly developed pharmaceutical radionuclides and proteins is steadily increasing. The radiation exposure levels of workers in the radiopharmaceutical industry and nuclear medicine field are closely monitored, specifically their effective dose and equivalent dose, leading to the question, of whether the dawn of radiopharmaceuticals affects the occupational exposure level. This development is analyzed and evaluated with data from the German National Dose Register. Data shows that the effective dose in the work categories production and distribution of radioisotopes as well as nuclear medicine slightly decreased from 1997 to 2021. Over the same period, the hand equivalent dose in nuclear medicine increases steadily, with no discernible trend in production and distribution of radioisotopes. Over the past few decades, intentional efforts and measures have been taken to ensure radiation protection. Instruments for monitoring and dose reduction must be continuously applied. Given the low effective dose, the focus in future shall be on dose reduction following the as low as reasonably achievable principle. The development of the hand equivalent dose should be carefully observed in the upcoming years.