A gamma radiation exposure risk assessment using Monte Carlo simulation and an adult anthropomorphic phantom

Abstract

The human body is vulnerable to exposure to ionizing radiation permanently. These radiations can be of natural origin such as soil and space, or of artificial and medical origins etc. Despite the great benefits that come from the applications of ionizing radiation in human life can turn at any time into threats to the life of the population once there is serious exposure to ionizing radiation. The aim of this work is to assess the risks of exposure by gamma radiation using the Monte Carlo simulation and an anthropomorphic phantom. This study is carried out on gamma rays received from the cobalt-60 irradiator of the National Institute of Agronomic Research (NIAR) Tangier / Morocco. With the code Geant4 we calculate the absorbed dose by the whole phantom body placed in front of the gamma irradiator inside the NIAR ionization cell. Dose calculations are made as a function of three parameters: phantom-irradiator distance, exposure time and as a function of gamma irradiator activity. The results clearly show that the dose absorbed and thus the danger of irradiation decreases by increasing the phantom-source distance, and by reducing the exposure time and the activity of the cobalt-60 source.