title: Air kerma rate constants for radionuclides.
abstract: Conversion to SI units requires that the exposure rate constant which was usually quoted in R.h-1.mCi-1.cm2 be replaced by the air kerma rate constant with units m2.Gy.Bq-1.s-1. The conversion factor is derived and air kerma rate constants for 30 radionuclides used in nuclear medicine and brachytherapy are listed. A table for calculation of air kerma rates for other radionuclides is also given. To calculate absorbed dose to tissue, the air kerma rate has to be multiplied by approximately 1.1. A dose equivalent rate constant is thus listed which allows direct calculation of dose equivalent rate to soft tissue without resorting to exposure rate constants tabulated in the special units R.m2.mCi-1.h-1 which should no longer be used.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medical Physics Unit, Tygerberg Hospital, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Groenewald
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D004735:Energy Transfer; D007394:International System of Units; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011868:Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes