title: Undesirable nuclear reactions and induced radioactivity as a result of the use of the high-energy therapeutic beams generated by medical linacs.
abstract: In this paper, the problem of undesirable photonuclear, electronuclear and neutron capture reactions taking place in the treatment room during emission of the typical high-energy therapeutic beams from two different medical accelerators, i.e. Primus Siemens and Varian Clinac-2300, is presented. The radioisotopes (187)W, (56)Mn, (28)Al, (57)Ni, (38)Cl, (57)Co and (19)Au and the neutron activation of (1)H were identified as a consequence of these reactions. Moreover, the increased photon fluence rate behind the door of the accelerator bunker in the operator console room was observed during emission of the 20 MV X-rays from the Varian Clinac-2300 as well as in the case of the 15 MV X-ray beam from the Primus Siemens. No increased radiation was observed during the 6 MV X-ray beam emission. The performed measurements produced evidences on the presence of neutrons in the operator console room during emission of the 15 MV X-ray beam from the Primus Siemens as well as the 20 MV X-rays and the 22 MeV electrons from the Varian Clinac-2300 accelerator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Physics and Its Application, Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Uniwersytecka 4, 40-007 Katowice, Poland. akonefal@uranos.cto.us.edu.pl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konefal
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polaczek-Grelik
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zipper
mesh_terms: D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D009502:Neutrons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes