title: Effectiveness Evaluation of Skin Covers against Intravascular Brachytherapy Sources Using VARSKIN3 Code.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common intravascular brachytherapy sources include (32)P, (188)Re, (106)Rh and (90)Sr/(90)Y. In this research, skin absorbed dose for different covering materials in dealing with these sources were evaluated and the best covering material for skin protection and reduction of absorbed dose by radiation staff was recognized and recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four materials including polyethylene, cotton and two different kinds of plastic were proposed as skin covers and skin absorbed dose at different depths for each kind of the materials was calculated separately using the VARSKIN3 code.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results suggested that for all sources, skin absorbed dose was minimized when using polyethylene. Considering this material as skin cover, maximum and minimum doses at skin surface were related to (90)Sr/(90)Y and (106)Rh, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  polyethylene was found the most effective cover in reducing skin dose and protecting the skin. Furthermore, proper agreement between the results of VARSKIN3 and other experimental measurements indicated that VRASKIN3 is a powerful tool for skin dose calculations when working with beta emitter sources. Therefore, it can be utilized in dealing with the issue of radiation protection.
authors.affiliation: PhD student of Radiation Medicine, Radiation Medicine Department, ShahidBeheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Baghani
authors.affiliation: MSc student of Radiation Medicine, Radiation Medicine Department, ShahidBeheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nazempour
authors.affiliation: Professor of Radiation Medicine, Radiation Medicine Department, ShahidBeheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S M R
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aghamiri
authors.affiliation: PhD student of Radiation Medicine, Radiation Medicine Department, ShahidBeheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hosseini Daghigh
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nuclear Physics, Physics Department, School of Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mowlavi
keywords: Beta emitter radionuclides; Intravascular Brachytherapy; Radiation Protection; Skin covers; VARSKIN3 code