Health Physics

The Science of Radiation Protection

Radiation• What do you think of when you

hear the terms:• Radiation• Atomic• Radioactivity• Nuclear

Brief History of Radiation Protection

Discovery of X RaysWilhelm Roentgen discovered x rays in November 1895 and announced his discovery on January 5, 1896. Scientists had been making x

rays without knowing it for years.

Medical uses of x rays began almost immediately thereafter.

Diagnostic x-ray images were taken within 2 weeks.

Radiation therapy for cancer performed within 6 weeks.

Bizarre claims were made•An x-ray image of a bone projected

onto the brain of a dog would make the dog salivate;

•X-ray baths supposedly cured blindness and criminality;

•Beauty parlors used x rays to remove unwanted hair;

•Leaded undergarments were sold to protect the modesty of girls.

Discovery of Radioactivity• While all of the excitement over x rays was

going on, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity in March 1896. Unlike x rays, radioactivity did not interest the public at first because it was not very plentiful.

• By 1903, Radium was commercially available• Cancer treatments were performed by August

1903 (Alexander Graham Bell first proposed this.) • Watch dials were painted with radium.• Public’s fascination with radioactivity began.

Bizarre uses of radioactive material• Drinking radium contaminated water was

considered healthy. • Liquid Sunshine (a drink which glowed when

mixed with radium) became popular.• Radium bearing medicines were patented. • A farmer advocated the addition of radium

to chicken feed to produce hard boiled eggs.

Radioactive

toothpaste

If radioactivity is good for one end, it must be good at the other end, too. A box of radium suppositories.

Radiation injuries occurred

•The first reported injury (eye irritation) was published on March 5, 1896.

•Skin burns, dermatitis, and alopecia were reported as early as April, 1896.

•The first report of radiation sickness occurred in November, 1896.

Obviously there was a need for radiation protection.

Radiation burn caused by x rays used to remove unwanted hair.

Doctors Tested X Ray Machines with Own Hands

X-ray tube

Fluoroscope

Radiographic plate

Today’s uses of Radiation

The properties of radiation make it useful for a variety of applications

Industrial Uses

Sterilization

Nuclear Power

Industrial Radiography

Well Logging

• Well Logging

Construction

Gauges

Security

Medical Uses

Cancer Treatment - HDR

Linear Accelerator

Cancer of Eye

Prostate Cancer

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiographs

Fluoroscopy

Mammography

Nuclear Medicine

Biomedical Research• DNA Sequencing • X-ray Diffraction

Benefits and Risks• It should be noted that there are

beneficial uses of radiation, from treating cancer to generating electricity, BUT it can be harmful if used in an unsafe way, exposing people to the potential harmful effects of radiation. For this reason both the states and federal government regulate the many uses of radiation.

Health Physics• The profession devoted to

protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards, while making beneficial uses of radiation and radioactivity possible.

Health Physicists• Scientists who control the

beneficial uses of ionizing radiation while protecting workers and the public from potential hazards.

• physics • biology• biophysics• engineering (nuclear, civil, mechanical, or

electrical)• chemistry• genetics• ecology• environmental sciences• metallurgy• medicine• physiology • toxicology • statistics

Health Physics many disciplines, include:

•Research•Industry•Power Reactors•Education•Environmental protection•National defense•Government regulatory agencies •Medicine

Fields for Health Physicists

Academic ProgramsA partial list of academic programs in Health

Physics:Bloomsburg University BSUniversity of Cincinnati MS PhDClemson University MS PhDUniversity of Florida BS MS PhDIdaho State University AA BS MS PhDUniversity of Nevada – Los Vegas BS MSOregon State University BS MS PhDPurdue University BS MS PhDUniversity of Mass.-Lowell BS MS PhDUniversity of Michigan BS MS PhDUniversity of Tennessee BS MS PhDTexas A&M University BS MS PhDUniformed Services MS PhDVanderbilt University MS PhDThomas Edison AA BS

Professional Certification

• For the professional health physicist, certification may be obtained from the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP)

• For health physics technicians, registration may be obtained from the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists (NRRPT).

You may seek certification at either of two educational and experience levels:

My Job• Insert your specific job here, such

as title and where you work

What do I do?• Add a sentence or two about what

you do in your daily duties

Specifics?• Add 5 to 7 specifics about your job

How did I get here?• Where did your degree come from• What sort of certification or

registration do you have

There are worse jobs!

Don’t look down!

Please, please, please

aim higher.

This job is the pits!

Yuck!

Salaries

Educational Level Average Median Minimum MaximumAssociate Degree 78,125 68,750 51,250 116,250B.S. Health Physics 85,694 83,750 43,750 171,250 M.S. Health Physics 92,399 93,750 41,250 185,000 Ph.D. Health Physics 111,838 101,250 46,250 330,000 M.S. Nuclear Eng. 92,666 91,250 41,250 133,750 Ph.D. Nuclear Eng. 104,449 93,750 46,250 178,144