Introduction to Health Physics, Fifth Edition

Description

Understand every important aspect of health physics with this complete overview of the field If it's an important topic in the field of health physics, you will find expert, well-written discussion of it in this trusted text. Introduction to Health Physics, Fifth Edition spans the entire scope of the field and offers an effective problem-solving approach that once mastered will serve you throughout your career. Logically divided into fourteen sections, beginning with a review of physical principles, coverage includes radiation sources, radiation dosimetry, radiation safety guidelines, evaluation of safety measures, and more. The Fifth Edition has been updated to reflect the many changes in the practice of ionizing and nonionizing radiation safety, in calculation methodology, and in the methods for demonstrating compliance with the safety standards that have occurred since publication of the previous edition. Learning and teaching aids include more than 470 Homework Problems and 175 Example Problems. The text concludes with seven valuable appendices, including Values of Some Useful Constants, Table of the Elements, and The Reference Person Overall Specifications. There truly is no better way to master the essentials of the dynamic field of health physics than Introduction to Health Physics, Fifth Edition. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Preface 1.   IN TRODUCTION 2.   REVIEW OF PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES Mechanics Relativistic Effects Review Electricity Energy Transfer Quantum Theory Summary Problems Suggested Readings 3.   ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Atomic Structure The Nucleus Summary Problems Suggested Readings 4.   RADIATION SOURCES Radioactivity Transformation Mechanisms Transformation Kinetics Activity Naturally Occurring Radiation Serial Transformation Summary Problems Suggested Readings 5.   INTERACTION OF RADIATION WITH MATTER Beta Particles (Beta Rays) Alpha Particles Gamma Rays Neutrons Summary Problems Suggested Readings 6.   RADIATION DOSIMETRY Units External Exposure Internally Deposited Radionuclides External Exposure: Neutrons Summary Problems Suggested Readings 7.   BIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR RADIATION SAFETY Dose–Response Characteristics The Physiological Basis for Internal Dosimetry Radiation Effects: Deterministic Radiation Effects: Stochastic Radiation-Weighted Dose Units: The Sievert and The Rem Summary Problems Suggested Readings 8.   RADIATION SAFETY GUIDES Organizations That Set Standards Philosophy of Radiation Safety ICRP Basic Radiation Safety Criteria United States Nuclear Regulatory Program Ecological Radiation Safety Summary Problems Suggested Readings 9.   HEALTH PHYSICS INSTRUMENTATION Radiation Detectors Particle-Counting Instruments Dose-Measuring Instruments Neutron Measurements Calibration Counting Statistics Summary Problems Suggested Readings 10.   EXTERNAL RADIATION SAFETY Basic Principles Optimization Summary Problems Suggested Readings 11.   INTERNAL RADIATION SAFETY Internal Radiation Principles of Control Surface Contamination Limits Waste Management Assessment of Hazard Optimization Summary Problems Suggested Readings 12.   CRITICALITY Criticality Hazard Nuclear Fission Criticality Nuclear Reactor Criticality Control Summary Problems Suggested Readings 13.   EVALUATION OF RADIATION SAFETY MEASURES Medical Surveillance Estimation of Internally Deposited Radioactivity Individual Monitoring Radiation and Contamination Surveys Air Sampling Continuous Environmental Monitoring Combined Exposures Source Control Summary Problems Suggested Readings 14.   NONIONIZING RADIATION SAFETY Units UV Light Lasers Radiofrequency Radiation and Microwaves Principles of Radiation Safety Summary Problems Suggested Readings Answers to Problems Appendix A   Values of Some Useful Constants Appendix B   Table of the Elements Appendix C   The Reference Person Overall Specifications Appendix D   Specific Absorbed Fraction of Photon Energy Appendix E   Total Mass Attenuation Coefficient, μ/ρ, cm2/g Appendix F   Mass Energy Absorption Coefficient, μa/ρ, cm2/g Appendix G   Mass Stopping Power in Units of cm2/g for Monoenergetic Electrons Index