Effectiveness of polymeric gloves in radioprotection against contamination in nuclear medicine

When handling unsealed radioactive sources, radiological protection attention must be taken to avoid unnecessary exposure and contaminations, an important necessary practice prevent such contaminations is the use of gloves when these sources. The present work aimed determine effectiveness contamination provided by different types disposable polymeric used in Nuclear Medicine Service Clinic Hospital Porto Alegre, testing main radiopharmaceuticals at this site: [99mTc]sodium pertechnetate, [18F]FDG [131I]sodium iodide. analysis was performed using wipe test inside intentionally contaminated on outside with radiopharmaceuticals. radiation detector measure a NaI(Tl) scintillator well-type counter. results indicate that three analyzed protect user from pertechnetate contamination, for permanence times glove after up 15 min (interval tested). For iodide, are completely effective as long they time interval external surface to: Latex – 5 min; Vinyl Nitrile 10 min. Among them, nitrile most effective, since not observed inner face equal or less than and, min, percentage permeation obtained lower other two types: 3.3 vinyl 1.3 latex permeation. It also possible estimate skin dose rate due caused iodine each case tested.