Shielding of beta and bremsstrahlung radiation with transparent Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃-TeO₂ glasses in therapeutic nuclear medicine

Abstract

High-energy beta emitters (yttrium-90, strontium-89 and phosphorus-32) are nowadays increasingly used in therapeutic nuclear medicine. Beta particles and bremsstrahlung (photons produced when beta particles interact with materials) are harmful and should be shielded in order to protect the personnel and public from their harmful effects. This work determined the radiation yield, effective atomic number and range associated with the interaction of beta particles with a transparent xBi₂O₃-30B₂O₃-(70-x)TeO₂ glass system (where x = 40, 50, 60 and 70 mol%) using the ESTAR database and programme; and other relevant equations. The properties of the studied glass systems were compared with transparent lead glass, which is unwanted in the medical settings because of lead's toxicity. The result of this work showed that the studied glasses are suitable for use in making vials, syringes and other transparent materials, necessary for shielding high-energy beta particles. All the studied glass systems can replace lead glass.