<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">JMP</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Modern Physics</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2153-1196</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/jmp.2015.67094</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">JMP-57355</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Physics&amp;Mathematics</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Evaluate Shielding Design of the Brachytherapy Unit by Using Monte Carlo Simulation Code
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>amin</surname><given-names>Jaberi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Mohammad</surname><given-names>Hadi Gholami</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Abdolazim</surname><given-names>Sedighi Pashaki</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Alireza</surname><given-names>Khoshghadam</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Mahdieh Brachytherapy Charitable Center, Hamedan, Iran</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>hadigholami2@gmail.com(MHG)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>11</day><month>06</month><year>2015</year></pub-date><volume>06</volume><issue>07</issue><fpage>902</fpage><lpage>911</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>20</day>	<month>December</month>	<year>2014</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>accepted</day>	<month>20</month>	<year>June</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>24</day>	<month>June</month>	<year>2015</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Shielding design is necessary for brachytherapy treatment room in order to protect the general public and employees. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether the protective unit of our Brachytherapy Centre provided adequate protection to the health and safety assessment of radiobiological impact. In this study, we estimated the effect of radiobiological protection from a single Ir-192 brachytherapy source in Brachytherapy center by using MCNP5 Monte Carlo measurements. The room was based on the design specifications for the HDR 192 Ir treatment was modeled. The estimated dose rate range for HDR 192 Ir and public buildings is (0.45 - 0.64): (micro sivert) μSv/hour. Dose rates measured data for the current setup Brachytherapy HDR unit was approved and agreed quiet well with recommendation of International Atomic Energy Agency. The measured dose rate for public areas and controlled areas, compared with the reference value of 7.5 μSv/h and 0.5 μSv/h and concluded that we have enough shielding to the source but an over estimate with experimental measurements had been seen.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Computer Codes and Modeling</kwd><kwd> Dose Equivalent</kwd><kwd> Effective Dose</kwd><kwd> Shielding</kwd><kwd> Monte Carlo Code System</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) is a software package for simulating nuclear processes. It is developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory since at least 1957 with several further major improvements [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref1">1</xref>] . It is distributed within the United States by the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center in Oak Ridge, TN and internationally by the Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris, France. It is used primarily for the simulation of nuclear processes, such as fission, but has the capability to simulate particle interactions involving neutrons, photons, and electrons. “Specific areas of application include, but are not limited to, radiation protection and dosimetry, radiation shielding, radiotherapy, medical physics, nuclear criticality safety, detector design and analysis, nuclear oil well logging, accelerator target design, fission and fusion reactor design, decontamination and decommissioning.” MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle extended) is also developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and is capable of simulating particle interactions of 34 different types of particles (nucleons and ions) and 2000+ heavy ions at nearly all energies, including those simulated by MCNP [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref2">2</xref>] . Both codes can be used to judge whether or not nuclear systems are critical and to determine doses from sources, among other things. MCNP6 is a merger of MCNP5 and MCNPX [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref3">3</xref>] . The Monte Carlo code system MCNP is employed for the simulation. MCNP is a general purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code which can simulate coupled neutron, and photo neutron transport in three dimensions through complex geometries is constructed as Boolean combinations of planes, spheres, cones and cylinders [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref4">4</xref>] . An energy cut off value of 1 KeV is used to terminate tracking of photon and electron histories. MCNP requires the source for a particular problem to be specified in a user- defined input file. The source includes distributions of the positions, energy and angle of the starting particles. The cross section library containing data from the ENDF is included with the MCNP code that is utilized for the computations [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref4">4</xref>] . In this study, we use MCNP5 simulation code. This code is suitable for such shielding investigation because of an extensive library of cross sections for materials that are use for shielding, and then compare the experimental calculations with MCNP5 simulation in occupied areas and verify whether the shielding provides adequate protection for the staff and the public in its current operational state and make appropriate recommendations to address any radiological health and safety hazards identified. Brachytherapy is a technique by which sealed radioactive sources are introduced into the body and positioned near the tumor using appropriate applicator devices. This technique can deliver the desired dose to the tumor while avoiding damage to healthy tissues. To achieve the best possible treatment planning, it is very important to know as precisely as possible the dose distribution around not only the source but also the applicator [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref5">5</xref>] . Specially designed rooms should have sufficient shielding to limit the treatment radiation exposure dose received by other patients, nursing staff and members of the public in the surrounding areas [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref6">6</xref>] . There are several sources for use in brachytherapy such as 131 I, 60 co and 192 Ir [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref7">7</xref>] . Iridium-192 source at the Mahdieh Brachytherapy center is used for HDR (High Dose Rate) brachytherapy 192 Ir source use as after loading source with a half-life of 74 days, with a average gamma energy of about 0.38 MeV. Ir-192 with the activity between 2 - 12 Ci (Curie is a unit of radioactivity and radioactive materials to be used to express the activity of the audit) can be used as HDR source in Brachytherapy. The brachytherapy design depends on treatment techniques, work load, activity of the source, nuclides and energy of source. In brachytherapy, room and wall shielding designs must be sufficient to reduce the primary and scattered radiation since the sources are unshielded in all directions. Brachytherapy treatment rooms should comply with both national and international regulations that deal with shielding requirement to render an installation safe from radiation protection point of view [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref8">8</xref>] . For public areas and controlled areas, radiation should be in reference value range of 0.75 μSv/h and 0.5 μSv/h [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref9">9</xref>] . The design should also take into the best simulation code to evaluate the shielding adequacy [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref10">10</xref>] . Mahdieh Brachytherapy had been invented in 2012 and had a treatment in 5 days a week.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Materials and Methods</title><p>The study was carried out at the Mahdieh hamadan brachytherapy center and using recommendation of IAEA- 47 (International Atomic Energy Agency protocol number 47) report for HDR brachytherapy units shielding [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref11">11</xref>] . First, we calculate the shielding of brachytherapy unit with the theoretical methods and formulas that have been described below.</p>Gamma Exposure Rate Formula<p>The exposure rate from a gamma point source can be approximated from the following expression</p><disp-formula id="scirp.57355-formula559"><label>(1)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x6.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where X is the dose rate; A is activity in mCi; Γ is the gamma factor; and r distance in cm</p><p>Monoenergetic x or gamma rays collimated into a narrow beam are attenuated exponentially through a shield according to the following equation:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.57355-formula560"><label>(2)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x7.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where I is the intensity outside of a shield of thickness x I<sub>0</sub> is the unshielded intensity m is the linear attenuation coefficient of the shielding material x is the thickness of shielding material. The linear attenuation coefficient is the sum of the probabilities of interaction per unit path length by each of the three scattering and absorption processes―photoelectric effect, and pair production. Note that m has dimensions of inverse length (1/cm). The reciprocal of m is defined as the mean free path, which is the average distance the photon travels in an absorber before an interaction takes place.</p><p>Therefore, to confirm the calculations and validation of the calculation we used both experimental and Monte Carlo methods.</p></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Description of the Brachytherapy Facility</title><p>The Mahdieh Radiotherapy Centre has a brachytherapy treatment rooms, a diagnostic Ct scan X-ray equipment and administrative setup. The brachytherapy treatment room shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref> has a concrete shield of thickness 85 cm. Flexitron machine facility at the center has a monitor located at the treatment planning room, office for monitoring the movements of the patient and communication system. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref> shows the locations around the Ir-192 sources used for the study. The specific reason for choosing this points depends on the amount of traffic in that place, work place of technicians and nurses and commonalities between the X-ray machine. In this simulation, we must simulate source in height of 1meter from the ground and should be bare source. Locations A, B, C and F are the control area. B where the medical physicists with the Ct scan images plan the patient. Location A with a mdf and 0.4 mm lead door separates the entrance to the maze. Locations D, E are designated as the public areas and locations F is controlled area, schematic diagram to demonstrate the experiment process has been shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>.</p></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Monte Carlo Simulation</title><p>The brachytherapy treatment room of the Centre was modeled using the visual editor of the MCNPX code to the design specification of the facility. The concrete with a density of 2.35 g/cm<sup>3</sup> was used with material composition of <sup>1</sup>H 0.005558, <sup>8</sup>O 0.498076, <sup>11</sup>Na 0.017101, <sup>12</sup>Mg 0.002565, <sup>13</sup>Al 0.045746 <sup>14</sup>Si 0.315092, <sup>16</sup>S 0.001283, <sup>19</sup>K 0.019239, <sup>20</sup>Ca 0.082941, <sup>26</sup>Fe<sub>54</sub> 0.000707, <sup>26</sup>Fe<sub>56</sub> 0.01139 <sup>26</sup>Fe<sub>57</sub> 0.000265, <sup>26</sup>Fe<sub>58</sub> 3.6 &#215; 10<sup>−</sup><sup>5</sup>. The entrance door of the facility is modeled as a mdf door with a density of 0.830 g/cm<sup>3</sup> [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref12">12</xref>] . 4 mm lead with density of</p><fig id="fig1"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref></label><caption><title> Brachytherapy site</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x8.png"/></fig><fig id="fig2"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic diagram to demonstrate the experiment process</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x9.png"/></fig><p>11.35 g/cm<sup>3</sup> with material of <sup>82</sup>Pb<sub>206</sub> 0.242902, <sup>82</sup>Pb<sub>207</sub> 0.223827, <sup>82</sup>Pb<sub>208</sub> 0.53327 use in mdf door [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref13">13</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.57355-ref14">14</xref>] . Brachytherapy sources; Ir-192 was modeled as <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref> with 5 activities of 11.5, 6.5, 5.7, 4.4 and 3.2 Ci.</p><p>It has been in existence till date using the decay equation:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.57355-formula561"><label>(3)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x10.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where A is the present activity, A<sub>0</sub> is the initial activity at a known time, γ is the decay constant and t is the time to the date of exposure. The Ir-192 HDR with activities (11.5, 6.1, 5.7, 4.4 and 3.2) Ci, was used for the modeling respectively.</p>Flux Tally at a Point or Ring (Type F5)<p>This type of tally makes use of what some might call a variance reduction technique, namely, use of the “next event estimator.” For each source particle and each collision event, a deterministic estimate is made of the fluence contribution at the detector point (or ring in an axisymmetric problem). To simplify description of this type</p><fig-group id="fig3"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic design and geometry of brachytherapy flexitron Ir-192 source.</title></caption><fig id ="fig3_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x11.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x12.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>of tally, assume that calculations are being performed in a uniform medium. Suppose a particle of energy E and weight W from an isotropic source is released at distance r from the detector point. Ray theory methodology, as used in the point-kernel method, dictates that the contribution δΦ to the fluence at the detector point is given by:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.57355-formula562"><label>(4)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x13.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>in which &#181;(E) is the linear interaction coefficient for the particle of energy E. Note that 1/4π per steradian is the angular distribution of a point isotropic source. Now suppose that a collision takes place at distance r from the detector point and that, to reach the detector point, a scattering angle of θ<sub>s</sub> would be required. Here, E is the energy of the particle after the collision and W is its weight. If &#181;(E, θ<sub>s</sub>) is the linear interaction coefficient per steradian for scattering at angle θ<sub>s</sub>, then &#181;(E, θ<sub>s</sub>)/&#181;(E) is the probability per steradian for scattering at angle θ<sub>s</sub>. Geometric attenuation remains as 1/r<sup>2</sup>, and the contribution δΦ to the fluence at the detector point is given by</p><disp-formula id="scirp.57355-formula563"><label>(5)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x14.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Dose Rate Measurement</title><p>Locations where dose rate had been estimated in thereby using MCNP5 were first identified and then measured the corresponding distances from the source. Dose rate monitoring was carried out for the selected locations A, B, C, D, E, and F in meter. Measuring doses must be in the range of 0.5 μSv/h - 7.5 μSv/h. for experimental measurement we used the STEP RDG Detector with Measuring range of 0 - 2000 μSv/h and 1.06 correction factor that shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>6. Results and Discussion</title><p>Result in Tables 1-5 and Figures 5-9 shows experimental measurement for a Ir-192 HDR source with apparent activity. All of measurement dose rate are under the reference dose rate recommendation of International Atomic Energy Agency.</p><fig id="fig4"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of STEP RDG detector</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x15.png"/></fig><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1"><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>1</xref></label><caption><title> Measurement and comparison between experimental dose rate, referenced dose rate and simulated data for source with 11.5 Ci activity</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  ><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>column head</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Distance from source (m)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Measured dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reference dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Activity (Ci)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simulated dose Rate (μSv/h)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point A</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.94</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point B</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.33</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.166</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point D</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.16</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point F</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.89</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >STD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.121119775</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.354367982</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >avg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.575</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.467666667</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >St.Dev.%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.210643088</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.757736241</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>2</label><caption><title> Measurement and comparison between experimental dose rate, reference dose rate and simulation data for source with 6.1 Ci activity</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  ><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>column head</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Distance from source (m)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Measured dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reference dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Activity (Ci)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simulated dose Rate (μSv/h)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point A</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.85</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point B</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.33</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.11</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point D</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.28</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.15</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point F</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.668</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >STD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.113959057</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.296715352</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >avg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.563333333</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.398</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >St.Dev.%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.202294184</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.745515959</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>3</label><caption><title> Measurement and comparison between experimental dose rate, reference dose rate and simulation data for source with 5.7 Ci activity</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  ><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>column head</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Distance from source (m)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Measured dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reference dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Activity (Ci)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simulated dose Rate (μSv/h)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point A</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.82</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point B</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.105</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point D</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.28</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.15</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point F</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >STD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.045166359</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.287618092</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >avg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.389166667</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >St.Dev.%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.092176243</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.739061478</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>4</label><caption><title> Measurement and comparison between experimental dose rate, reference dose rate and simulation data for source with 4.4 Ci activity</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  ><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>column head</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Distance from source (m)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Measured dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reference dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Activity (Ci)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simulated dose rate (μSv/h)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point A</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.802</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point B</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.64</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point D</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.44</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.27</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.15</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point F</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.61</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >STD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.096488341</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.274901194</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >avg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.505</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.375333333</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >St.Dev.%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.191066022</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.732418813</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table5" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>5</label><caption><title> Measurement and comparison between experimental dose rate, reference dose rate and simulation data for source with 3.2 Ci activity</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  ><xref ref-type="table" rid="table">Table </xref>column head</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Distance from source (m)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Measured dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reference dose rate (μSv/h)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Activity (Ci)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simulated dose rate (μSv/h)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point A</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.79</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point B</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.097</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point D</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.267</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.12</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Point F</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.58</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >STD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.110166541</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.272877995</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >avg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.568333333</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.359</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >St.Dev.%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.19384142</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.760105835</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig5"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of measured dose rate, reference dose rate and simulated dose rate for each point for the source with 11.5 Ci activity</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x16.png"/></fig><fig id="fig6"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of measured dose rate, reference dose rate and simulated dose rate for each point for the source with 6.1 Ci activity</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x17.png"/></fig><fig id="fig7"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of measured dose rate, reference dose rate and simulated dose rate for each point for the source with 5.7 Ci activity</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x18.png"/></fig><fig id="fig8"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of measured dose rate, reference dose rate and simulated dose rate for each point for the source with 4.4 Ci activity</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x19.png"/></fig><fig id="fig9"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref></label><caption><title> Schematic view of measured dose rate, reference dose rate and simulated dose rate for each point for the source with 3.2 Ci activity</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-7502104x20.png"/></fig></sec><sec id="s7"><title>7. Conclusion</title><p>The measured dose rates at the selected locations representing supervised areas are all below the recommended values for public areas of 0.5 μSv/h. The controlled areas are also below the value recommended for controlled areas of 7.5 μSv/h. This implies that the biological shielding design of the facility is adequate to attenuate the gamma radiations from the brachytherapy sources used for treatment and hence the general public and staff are adequately protected for the existing HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy system. But unfortunately we saw an over estimate in calculation of room shielding design.</p></sec><sec id="s8"><title>NOTES</title></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.57355-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Cashwell, E.D. and Everett, C.J. (1959) A Practical Manual on the Monte Carlo Method for Random Walk Problems. 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