List common sources of ionizing radiation in healthcare that require protection measures?

• A. Only X-ray equipment.
• B. X-ray equipment, sealed radioactive sources, spilled sources, contaminated surfaces, radiopharmaceuticals, waste.
• C. Microwave ovens, cell phones.
• D. Visible light fixtures.

Answer: (B)

Ionizing radiation in healthcare comes from a range of sources that require protection measures, not just X-ray machines. Protection is needed for diagnostic and interventional X-ray equipment, sealed radioactive sources used in brachytherapy and certain nuclear medicine procedures, radiopharmaceuticals handled and administered to patients, spills or contamination of surfaces where radioactive material is present, and radioactive waste produced from procedures. Non-ionizing items like microwave ovens or cell phones, and even visible light fixtures, do not emit ionizing radiation in clinical settings, so they don’t fall into this category.