These selected definitions are provided by the State of Kentucky's Radioactive Material Regulations, 902 KAR 100:010, Section 1. The complete section of regulations is available at the Radiation Safety Office.

"Annual limit on intake (ALI)" means the derived limit for the amount of radioactive material taken into the body of an adult worker by inhalation or ingestion in a year. ALI is the smaller value of intake of a given radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of five (5) rems (0.05 Sv) or a committed dose equivalent of fifty (50) rems (five-tenths (0.5) Sv) to an individual organ or tissue. (ALI values for intake by ingestion and by inhalation of selected radionuclides are given in 902 KAR 100:019, Section 44, Table 1, Columns 1 and 2.)

"As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)" means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to radiation as far below the dose limits in 902 KAR 100:019 as practical, consistent with the purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken. ALARA shall take into account the state of technology, the economics of improvement in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socio-economic considerations, in relation to the utilization of nuclear energy and radioactive materials in the public interest.

"Curie" means a quantity of radioactivity. One (1) curie (Ci) is that quantity of radioactive material which decays at the rate of 3.7 x 1010 disintegrations per second (dps). Commonly used submultiples of the curie are the millicurie and the microcurie. One (1) millicurie (mCi) = 0.001 curie = 3.7 x 107 dps. One (1) microcurie (uCi) = 0.000001 curie = 3.7 x 104 dps.

"Exposure" means being exposed to ionizing radiation or to radioactive material.

"Extremity" means hand, elbow, arm below the elbow, foot, knee, or leg below the knee.

"High radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels may result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of one-tenth (0.1) rem (1 mSv) in one (1) hour at thirty (30) centimeters from the radiation source or from a surface that the radiation penetrates.

"Human use" means the internal or external administration of radiation or radioactive materials to human beings.

"Misadministration" means the administration of:

• A radiopharmaceutical dosage greater than thirty (30) microcuries of sodium iodide I-125 or I-131:
  • Involving the wrong patient or wrong radiopharmaceutical; or route of administration; or
  • If both the administered dosage differs from the prescribed dosage by more than twenty (20) percent of the prescribed dosage and the difference between the administered dosage and prescribed dosage exceeds thirty (30) microcuries.
• A therapeutic radiopharmaceutical dosage, other than sodium iodide I-125 or I-131:
  • Involving the wrong patient, radiopharmaceutical, or route of administration; or
  • If the administered dosage differs from the prescribed dosage by more than twenty (20) percent of the prescribed dosage.
• A gamma stereotactic radiosurgery radiation dose:
  • Involving the wrong patient or treatment site; or
  • If the calculated total administered dose differs from the total prescribed dose by more than ten (10) percent of the total prescribed dose.
• A teletherapy radiation dose:
  • Involving the wrong patient, mode of treatment, or treatment site;
  • If the treatment consists of three (3) or fewer fractions and the calculated total administered dose differs from the total prescribed dose by more than ten (10) percent of the total prescribed dose;
  • If the calculated weekly administered dose is thirty (30) percent greater than the weekly prescribed dose; or
  • If the calculated total administered dose differs from the total prescribed dose by more than twenty (20) percent of the prescribed dose.
• A brachytherapy radiation dose:
  • Involving the wrong patient, radioisotope, or treatment site (excluding permanent implant seeds that were implanted in the correct site but migrated outside the treatment site);
  • Involving a sealed source that is leaking;
  • If, for a temporary implant, one (1) or more sealed sources are not removed upon completion of the procedure; or
  • If the calculated administered dose differs from the prescribed dose by more than twenty (20) percent of the prescribed dose.
• A diagnostic radiopharmaceutical dosage, other than quantities greater than thirty (30) microcuries of sodium iodide I-125 or I-131:
  • Involving the wrong patient, radiopharmaceutical, route of administration, or if the administered dosage differs from the prescribed dosage; and
  • If the dose to the patient exceeds five (5) rems effective dose equivalent or fifty (50) rems dose equivalent to an individual organ.

"Rad" means the special unit of absorbed dose. One (1) rad equals an absorbed dose of 0.01 joule per kilogram (0.01 gray) or 100 ergs per gram.

"Radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which there exists radiation at levels that an individual may receive in excess of five (5) millirems (0.05 mSv) in one (1) hour at thirty (30) centimeters from the radiation source or from a surface that the radiation penetrates.

"Recordable event" means the administration of:

• A radiopharmaceutical or radiation without a written directive if a written directive is required;
• A radiopharmaceutical or radiation if a written directive is required without daily recording of each administered radiopharmaceutical dosage or radiation dose in the appropriate record;
• A radiopharmaceutical dosage greater than thirty (30) microcuries of sodium iodide I-125 or I-131 if:
  • The administered dosage differs from the prescribed dosage by more than ten (10) percent of the prescribed dosage, and
  • The difference between the administered dosage and prescribed dosage exceeds fifteen (15) microcuries;
• A therapeutic radiopharmaceutical dosage, other than sodium iodide I-125 or I-131, if the administered dosage differs from the prescribed dosage by more than ten (10) percent of the prescribed dosage;
• A teletherapy radiation dose if the calculated weekly administered dose is fifteen (15) percent greater than the weekly prescribed dose; or
• A brachytherapy radiation dose if the calculated administered dose differs from the prescribed dose by more than ten (10) percent of the prescribed dose.

"Rem" means a special unit of quantities expressed as dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in rems is equal to the absorbed dose in rads multiplied by the quality factor (one (1) rem = 0.01 sievert).

"Restricted area" means an area access to which is limited by the licensee or registrant for purposes of protection of individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. A restricted area shall not include areas used as residential quarters, although a separate room or rooms in a residential building may be set apart as a restricted area.

"Roentgen" means the special unit of exposure. One (1) roentgen ® equals 2.58 x 10-4 coulombs per kilogram of air (see "Exposure").

"Sealed Source" means radioactive material that is permanently bonded or fixed in a capsule or matrix designed to prevent leakage or escape of the radioactive material.