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TBRHRIPublicInformationandDisclosure–RD/GD-99.3April2017
Cyclotron & Radiopharmacy Public Information Program
InFebruary2013,ThunderBayRegionalResearchInstitute(TBRRI)(nowTBRHRI)confirmed that the Cyclotron and Radiopharmacy would be housed within theHealth Services Centre adjacent to the Thunder Bay Regional Health SciencesCentre(TBRHSC)at1040OliverRoad.ThePublicInformationProgramhasbeendesignedtokeepthepublicinformedofthe effects the operation of these facilities will have on the health, safety andsecurityofthepublicandtheenvironment.As a licenced manufacturing facility of radioisotopes, the cyclotron andradiopharmacyoperationswillbefullycontrolledandregulatedbytheCanadianNuclearSafetyCommission (CNSC). TheCNSCworkswithotherGovernmentofCanadaorganizationsthatplayimportantrolestoensurethatnuclearenergyandmaterials are used safely and securely in Canada, including Health Canada andEnvironmentCanada.Emissionsfromthefacilitywillbemonitoredcontinuouslyandaprogramwillbeimplemented tomonitor employee safety. In addition, TBRHRIwill operate anEnvironmentalMonitoringProgram tomonitor theeffectsofouroperationsontheenvironment.We are committed to communicating information related to the operation andmonitoringoftheCyclotronandRadiopharmacyonanongoingandtimelybasis,andwelcomeanyquestionsthepublicmayhaveaboutourfacilities.
Formoreinformation:[email protected]
MailingAddress:Cyclotron&Radiopharmacy1040OliverRoad,SuiteB1ThunderBay,ONP7B7A5www.tbrhri.cawww.tbrhsc.net
TBRHRIPublicInformationandDisclosure–RD/GD-99.3April2017
Cyclotron & Radiopharmacy What Is A Cyclotron & What Does It Do?
Acyclotronisamachineusedtomakerelativelyshort-lived radioisotopes (radioactive atoms)that can be used for medical imaging andresearch. The cyclotron does this by takinghydride atoms (these are the same as thehydrogensthatmakeupwaterexcept
they have a negative charge) andaccelerating them to very high speed.When they have enough energy theyaresentintoatargetwhereareactiontakes place. The new element that isproduced can be radioactive andmaybeusedforpatientcareorresearch.
How will the Products of the Cyclotron be used? The major isotope used at the hospital in Thunder Bay is Fluorine-18. This is produced from theaccelerated protons described above hitting a water target. The water is specially enriched (higherconcentration)withaheavier versionoxygen thatwhenhitwith theproton is converted toFluoride-18.Fluoride-18isaradioactiveisotopethatwhenitdecaysdoessobyproducingsomethingcalledpositrons.These are the key to Positron Emission Tomography or PET scans used daily around theworld for suchthingsascancerdiagnosisandtreatmentplanning.AtthisfacilitywearealsoplanningonproducingGallium-67,andevenTechnetium-99m.Technetium-99mwastheisotopethatwasinsuchshortsupplywhentheChalkRiverNRUreactorwasshutdown.Bothoftheseisotopeshaveshorthalf-lives.
Isotopes Proposed for the Cyclotron Facility %ActivityRemaining
Isotope HalfLife 1Hour 4Hours 1Day 1Week 1MonthC-11 20min 13% 0% 0% 0% 0%F-18 110min 69% 22% 0% 0% 0%
Tc-99m 6hrs 89% 63% 6% 0% 0%Ga-67 3.3days 99% 97% 81% 23% 0.2%
Formoreinformation:[email protected]
MailingAddress:Cyclotron&Radiopharmacy1040OliverRoad,SuiteB1ThunderBay,ONP7B7A5www.tbrhri.cawww.tbrhsc.net
TBRHRIPublicInformationandDisclosure–RD/GD-99.3April2017
Cyclotron & Radiopharmacy Is A Cyclotron Safe?
A cyclotron is a machine used to produce radioactive materials and as such requireslicensing by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Cyclotrons are not newtechnology.TheCNSChasextensiveexperiencewithcyclotronsfromtheotherfacilitiesinCanadaandtakesworkerandpublicsafetyveryseriously.The facility is designed with multiple levels of shielding, protection and monitoring to ensure safeoperation. BeforeconstructionevenbeganweappliedtotheCNSCfora licencetoconstruct. Inthisapplicationtheylookedatthedesignandshieldingcalculationsforthefacilitytoensurethecyclotroncanbeusedsafely.Forexample,thewallsofthecyclotronfacilityareapproximately8feetthicktoprotectworkersandpublicfromradiationexposure.Thedesignofthefacilityalsohadtoincludeanend-of-lifeplanoradecommissioningplanthatgivesdetailsofhowallthematerialsinthefacilitywillberemovedanddisposedofsafely. Therearealsoseveralsafetyinterlocksystemsthatpreventthecyclotronfromoperatingifallthesafetysystemsarenotinoperationorengaged.Thisiscombinedwithregularmonitoring.Yearlyannualcompliancereportsandregularlicencerenewalsareall inplacetoensurecompliancewithCNSCregulations. Allexposurelevelstostaffworkinginthefacility, outside the facility, as well as guests, must be well below the CNSC allowable limits. Asmentionedabove,mostoftheisotopeshavearelativelyshorthalf-lifeandrapidlydecaytoproductsthatarenolongerradioactive.Forexample,thelongestlivedoftheseisGallium-67withahalf-lifeof3.3days–forthisisotopeonly0.1%oftheradioactivitywillremainafter33daysandbeessentiallythesameatbackground levels. Another thing that makes production of isotopes on a cyclotron safe is that thereaction scale is quite small. The production of Fluorine-18, for example, uses approximately 5ml ofOxygen-18enrichedwater(lessthanthevolumeofacoffeecreamer).
Where is the Cyclotron and Radiopharmacy located?
These facilities are located within the HealthServices Centre at 1040 Oliver Road on theThunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centrecampus.Thecyclotronandradiopharmacyareinthebasementonthenorthsideofthebuilding.
Formoreinformation:[email protected]
MailingAddress:Cyclotron&Radiopharmacy1040OliverRoad,SuiteB1ThunderBay,ONP7B7A5www.tbrhri.cawww.tbrhsc.net
TBRHRIPublicInformationandDisclosure–RD/GD-99.3
April2017
Cyclotron & Radiopharmacy How will the products be used?
Themajor isotopeusedatThunderBayRegionalHealthSciencesCentre(TBRHSC)isFluorine-18(18F).
Thisisproducedfromtheacceleratedprotons(describedinthe“WhatisaCyclotron?”section)hittinga
special water target. The water is specially enriched (higher concentration) with a heavier version
oxygenthat,whenhitwiththeproton,isconvertedto18F.
What makes18F special is that it is a radioactive isotope that when it decays, does so by producing
somethingcalledpositrons.ThesearethekeytoPositronEmissionTomography,orPET,scansuseddaily
around the world for such things as bone scans or most commonly attached to a sugar to make a
compound called FDG for cancer diagnostic imaging. FDGworks because cancer cells require a lot of
energyandtheyconsumethisradioactivesugarfasterthanotherhealthycells,causingthecancercellsto
showuponthescanner.Thisresulthelpswithtreatmentplanningandstaging.
With most cyclotrons, this would be the extent of the isotopes produced. However, because of the
amountofenergythecyclotronwillproduce,wewillbeabletoproduceawidervarietyofisotopesfor
medical imagingsuchas Iodine-123,Gallium-67,andevenTechnetium-99m. Technetium-99mwas the
isotopethatwasinshortsupplywhentheChalkRiverNRUreactorwasshutdownin2009.
Why build a Cyclotron here versus just bringing isotopes from another site? Allradioactiveisotopeshavea“half-life”-theamountoftimeittakesforhalfofthematerialtodecayinto
somethingelse. If you startwith a certainamountofmaterial, after 1 half-life youwould only have50%
remaining,after2half-lives25%,andafter3half-lives12.5%,andsoon.Manyofthe isotopesused inPET
suchastheFluorine-18usedtomakeFDG,havearelativelyshorthalf-life(110minutes).
CurrentlyTBRHSCgets itsFDGfromsouthernOntarioandby thetime it isprepared, tested,drivento the
airportinTorontoandsentherebyplane,closeto3half-liveshavebeenlost. Thatmeans inordertorun
scanson4patientsinThunderBay,thefacilityinsouthernOntariohastoproduceandshipenoughFDGto
scan32patients.ByhavingacyclotronandradiopharmacyincloseproximitytoTBRHSCwewillbeableto
reducematerialandtransportationcostsaswellasincreasethenumberofscansavailabletoourpatientson
anygivenday. Additionally,wewillbeabletomakeuseofother isotopesthathavehalf-livestooshortto
shipintoThunderBayfromelsewhere.
.
Formoreinformation:DirectorofCyclotronOperations
807.684.7010
MailingAddress:Cyclotron&Radiopharmacy1040OliverRoad,SuiteB1
ThunderBay,ONP7B7A5
www.tbrhri.ca
www.tbrhsc.net
