Precautions in handling radioactive materials MCQs With Answer

Handling radioactive materials safely is essential for B. Pharm students preparing for clinical, research, and regulatory roles. This concise guide focuses on precautions in handling radioactive materials MCQs with answer to reinforce radiation safety principles such as ALARA, time-distance-shielding, personal protective equipment, contamination control, shielding materials, monitoring instruments, dose limits, waste segregation, and emergency response. Emphasis is placed on practical procedures—labeling, storage, transport, and spill management—aligned with regulatory compliance and occupational health. Studying these targeted MCQs will strengthen your conceptual understanding and practical readiness for laboratory and pharmacy settings. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What does ALARA stand for in radiation safety?

• As Low As Reasonably Achievable
• As Low As Radiologically Acceptable
• All Levels Are Radically Accurate
• Average Limit And Radiation Assessment

Correct Answer: As Low As Reasonably Achievable

Q2. Which unit measures radioactive activity?

• Sievert (Sv)
• Gray (Gy)
• Becquerel (Bq)
• Roentgen (R)

Correct Answer: Becquerel (Bq)

Q3. Which instrument is best for detecting alpha contamination on surfaces?

• Geiger-Muller counter without thin window
• Scintillation detector with alpha probe
• Film badge dosimeter
• Ionization chamber for high energy photons

Correct Answer: Scintillation detector with alpha probe

Q4. Which material is most effective for shielding gamma radiation?

• Acrylic
• Lead
• Aluminum
• Wood

Correct Answer: Lead

Q5. For protecting against beta particles, which shielding is commonly used?

• Lead apron
• Concrete wall
• Plastic or acrylic
• Gold foil

Correct Answer: Plastic or acrylic

Q6. Which is the primary principle for reducing dose when working with sources?

• Increase shielding, ignore distance
• Time, distance, and shielding
• Only monitoring without PPE
• Frequent handling to finish quickly

Correct Answer: Time, distance, and shielding

Q7. What is the main difference between contamination and exposure?

• Contamination refers to external or internal radioactive material; exposure is being irradiated by a source
• Exposure means contamination is present
• They are the same in radiation protection
• Contamination only occurs with gamma rays

Correct Answer: Contamination refers to external or internal radioactive material; exposure is being irradiated by a source

Q8. Which dosimeter is reusable and commonly used for personal monitoring?

• Film badge
• Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD)
• Gas proportional counter
• Geiger-Muller tube

Correct Answer: Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD)

Q9. What is the occupational dose limit for whole body effective dose for radiation workers (ICRP recommended)?

• 50 mSv per year
• 20 mSv per year averaged over 5 years
• 1 mSv per year
• 100 mSv per year

Correct Answer: 20 mSv per year averaged over 5 years

Q10. Which practice is essential when receiving radioactive shipments in a pharmacy?

• Immediate use without checks
• Check labels, package integrity, and survey for contamination
• Store with regular pharmaceuticals
• Discard packaging in general waste

Correct Answer: Check labels, package integrity, and survey for contamination

Q11. What is a sealed source?

• A radionuclide chemically bound in solution
• A source encapsulated to prevent release of radioactive material
• Any radioactive liquid used in labs
• A source that decays instantly

Correct Answer: A source encapsulated to prevent release of radioactive material

Q12. What is the recommended immediate action for a small radioactive spill of an aqueous solution?

• Leave area and notify radiation safety officer after a day
• Attempt to clean with bare hands quickly
• Evacuate, restrict access, don PPE, and perform containment and decontamination procedures
• Pour bleach over the spill

Correct Answer: Evacuate, restrict access, don PPE, and perform containment and decontamination procedures

Q13. Which monitoring is used for air activity and inhalation risk in radioisotope labs?

• Wipe test
• Air sampling and aerosol monitors
• Film badge
• Geiger counter for background

Correct Answer: Air sampling and aerosol monitors

Q14. How often should wipe tests be performed to detect surface contamination in a radiopharmacy?

• Never required
• Only after major incidents
• Regular schedule as per institutional and regulatory policy (e.g., weekly)
• Only before disposal

Correct Answer: Regular schedule as per institutional and regulatory policy (e.g., weekly)

Q15. What is the half-life of a radionuclide?

• The time for the activity to decrease to one-tenth
• The time for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay
• The time it takes to detect radiation
• The storage requirement for waste

Correct Answer: The time for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay

Q16. Which PPE is essential when handling unsealed radioactive liquids?

• Cotton lab coat only
• Gloves, lab coat, eye protection, and appropriate dosimetry
• No PPE if activity is low
• Surgical mask only

Correct Answer: Gloves, lab coat, eye protection, and appropriate dosimetry

Q17. What does the term “decay-in-storage” refer to?

• Immediate disposal of radioactive waste
• Storing radioactive waste until activity decays to background level before disposal
• Permanent storage in a repository
• Transport of waste to another facility

Correct Answer: Storing radioactive waste until activity decays to background level before disposal

Q18. Which radionuclide is commonly used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging?

• Uranium-238
• Technetium-99m
• Plutonium-239
• Radium-226

Correct Answer: Technetium-99m

Q19. What is the purpose of a survey meter in a radiopharmacy?

• To measure chemical purity
• To detect and measure radiation dose rates and contamination
• To record temperature
• To sterilize equipment

Correct Answer: To detect and measure radiation dose rates and contamination

Q20. Which laboratory engineering control reduces airborne radioactive contamination?

• Fume hood or biological safety cabinet configured for radionuclides
• Ordinary bench near window
• Open-air workstation
• No ventilation

Correct Answer: Fume hood or biological safety cabinet configured for radionuclides

Q21. What action should be taken if a personal dosimeter shows an unexpected high reading?

• Ignore it and continue work
• Remove it, notify RSO, investigate exposure, and perform medical assessment if necessary
• Wash it and reuse
• Discard it in regular trash

Correct Answer: Remove it, notify RSO, investigate exposure, and perform medical assessment if necessary

Q22. Which signage is required for areas where radioactive materials are used?

• No special signs needed
• Radioactive material symbol and access restrictions
• Only a biohazard sign
• Fire exit sign

Correct Answer: Radioactive material symbol and access restrictions

Q23. What is the best practice for storing sealed sources?

• Left on bench tops for convenience
• Secure, labeled, locked storage with appropriate shielding
• Inside refrigerators with food
• In open shelves near students

Correct Answer: Secure, labeled, locked storage with appropriate shielding

Q24. Which of the following is a biological effect of ionizing radiation at the cellular level?

• DNA damage and possible mutation
• Instant immunity to infections
• Reduction of all cell mass
• Immediate cell strengthening

Correct Answer: DNA damage and possible mutation

Q25. What is a survey of work area used to determine after a procedure?

• The tastiness of reagents
• Presence or absence of contamination and radiation levels
• The number of personnel present
• Equipment warranty status

Correct Answer: Presence or absence of contamination and radiation levels

Q26. Which practice minimizes internal contamination risk when handling powders of radionuclides?

• Open weighing on bench
• Use of glove box or ventilated enclosure and wet methods
• Blowing to disperse powder
• No special precautions

Correct Answer: Use of glove box or ventilated enclosure and wet methods

Q27. Which record must be maintained for each worker handling radioactive materials?

• Daily temperature logs
• Personal dosimetry records and exposure history
• Food intake journal
• None required

Correct Answer: Personal dosimetry records and exposure history

Q28. What is the main role of the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)?

• Conduct laboratory experiments
• Oversee radiation protection program and ensure regulatory compliance
• Sell radioactive materials
• Perform only administrative tasks unrelated to radiation

Correct Answer: Oversee radiation protection program and ensure regulatory compliance

Q29. Which radionuclide property affects the choice of shielding material most?

• Color of the isotope
• Type and energy of emitted radiation (alpha, beta, gamma)
• Manufacturer’s country
• Price per millicurie

Correct Answer: Type and energy of emitted radiation (alpha, beta, gamma)

Q30. For pregnant radiation workers, which dose limit consideration is recommended?

• No restrictions apply
• Fetal dose should be kept as low as reasonably achievable, typically a small fraction of occupational limits
• They must stop all work immediately
• They double their exposure to test limits

Correct Answer: Fetal dose should be kept as low as reasonably achievable, typically a small fraction of occupational limits

Q31. What is the purpose of wipe (smear) testing in radiological labs?

• To assess surface contamination by removable activity
• To measure external dose rates only
• To sterilize surfaces
• To calibrate instruments

Correct Answer: To assess surface contamination by removable activity

Q32. Which practice should be followed for labeling containers with radioactive materials?

• No labeling required for small amounts
• Clear labels with radionuclide, activity, date, and radiation symbol
• Only chemical name is needed
• Labels can be handwritten without details

Correct Answer: Clear labels with radionuclide, activity, date, and radiation symbol

Q33. What does a dose calibrator measure in a radiopharmacy?

• pH of radiopharmaceuticals
• Radioactivity (activity) of a radionuclide sample
• Temperature of syringes
• Volume only

Correct Answer: Radioactivity (activity) of a radionuclide sample

Q34. Which waste category requires decay-in-storage before disposal?

• Radioactive waste with short-lived radionuclides below regulatory thresholds
• Sharp instruments only
• Non-radioactive chemical waste
• All waste regardless of radioactivity

Correct Answer: Radioactive waste with short-lived radionuclides below regulatory thresholds

Q35. What is the inverse square law in radiation protection?

• Radiation intensity increases with square of distance
• Radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of distance from a point source
• It applies only to alpha particles
• Shielding is not necessary if distance increases

Correct Answer: Radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of distance from a point source

Q36. Which procedure helps prevent contamination spread when leaving a controlled area?

• Carry samples out openly
• Remove outer gloves and boot covers, perform contamination checks, and follow doffing procedures
• Walk through common areas without checks
• Shake clothing to remove contamination

Correct Answer: Remove outer gloves and boot covers, perform contamination checks, and follow doffing procedures

Q37. Which statement about sealed source leak tests is true?

• Leak tests are never required
• Leak tests detect any removable radioactive contamination from sealed sources and are performed periodically
• Leak tests are only for liquids
• Leak tests measure background radiation only

Correct Answer: Leak tests detect any removable radioactive contamination from sealed sources and are performed periodically

Q38. What is the appropriate response to finding contamination on clothing?

• Continue working and ignore it
• Remove contaminated clothing in a controlled area, place it in radioactive laundry, and decontaminate skin if needed
• Wash clothes in communal washbasin
• Burn the clothing immediately

Correct Answer: Remove contaminated clothing in a controlled area, place it in radioactive laundry, and decontaminate skin if needed

Q39. Which type of radiation is most easily stopped by a sheet of paper or outer dead layer of skin?

• Gamma radiation
• Beta particles
• Alpha particles
• Neutrons

Correct Answer: Alpha particles

Q40. What training is mandatory for B. Pharm students who will handle radionuclides?

• No training required
• Radiation safety training including practical handling, emergency procedures, and institutional policies
• Only online reading with no assessment
• Training only after first incident

Correct Answer: Radiation safety training including practical handling, emergency procedures, and institutional policies

Q41. Which dosimeter type provides a permanent visual record of exposure?

• Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD)
• Film badge
• Electronic personal dosimeter without memory
• Survey meter

Correct Answer: Film badge

Q42. How should radioactive syringes be shielded during transport within a facility?

• No shielding to save time
• Use syringe shields or lead containers designed for the activity
• Wrap in paper towel only
• Carry openly in pockets

Correct Answer: Use syringe shields or lead containers designed for the activity

Q43. What is contamination control when preparing radiopharmaceuticals?

• Using open benches and no PPE
• Techniques and barriers to prevent spread of radioactive material (PPE, trays, containment, proper waste)
• Mixing radionuclides freely
• Discarding controls after use

Correct Answer: Techniques and barriers to prevent spread of radioactive material (PPE, trays, containment, proper waste)

Q44. Which practice is recommended for labeling radioactive waste containers?

• Label with radionuclide, activity, date, and decay handling instructions
• No labeling required
• Label only with staff initials
• Use temporary sticky notes

Correct Answer: Label with radionuclide, activity, date, and decay handling instructions

Q45. What is the best method to check for removable contamination after a procedure?

• Visual inspection only
• Perform wipe tests and measure with appropriate detector
• Assume no contamination if gloves were worn
• Check only monthly

Correct Answer: Perform wipe tests and measure with appropriate detector

Q46. Which action reduces radiation dose when administering a radiopharmaceutical to a patient?

• Standing close to the patient for long periods
• Use of shielding, minimizing contact time, and using remote handling tools
• Ignoring syringe shielding
• Administering double the required activity

Correct Answer: Use of shielding, minimizing contact time, and using remote handling tools

Q47. What is the role of ventilation in a radiochemistry lab?

• To increase temperature
• To remove airborne radioactive contamination and maintain negative pressure if required
• To circulate contaminated air to other rooms
• No role in radiation safety

Correct Answer: To remove airborne radioactive contamination and maintain negative pressure if required

Q48. Which is an essential component of an emergency plan involving radioactive material?

• Clear roles, evacuation routes, decontamination steps, and RSO contact
• No communication protocol
• Only fire response without radiation considerations
• Plan to hide the incident

Correct Answer: Clear roles, evacuation routes, decontamination steps, and RSO contact

Q49. Why is record-keeping of radioactive inventory important in a pharmacy?

• Only to impress inspectors
• To track sources, ensure accountability, and meet regulatory compliance
• It is optional
• To avoid purchasing more materials

Correct Answer: To track sources, ensure accountability, and meet regulatory compliance

Q50. Which action is recommended before disposing of radioactive solid waste?

• Dispose immediately in general trash
• Survey, segregate by radionuclide and half-life, and follow decay-in-storage or licensed disposal procedures
• Burn in laboratory oven
• Flush it down the sink

Correct Answer: Survey, segregate by radionuclide and half-life, and follow decay-in-storage or licensed disposal procedures