Answer to Question #13994 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Equipment and Shielding — Equipment
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
Two days ago I helped disassemble a Kodak 9000 3D x-ray machine and it appears my hands came in contact with an oil that was from the broken tube head. Do I need to seek medical attention? Would I have been exposed to any danger and/or radiation with that oil? I had wiped it off on a paper towel almost immediately but washed my hands with hand soap and water approximately 30 to 45 minutes after it came in contact with my hands?
A
The oil in an x-ray tube is used as a coolant to remove heat from the tube when x rays are being produced. X rays are only produced when power is applied to the unit and the exposure switch is activated. There are no x rays or radiation after the exposure switch has been released and/or when the unit is off. There are no x rays in the oil and the oil is not radioactive, so there are no x-ray or radiation concerns with the tube oil.
Kennith "Duke" Lovins, CHP
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Answer posted on 3 May 2021. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.
