In 1981, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital 鈥� The Neuro, became the first medical institution in Canada to be equipped with its own isotope production facility: THE CYCLOTRON. The move to include such a facility within its walls was somewhat revolutionary at the time. By producing its听own radioactive tracers used for Positron Emission Tomography(PET)imaging, The Neuro enabled researchers to uncover the mysteries of听how the brain works and clinicians to increase the speed and accuracy of patients鈥檇iagnosis and treatments.
Today, medical cyclotrons are found in cities across the country and isotopes听are used around the world for research, and cancer diagnosis and treatment.听The cyclotron operates under guidelines听set out by the Canadian Nuclear Safety听Commission (CNSC) and as per CNSC听regulations we are informing the public that听The Neuro is equipped with a cyclotron听facility.
What is a Cyclotron?
A cyclotron is a particle accelerator used to produce medical isotopes听needed for PET scans. It uses a combination of high-powered magnets and听alternating voltage to convert stable atoms into radioactive isotopes. This听process involves spinning charged particles in ever-expanding circles until听they strike a target. The cyclotron鈥檚 magnets pull the charged particles in a听circular motion, while the alternating current charges particles with energy听each time they cross a threshold down the middle of the circular path. When听the particle beam interacts with the stable atom in the target, a nuclear听reaction occurs creating radioactive isotopes.
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What are isotopes used for?
The Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Facility is specifically designed to enable听researchers and staff to work safely with radioactive materials. Much of the听work is done using remote systems through shielded chambers called 鈥榟ot听cells.鈥� All of the radioisotopes are intended for use in biomedical imaging or听clinical research, hence the laboratory is regularly visited by Health Canada听inspectors for quality and safety control purposes.
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The Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Facility
The Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Facility is specifically designed to enable听researchers and staff to work safely with radioactive materials. Much of the听work is done using remote systems through shielded chambers called 鈥榟ot听cells.鈥� All of the radioisotopes are intended for use in biomedical imaging or听clinical research, hence the laboratory is regularly visited by Health Canada听inspectors for quality and safety control purposes.
Are there any risks from working or living near the facility?
Designed and operated to meet or exceed the highest federal safety听standards, the facility is regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety听Commission and Health Canada, and conforms to The Neuro鈥檚 health and听safety policies.
Access to the cyclotron and the associated laboratories is tightly controlled听through a variety of safeguards. Specialized air and waste handling systems听guard against accidental releases of radioisotopes outside the facility. Lab听work with radioisotopes takes place in sealed and shielded hot cells designed听to contain spills. Because the isotopes produced in the facility are designed听to be injected into humans, they do not last very long and decay to negligible听amounts in a matter of hours.
What are the risks of being exposed to radioactive isotopes?
The risk for a member of the public to be accidentally exposed to medical听isotopes is extremely low.
The main isotope for clinical use, fluorine 18, has a half-life of 110 minutes.听For research, we mainly use Carbon 11 with a half-life of just 20 minutes. This听means that radioactivity decays rapidly. The doses produced are designed to听be safe for injection into patients and research study subjects.听
The facility is designed so that radiation produced by the cyclotron is听contained within the controlled areas that are accessible only to authorized听personnel. Heavy shielding is incorporated into the building walls to keep听radiation to normal background levels at all times outside the facility听and to ensure that there are no radiation exposure risks to any workers,听members of the public or the environment. Personnel working in the听cyclotron unit, as well as all staff working with radioactive chemicals wear听monitoring equipment (badges) that measure exposure to radioactivity.听Badges are turned in and checked regularly. The packaging and transport听of the radioactive substances for delivery to local hospitals is done safely in听accordance with Transport Canada regulations for the transport of dangerous听goods (TDG, class 7).
Location
The CYCLOTRON and Radiochemistry Facility is located at the Montreal听Neurological Institute (3801 University Street). This location is ideal due to its听proximity to local downtown Montreal hospitals, permitting rapid shipment of听medical isotopes to end users before they decay.
Today, The Neuro鈥檚 CYCLOTRON and Radiochemistry Facility produces the听longest list of radiotracers used in PET imaging in North America, serving a听local community of researchers and hospitals.
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Do you have any questions?
For any questions or comments about the CYCLOTRON and Radiochemistry听Facility, please contact:
Gassan Massarweh, PhD
Director of the CYCLOTRON and Radiochemistry Facility
Montreal Neurological Institute
Tel: 514 398-8527
gassan.massarweh [at] mcgill.ca (Email听)
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