The importance of health physics has been increasing day by day with the increased use of ionizing radiation worldwide as a tool in many fields, e.g. medicine, agriculture, industry, power production and research and development in nuclear science and technology. The main objective of health physics program is to minimize and keep the radiation exposure to the workers, public and the environment As Low As reasonably Achievable 9ALARA principle) without limiting the beneficial practices. Constant surveillance of the personnel and environment is carried out to ascertain that radiation exposure to the personnel remains within prescribed limits recommended by ICRP/IAEA and the national regulatory authority. It also ensures the accuracy and reliability in the radiation protection and radiotherapy dosimetry and provides personnel monitoring. The importance of safely managing radioactive waste generated at nuclear facilities/industry can hardly be over emphasized.

The health Physics Division at PINSTECH has been playing a very important role in strengthening the radiation protection infrastructure in the country by assisting various organizations on the radiological safety aspects of the workers and radiation sources/facilities.

All radiation workers in the country are provided film badges on monthly basis to assess their radiation exposure. The Institute has excellent facilities regarding film badges and

Thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry. The film badge system consists of densitometer and a PC, while or TL dosimetry, a fully automatic system is available. Radiation dosimetry and calibration services are provided to all nuclear medical and radiotherapy centres in the country.

Radiological environmental monitoring services are provided around nuclear establishments. Radiochemical procedures for the analysis of ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I in air, water, milk and vegetables have been well established. Gamma spectroscopy, gross gamma, beta counting, liquid scintillation, and alpha spectroscopy techniques are used for the determination of radionuclides of interest present in the environment and food items. A mobile version of this laboratory is available for on –site radiation and contamination survey and radiation emergencies.

Mobile Radiation Monitoring Laboratory

Bioassay services for lodine, tritium and uranium are provided. Food items can also be examined for contamination.

Secondary Standard dosimetry Laboratory, a unique facility in Pakistan, is well equipped to provide radiation dosimetry/survey instruments calibration and radiation beam output measurement services to all radiotherapy institutes and radiation users in the country. The laboratory is a member of IAEA/WHO network of Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories. SSDL is well equipped and the accuracy in measurements is ensured by following dose quality audit programs of IAEA, etc.

Set-up for the standardization of radiation protection dosimetry

Public and private industrial sector using radioactive materials/radiation sources produces unique type of waste, requiring special management. Facilities for such radioactive waste for their handling, transportation, storage, treatment and final safe disposal are available.