ESTIMATION OF OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION EXPOSURE FOR MEDICAL WORKERS IN RADIOLOGY AND CARDIOLOGY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: NINE HOSPITALS EXPERIENCE

Abstract Purpose Occupational radiation exposure for medical workers in radiology and cardiology was analyzed in nine hospitals in the UAE between 2002 and 2016. The purpose of the study was to determine the time trend and the differences in occupational radiation exposure among worker groups and hospitals in the country. Methods Readings of 5700 thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) were obtained from 1011 medical workers and grouped into 5 worker groups (radiographers, diagnostic radiologists, nurses, cardiologists and physicians). Results The mean annual effective dose was from 0.38 to 0.62 mSv per worker. Even though an increase in the collective effective dose has been noticed during the study period, no significant time trend was observed in the mean effective dose. Furthermore, cardiologists received higher mean and maximum effective doses than the other worker groups. Conclusion The annual effective doses were below the limits set by national legislation and international standards, and for the average worker, the likelihood of high exposure is small. However, improvements in radiation protection practices could be implemented to reduce occupational radiation dose to cardiologists, who were the most exposed worker group in this study.

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Impact of considering non-occupational radiation exposure on the association between occupational dose and solid cancer among French nuclear workers

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2017-104341 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 199-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lucie Fournier ◽

Enora Cléro ◽

Eric Samson ◽

Sylvaine Caër-Lorho ◽

Dominique Laurier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Cancer Mortality ◽

Environmental Radiation ◽

Occupational Radiation Exposure ◽

X Ray ◽

Work Related ◽

The Mean ◽

Occupational Radiation

ObjectivesThe French nuclear worker cohort allows for the assessment of cancer risk associated with occupational radiation exposure, but workers are also exposed to medical and environmental radiation which can be of the same order of magnitude. This study aims to examine the impact of non-occupational radiation exposures on the dose-risk analysis between occupational radiation exposure and cancer mortality.MethodsThe cohort included workers employed before 1995 for at least one year by CEA, AREVA NC or EDF and badge-monitored for external radiation exposure. Monitoring results were used to calculate occupational individual doses. Scenarios of work-related X-ray and environmental exposures were simulated. Poisson regression was used to quantify associations between occupational exposure and cancer mortality adjusting for non-occupational radiation exposure.ResultsThe mean cumulative dose of external occupational radiation was 18.4 mSv among 59 004 workers. Depending on the hypotheses made, the mean cumulative work-related X-ray dose varied between 3.1 and 9.2 mSv and the mean cumulative environmental dose was around 130 mSv. The unadjusted excess relative rate of cancer per Sievert (ERR/Sv) was 0.34 (90% CI −0.44 to 1.24). Adjusting for environmental radiation exposure did not substantially modify this risk coefficient, but it was attenuated by medical exposure (ERR/Sv point estimate between 0.15 and 0.23).ConclusionsOccupational radiation risk estimates were lower when adjusted for work-related X-ray exposures. Environmental exposures had a very slight impact on the occupational exposure risk estimates. In any scenario of non-occupational exposure considered, a positive but insignificant excess cancer risk associated with occupational exposure was observed.

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Occupational Radiation Exposure during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Usefulness of Radiation Protective Curtains

Gastroenterology Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2014/926876 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tomoyuki Minami ◽

Tamito Sasaki ◽

Masahiro Serikawa ◽

Michihiro Kamigaki ◽

Masanobu Yukutake ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiation Exposure ◽

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Radiation Doses ◽

Endoscopic Retrograde ◽

Occupational Radiation Exposure ◽

Staff Members ◽

The Mean ◽

High Doses ◽

Occupational Radiation

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of radiation protective curtains in reducing the occupational radiation exposure of medical personnel.Methods. We studied medical staff members who had assisted in 80 consecutive therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Use of radiation protective curtains mounted to the X-ray tube was determined randomly for each procedure, and radiation doses were measured with electronic pocket dosimeters placed outside the protective apron.Results. When protective curtains were not used, the mean radiation doses to endoscopists, first assistants, second assistants, and nurses were 340.9, 27.5, 45.3, and 33.1 µSv, respectively; doses decreased to 42.6, 4.2, 13.1, and 10.6 µSv, respectively, when protective curtains were used (P<0.01). When the patient had to be restrained during ERCP (n=8), the radiation dose to second assistants without protective curtains increased by a factor of 9.95 (P<0.01) relative to cases in which restraint was not required.Conclusions. During ERCP, not only endoscopists, but also assistants and nurses were exposed to high doses of radiation. Radiation exposure to staff members during ERCP was reduced with the use of protective curtains.

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Occupational Radiation Exposure and Validity of National Dosimetry Registry among Korean Interventional Radiologists

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4195

Author(s):

Seulki Ko ◽

Kwang Pyo Kim ◽

Sung Bum Cho ◽

Ye Jin Bang ◽

Yae Won Ha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiation Exposure ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Apparent Difference ◽

Occupational Radiation Exposure ◽

Essential Information ◽

Thermoluminescent Dosimeter ◽

Radiation Workers ◽

The Mean ◽

Occupational Radiation

The national dose registry (NDR) contains essential information to help protect radiation workers from radiation-related health risks and to facilitate epidemiological studies. However, direct validation of the reported doses has not been considered. We investigated the validity of the NDR with a personal dosimeter monitoring conducted among Korean interventional radiologists. Among the 56 interventional radiologists, NDR quarterly doses were compared with actively monitored personal thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) doses as standard measures of validation. We conducted analyses with participants categorized according to compliance with TLD badge-wearing policies. A correlation between actively monitored doses and NDR doses was low (Spearman ρ = 0.06), and the mean actively monitored dose was significantly higher than the mean NDR dose (mean difference 0.98 mSv) in all participants. However, interventional radiologists who wore badges irregularly showed a large difference between actively monitored doses and NDR doses (mean difference 2.39 mSv), and participants who wore badges regularly showed no apparent difference between actively monitored doses and NDR doses (mean difference 0.26 mSv). This study indicated that NDR data underestimate the actual occupational radiation exposure, and the validity of these data varies according to compliance with badge-wearing policies. Considerable attention is required to interpret and utilize NDR data based on radiation workers’ compliance with badge-wearing policies.

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Radiation exposure of the staff at the therapeutic and diagnostic nuclear medicine department

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.3413/nukmed-0163 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 47 (04) ◽

pp. 175-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. Dolezal

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Medicine ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Effective Dose ◽

Radiation Protection ◽

Annual Effective Dose ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Professional Groups ◽

Personal Dosimetry ◽

The Mean ◽

Administered Activity

SummaryAim: To assess a radiation exposure and the quality of radiation protection concerning a nuclear medicine staff at our department as a six-year retrospective study. Therapeutic radionuclides such as 131I, 153Sm, 186Re, 32P, 90Y and diagnostic ones as a 99mTc, 201Tl, 67Ga, 111In were used. Material, method: The effective dose was evaluated in the period of 2001–2006 for nuclear medicine physicians (n = 5), technologists (n = 9) and radiopharmacists (n = 2). A personnel film dosimeter and thermoluminescent ring dosimeter for measuring (1-month periods) the personal dose equivalent Hp(10) and Hp(0,07) were used by nuclear medicine workers. The wearing of dosimeters was obligatory within the framework of a nationwide service for personal dosimetry. The total administered activity of all radionuclides during these six years at our department was 17,779 GBq (99mTc 14 708 GBq, 131I 2490 GBq, others 581 GBq). The administered activity of 99mTc was similar, but the administered activity of 131I in 2006 increased by 200%, as compared with the year 2001. Results: The mean and one standard deviation (SD) of the personal annual effective dose (mSv) for nuclear medicine physicians was 1.9 ± 0.6, 1.8 ± 0.8, 1.2 ± 0.8, 1.4 ± 0.8, 1.3 ± 0.6, 0.8 ± 0.4 and for nuclear medicine technologists was 1.9 ± 0.8, 1.7 ± 1.4, 1.0 ± 1.0, 1.1 ± 1.2, 0.9 ± 0.4 and 0.7 ± 0.2 in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. The mean (n = 2, estimate of SD makes little sense) of the personal annual effective dose (mSv) for radiopharmacists was 3.2, 1.8, 0.6, 1.3, 0.6 and 0.3. Although the administered activity of 131I increased, the mean personal effective dose per year decreased during the six years. Conclusion: In all three professional groups of nuclear medicine workers a decreasing radiation exposure was found, although the administered activity of 131I increased during this six-year period. Our observations suggest successful radiation protection measures at our department.

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