Thermoluminescence dosimetry in the Caribbean

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Radiation safety
• Medical physics

Background:

• Radiation workers in the Caribbean require consistent monitoring.
• International radiation dose limits are established to protect workers.
• Understanding dose distribution across worker categories is crucial for safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the annual radiation doses of workers in Jamaica, Barbados, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
• To compare occupational radiation doses with international safety standards.
• To identify trends in radiation exposure among different worker categories.

Main Methods:

• Five years of radiation monitoring data from 590 radiation workers in Jamaica and 88 in Barbados and Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Calculation of annual absorbed dose and Effective Dose Equivalent (EDE).
• Categorization of workers based on their roles (e.g., nuclear medicine, dental radiology).

Main Results:

• The annual radiation dose for most Caribbean radiation workers was below the 20 mSv/year limit.
• Few instances of high occupational radiation exposure were recorded.
• Nuclear medicine workers generally received higher doses than dental radiologists, aligning with international trends.

Conclusions:

• Occupational radiation doses in the monitored Caribbean populations are generally safe and within international limits.
• The calculated risk of fatal cancer from these occupational doses is very low.
• Continuous radiation monitoring is essential for maintaining worker safety and identifying potential issues promptly.