Doses to patients from diagnostic radiology in France

Reported here are results of a 1982 national survey in France to establish the collective effective dose equivalent associated with the main types of radiological examinations practiced annually in this country (except nuclear medicine, C.T. scans, dental radiology and mass chest screening). This report describes the methodology followed in achieving dose measurements either on an anthropomorphic phantom or directly on the patient, and it highlights the importance of the radiological procedures (number of x-ray films, fluoroscopy screening time, etc.) on the patient organ doses. The estimated collective effective dose equivalent associated with these radiological practices is 86,000 person-Sv, i.e., an individual effective dose equivalent of 1.58 mSv y-1; the genetically significant dose figure is 0.29 mSv and the collective red bone marrow dose due to 45 million x-ray exams practiced in France (1982) is 40,300 person-Sv, i.e. 0.74 mSv per inhabitant.