Evaluation occupationally radiation exposure during diagnostic imaging examinations

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Radiological Protection

Background:

• Occupational radiation exposure is a significant concern, particularly in healthcare settings.
• Millions of workers worldwide are exposed to artificial radiation sources, with medical applications being a major contributor.
• Understanding and quantifying these exposures is crucial for ensuring worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare occupational radiation dose levels among 145 workers in four hospitals in Saudi Arabia's Aseer region.
• To evaluate these doses against the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Standards.
• To provide data on annual occupational exposures in diagnostic radiology procedures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD-100) to quantify occupational radiation exposure.
• Calculated average annual occupational exposure doses over two consecutive years.
• Compared measured doses with established international safety limits.

Main Results:

• The average, highest, and lowest annual occupational doses were 1.42 mSv, 3.9 mSv, and 0.72 mSv, respectively.
• All recorded annual effective doses were within the IAEA's recommended limit of 20 mSv for occupational exposure.
• The study identified that annual exposures could potentially exceed 15% of the effective dose limit.

Conclusions:

• Occupational radiation doses in the studied Saudi hospitals are within international safety standards.
• Regular monitoring of healthcare staff is recommended to manage potential exposures effectively.
• This research contributes to the understanding of radiation safety practices in medical facilities in the region.