Occupational exposure and radiological risks from x-ray baggage screening in eastern China

The occupational personnel of x-ray baggage screening may experience chronic or abnormal radiation exposure. However, their exposure hazards and individual protections remain ambiguous, especially for some new applications and key positions. In this work, exposure levels were analysed through on-site inspection and Monte Carlo simulation. The effective dose and radiological risk were estimated using the International Commission on Radiological Protection, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII risk models. The results show that the workplace dose rate could be controlled at a low level under normal use, with a mean value of 0.21µSv·h^-1from the survey. However, it is necessary to strengthen radiation protection for some new applications, such as workshops, whose maximum dose rate could reach up to 2.07µSv·h^-1. Additionally, the maximum leakage dose could greatly exceed dose limits under abnormal working conditions. Furthermore, the radiological risk to maintenance and commissioning should be given more attention, as they may be exposed to risks of up to 1.3 × 10^-3% during one work shift. This result is beneficial to deepen the understanding of occupational exposure risks, which could guide individual protection and workplace management.