Assessment of Occupational Radiation Doses in Different Diagnostic, Interventional and Therapeutic Radiology and Molecular Imaging Services in Oman

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing occupational radiation doses in different diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic services. Personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), of 116 medical radiation workers, all with 3 y of dose records (2015–18), were collected from the TLD dosimetry service at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital—a 700-bed tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman. The doses were measured using calibrated thermo-luminescence dosemeters (TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti)). Five occupational groups, diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physicists and nurses, were considered. Average, maximum and median cumulative doses were estimated and compared against the annual dose limit (20 mSv per y) and the local dose investigation level (DIL) (6 mSv per y). Personal doses (average:maximum:median) for diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physicists and nurses group were found to be 0.05:0.90:0.00, 0.05:0.50:0.00, 1.20:7.40:0.40, 0.16:1.40:0.00 and 0.10:2.10:0.00 mSv, respectively. The findings of this study suggest, at the exception of nuclear medicine, lower DILs for all occupational groups.

Evaluation of radiation safety levels in the monitor rooms of selected diagnostic centres in Lagos State using thermoluminescent dosimeter

“…The values obtained in this study suggest safety levels of radiation doses which were below safe recommended dose limit of 50 mSv/per year. Findings in this study agree with previous reports on hospital related work place exposure to radiation (Kharita et al, 2021;Aung and Khaing, 2021;Bouchareb et al, 2021;Fan et al, 2021;Choi et al, 2018;Chinangwa et al, 2017). Moreover, the low values observed may be attributed to adherence to radiation protection practices in the centres studied including the optimization applied in the construction shielding.…”