Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and lens opacity in interventional cardiologists

Abstract

Interventional cardiologists (ICs) are occupationally exposed to low or moderate doses of ionizing radiation from repeated exposures. It is not clear whether these occupational conditions may affect their eye lens. Therefore, the risk of radiation-induced cataract in the cohort of Polish interventional cardiologists is analyzed in this paper. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 69 interventional cardiologists and 78 control individuals occupationally unexposed to ionizing radiation. The eye lens opacities were examined using a slit camera and evaluated with Lens Opacities Grading System III. Cumulative eye lens doses were estimated retrospectively using a questionnaire including data on occupational history. Results: The average cumulative dose to the left and right eye lens of the ICs was 224 mSv and 85 mSv, respectively. Nuclear opalescence and nuclear color opacities in the most exposed left eye were found in 38% of the ICS for both types, and in 47% and 42% of the controls, respectively. Cortical opacities were found in 25% of the ICS and 29% of the controls. Posterior subcapsular opacities were rare: about 7% in the ICs group and 6% in the control group. Overall, there was some, but statistically insignificant, increase in the risk for opacity in the ICs group, relative to the control group, after adjusting for the subjects' age, gender, smoking status and medical exposure (adjusted OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.62-3.59 for the pooled "any-eye any-type" opacity). There was also no evidence for an increased opacity risk with an increase in the dose. Conclusions: The study found no statistically significant evidence against the hypothesis that the risk of cataract in the group of the ICs occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation is the same as in the control group. Nevertheless, the adverse effect of ionizing radiation still cannot be excluded due to a relatively small study sample size.

Exposure to ionizing radiation by service personnel working with cyclotrons used to produce radiopharmaceuticals in PET diagnostics

“…Service activities should always be carried out in accordance with strictly defined work safety procedures ensuring minimal contact with the radioactive elements of the cyclotron and thus reducing exposure. To further minimize exposure to ionizing radiation, service personnel should have extensive knowledge on radiation protection and keep it up to date by participation in regular radiation protection training.ing activities involving exposure to ionizing radiation[2]. Our present measurements indicate the dose in the eye lenses to be approx.…”

“…In medicine, the use of ionizing radiation results in exposure not only to patients and the personnel conducting the medical procedures, but also to the employees who service the equipment, perform periodic maintenance and correct failures. Many studies have examined the level of exposure to ionizing radiation received by medical personnel during treatments or examinations [1][2][3]. Unfor-IJOMEH 2022;35(6) 2 in 40 GBq of product.…”

“…Unfor-IJOMEH 2022;35(6) 2 in 40 GBq of product. With about 200 production runs a year, this gives a total activity of 8 TBq [2]. However, due to interactions with the proton beam or high-energy secondary neutrons, many radioisotopes become trapped in cyclotron parts.…”

Efficacy of a Protective Sheet for Reducing Ocular Radiation Exposure During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

“…In particular, ocular radiation exposure increases the risk of cataracts among operators. [1][2][3] Protective leaded glasses are currently used for personal protection in the HOR to reduce radiation exposure, but their efficacy is inconsistent because of the changing head position of the operator intraoperatively. 4 Moreover, because radiation from the C-arm in the HOR irradiates from under the operating table, scatter radiation (SR) contributes to greater exposure of the operators, which cannot be prevented sufficiently by leaded glasses.…”

Assessment of the Impact of Low-dose Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Health Care Workers: A Study of Methods Used from a Scoping Review

“…Most of the available studies have focused on the potential relationship between ionizing radiations and etiopathogenesis of many diseases, such as the increased incidence of thyroid cancer, nodules, and a significant growth of thyroid autoimmunity and hypothyroidism (Kitahara et al 2018; Alawneh et al 2018; Luna-Sánchez et al 2019; Wong et al 2019; Cioffi et al 2020); genomic instability, including DNA damage, chromosomal aberrations, higher frequency of micronuclei and DNA strand breaks (Fang et al 2019; Da Silva-Júnior et al 2020); and clouding of the eye lens with blurry vision and blindness (Negrone and Lascio 2016; Domienik-Andrzejewska et al 2019). However, other health damages can be described as consequences of the relation between low-dose ionizing radiation and health impact.…”