An analysis of personnel dose reports in medical radiation occupational workers from an oncology center

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the risk involved, there is need to know the quantum of personnel exposures in whole service. Dose reports from an Oncology Centre over 7 block periods, 5 years each from 1979 $ll 2013 are analyzed. Materials and Methods: Personnel monitoring (PM) reports $ll 1990s with film badges and later thermoluminescent (TL) badges (CaSo4.Dy) were evaluated. 35 years total service was taken to represent total professional service of staff superannua$ng at age 60 years. Results: Mean personnel equivalent dose for 5 year block period is 3.30±0.43 mSv (n=7 blocks). Maximum dose in any block period was 30-60 mSv. Equivalent doses 22% were zero, 64.3% within 5 mSv. 2.1% were above 30 mSv in 5 year periods. Doses were decreasing order 11.8 mSv (radiopharmaceu$cal prepara$on), 4.3 mSv (nuclear medicine), 4.1 mSv (medical physics), 2.2 mSv (brachytherapy); 1.2 mSv (radiodiagnosis), 1.1 mSv (external beam radiotherapy) and 0.73 mSv (radia$on steriliza$on plant). Conclusion: The whole body personnel dose in are much lower than recommended annual dose equivalent limits of 100 mSv/ 5 years. The magnitude of recorded doses to staff show that the risk is negligible and the principle of ALARA is being prac$ced in the work areas.