Assessment of Radiation Hazard on Public Health at Indoor and Outdoor Environment of DMCH Campus, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the excess life-time cancer risk (ELCR) of public in & around the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) campus based on the real-time radiation monitoring data.
 Method: A real-time digital portable radiation monitoring device (GAMMA SCOUT) along with a Garmin eTrex Global Positioning System (GPS) device was used for radiation monitoring and location identification respectively. ArcGIS® software (Version 2.3) was used for mapping of the locations.
 Result: The measured dose rate in the indoor environment ranged from 0.05-71.21 µSv/hr with an average of 12.709 ± 0.624 µSv/hr and in the outdoor environment ranged from 0.02-0.58 µSv/hr with an average of 0.174 ± 0.038 µSv/hr of the DMCH campus. The annual effective dose in the indoor environment ranged from 84.552- 93.52 mSv with an average of 89.064 ± 47.730 mSv and in the outdoor environment, the value ranged from 0.21-0.43 mSv with an average of 0.306 ± 0.105 mSv. ELCR from indoor gamma radiation ranged from 333×10-3 - 368 ×10-3 with an average of 3×10-1 and in the outdoor, it ranged from 8.377×10-4 -1.829×10-3 with an average value of 1×10-3 for 32 selected locations in & around DMCH campus.
 Conclusion: This type of study is required to minimize the public health risk associated with ionizing radiation. This study also helps for the protection of the environment and the public from unnecessary radiation hazard arising from DMCH.