Development of the Philippine National Dose Registry as a Tool for the Tracking and Assessment of Occupational Radiation Exposures and Risks in the Philippines

Abstract

The rise in the number of occupationally exposed workers in the Philippines has made tracking, monitoring, and assessment of occupational exposures more difficult. Over the years, other than the DOST-PNRI, various private companies have started providing individual monitoring services (IMS). Although these providers are duly recognized by the regulatory agencies, it has resulted in a decentralized database of occupational exposure records in the country. To help address this and as required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a web-based National Dose Registry (NDR) was developed to maintain a centralized dose repository of occupational external exposures in the country. The NDR can automatically record and track an individual’s exposure history, provide an annual dose summary of the worker and facility, notify incidents of doses exceeding the regulatory limits, and allow regulatory agencies to have ready access to dose information, among others. The NDR also provides exposure profiles of workers according to the type of practices. The average annual doses due to external exposures received from various practices during 2013–2018 were evaluated in terms of personal dose equivalent Hp(10). Results show that in conventional radiology practices, more than 70% of workers did not receive doses above the recording level. In industrial radiography (IR) and nuclear medicine (NM) practices, on the other hand, workers received the highest average annual doses of 1.02 mSv and 0.44 mSv, respectively – with incidents of doses exceeding the limit of 20 mSv/yr. Practices in IR and NM, thus, pose higher risks of occupational exposures to workers. The NDR, therefore, can be used in recording, tracking, and assessing occupational exposure profiles and risks. The NDR can also also be tool to aid in the development of better regulations and thereby help in strengthening radiation protection in the country.