Occupational radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: Assessing anesthesia staff 's skin dose with thermoluminescent dosimetry

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the occupational dose for the skin in terms of equivalent doses experienced by anesthesia staff during interventional cardiology procedures in Saudi Arabia. Over a five-year period (2019–2023), thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) data were gathered for 175 anesthesia staff members. The TLDs used in this study estimated the skin-dose equivalent at a depth of 0.07 mm, referred to as Hp(0.07). The cohort comprised predominantly technologists, who formed about 72.4% of the participants (with a gender distribution of 55% male and 45% female), while consultants made up the remaining 27.6% (70% male and 30% female). The study's findings on the annual mean Hp(0.07) for all staff from 2019 to 2023 indicated notable fluctuations in radiation exposure over the years. The annual mean Hp(0.07) values showed a range, with the peak at 0.85 mSv in 2020 and the lowest at 0.64 mSv in 2023. A significant increase in the annual mean Hp(0.07) was observed from 0.66 mSv in 2019 to 0.85 mSv in 2020, followed by a slight rise to 0.86 mSv in 2021, and then a decrease to 0.72 mSv in 2022 and further to 0.64 mSv in 2023. These variations were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The overall annual mean Hp(0.07) over the study period was 0.75 ± 0.43 mSv. In terms of gender differences, the overall annual mean Hp(0.07) for male technologists was 0.73 mSv, and for female technologists, it was slightly higher at 0.87 mSv. Among consultants, male consultants had an overall annual mean Hp(0.07) of 0.69 mSv, while female consultants had a lower average of 0.47 mSv. The overall annual mean Hp(0.07) for technologists was 0.8 mSv, significantly higher than that for consultants, which was 0.62 mSv (p-value = 0.015). The gender-based analysis revealed that males had an overall annual mean Hp(0.07) of 0.72 ± 0.38 mSv, while females had a 0.79 ± 0.48 mSv, with no significant statistical difference (p = 0.344). Despite these variations, the annual mean Hp(0.07) values remained below the occupational exposure limit of 500 mSv annually. However, since the relationship between exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation and cancer risk has not yet been fully determined, compliance with radiation safety protocols and personal doses should be periodically assessed in any radiological department to keep radiation exposure to staff ALARA.