Personnel radiation monitoring in the radiodiagnostic department

Abstract

Buchan (1968) has related some comments regarding personnel monitoring in diagnostic radiology that we would like to consider further. His correspondence is to be commended, because it reminds us that we in diagnostic radiology must continually review our radiation safety procedures. He is correct in saying that a film badge cannot measure the dose to the critical organ—in most cases it would be difficult enough to identify the critical organ. But, we disagree with his suggestion that the personnel monitor is a “site monitor”. During the development of the specialty of health physics a number of terms have come into use which have been identified by various authors. For example: (a) Environmental monitoring. Surveillance, through radiation sampling networks, of the environment in public areas for the purpose of providing data for estimating public exposure and doses relating to environmental radioactivity (Radioassay Procedures for Environmental Samples, 1967). (b) Area monitoring. Routine monitoring of t...