Radiation cancer risk from doses to newborn infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units in children hospitals of Isfahan province

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to invesgate dose area product (DAP), effecve dose, and radiaon risk in newborn infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units in Isfahan and Kashan. Materials and Methods: During a period of six months, DAP for chest X-ray examinaons for newborn infants hospitalized in NICUs of five special hospitals including Behesh (in Kashan), Al-Zahra, Imam Hossein, Amin and Goldis (in Isfahan) were measured using DAP meter. Then, using the dose area product (DAP) and conversion coefficients, the effecve dose was calculated. Radiaon risk per single exposure was esmated by applying 2.8 A� 10-2 and 13 A� 10-2 factors per Sievert. Also, to esmate the radiaon risk in the exposed populaon, the collecve effecve dose and the menoned factors were used. Results: The mean DAP, the effecve dose, the radiaon risk per single exposure, and the radiaon risk in the exposed populaon were found to be 15.37 ± (1.19), 45.52 ± (3.28), 1.27-5.91 A� 10-6, and 0.0045-0.021, respecvely. Conclusion: Findings indicate that the effecve dose and therefore radiaon risk in NICUs for newborn infants is higher than that of other studied cies in Iran. Consequently, it is necessary to aCempt to reduce radiaon dose while maintaining the image quality. In addion, theorecal and praccal training programs are needed to increase the knowledge and skills of radiologic technologists on the concept of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) and possible radiaon cancer risks.