ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION DOSES IN DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC, INTERVENTIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC RADIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR IMAGING SERVICES IN OMAN

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing occupational radiation doses in different diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic services. Personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), of 116 medical radiation workers, all with 3 y of dose records (2015-18), were collected from the TLD dosimetry service at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital-a 700-bed tertiary care teaching hospital in Oman. The doses were measured using calibrated thermo-luminescence dosemeters (TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti)). Five occupational groups, diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physicists and nurses, were considered. Average, maximum and median cumulative doses were estimated and compared against the annual dose limit (20 mSv per y) and the local dose investigation level (DIL) (6 mSv per y). Personal doses (average:maximum:median) for diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physicists and nurses group were found to be 0.05:0.90:0.00, 0.05:0.50:0.00, 1.20:7.40:0.40, 0.16:1.40:0.00 and 0.10:2.10:0.00 mSv, respectively. The findings of this study suggest, at the exception of nuclear medicine, lower DILs for all occupational groups.