AbstractsMedical & Health Science

The purpose of this study was to monitor background radiation leakage; using TLD badges. The study was performed by placing the TLD in the radiography control rooms’ windows; as well as the opposite sides of those same windows; where higher radiation exposure is likely. The secondary purpose of performing this study was to also observe how frequently employees wear their TLD monitor. Background radiation measurement is utilized to determine whether or not there are any radiation leaks escaping from the radiography departments rooms. The secondary purpose of performing this study was to also observe how frequently employees wear their TLD monitor appropriately; which is of course at all times when working within the radiation area. In this study, this was accomplished by placing thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) badges in different medical facilities. They include; Hospital A, B, B-RT, B-NM and the clinic. These facilities were observed for a period of three-months, and provide evidence of the presence of excess background radiation. In hospital-A CT the measurement showed 63,39 mSv inside exposure room and Angiography 47,5 mSv inside exposure room and controlling room 0,39 mSv. In the hospital-B CT the scan measured 93,76 mSv inside exposure room and in the employee area inside controlling room measured 0,61 mSv. Average background radiation measurements for hospital A were 27,25 mSv over the three months inside exposure rooms. In hospital B-RT 28,4 mSv was measured, inside the radiography room and 0,122 mSv in the control rooms. In hospital B-NM scan room, waiting area, hot lab, injection room and I-131 rooms measured 1,91 mSv. In the clinic the scan measured mSv 6,5; which is inside where radiations exposure. The observation of those wearing the TLD badge on an appropriate basis was performed simultaneously at these facilities. Those monitored for this purpose include all of the employees who operate equipment or otherwise work within the radiography departments; this is done with allowances from those health care facilities. Overall averages of all employees from Hospitals A, B, B-NM and the clinic who are wearing their TLD appropriately or not, showed as following: 10% unsure who are with TLDs, 33% with TLDs and 57% without TLDs. Inside of the exposure room in hospital-B CT the scan measured levels that were very high in comparison to the other departments where exposure. It exceeds the limit dose put in place by safety standards of 1 mSv/year; if you add up the data presented over one year. The amount of radiation in the workplace can be kept to a minimum by using radiation detectors; which can measure the amount of radiation that is present in the workplace. For those employees that it was possible to observe; the data showed that there are very few employees who wear their TLDs at all times. Attending assistant doctors; and other staff; could potentially be exposed to inappropriately high doses of radiation over the course of one year; based upon the doses recommended by regulation officials. The…