Abstract
Exposure of the eye lens and brain for interventional cardiology staff
- Invasive Cardiology and Electrocardiology Department, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Prof. K. Gibiński Memorial University Clinical Centre, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- 2nd Department of Cardiology, Upper Silesian Medical Center, Katowice, Poland
- 3rd Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Introduction
Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation for people working with an X-ray treatment unit is one of the highest in medicine. The epidemiological data analyzed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) indicate that the dose threshold for tissues located in the eye lens is or may be lower than previously thought. The new ICRP recommendations reduce the currently used threshold 7.5 times to the limit of 20 mSv per year.
Aim: To carry out measurements of equivalent doses for the lenses and scalps of cardiology interventional staff to determine the actual exposure.
Material and methods
Personnel performing interventional cardiology procedures participated in the measurements. The measurements were performed using thermoluminescence dosimetry in two measurement periods. The operational quantities used in individual dosimetry were determined (dose equivalent for the scalp, dose equivalent for the eye lens). In both measurement periods, 69 operators and 12 nurses took part.
Results
The maximum value of eye doses for cardiologists was 18.80 mSv per year, with a mean of 9.83 ±6.47 mSv/year (for all cases), 5.70 ±4.26 mSv/year (with safety glasses/headgear), 13.14 ±6.28 mSv/year (without safety glasses/headgear), and 6.28 ±1.76 mSv per year for the nurses. The values of brain doses fluctuate around 1 mSv per quarter.
Conclusions
Dose equivalents for the lenses of the eyes obtained by cardiologists may be close to or exceed the current dose limits.
Keywords
interventional cardiology, exposure to the lenses, exposure to the brain
Indexed in
Integrated with
