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Background The thyroid gland is one of the organs sensitive to ionizing radiation, and there are few studies on the effects of long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation on the thyroid gland of radiation workers. Objective To investigate thyroid abnormalities in workers in medical radiology departments in Guangdong Province and to identify potential influencing factors of thyroid abnormalities. Methods A total of 1657 radiation workers from 48 hospitals in Guangdong Province were selected as survey subjects using convenience sampling, and their personal dose monitoring results and health examination information were retrospectively analyzed to determine the factors affecting thyroid abnormalities. Results The M (P25, P75) of thyroid absorbed dose (DT) was 1.55 (0.65, 3.96) mGy in the 1657 investigated workers. The attribute-specific medians of DT were 1.29, 1.38, 1.99, and 3.51 mGy for departments of diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine, respectively; and 1.10, 1.55, and 1.80 mGy for job titles of nurse, technician, and physician, respectively. Differences in DT by gender, age, years of radiological work, age of radiation exposure onset, occupational category, and job title were statistically significant (Z=−6.35, H=708.52, 918.20, 31.19, 95.64, 39.28, P<0.05). The positive rate of thyroid abnormalities in investigated workers was 46.53% (771/1657). Among them, the positive rate of abnormal thyroid function was 22.87% (379/1657), that of abnormal thyroid morphology was 33.98% (563/1657), and that of thyroid nodule was 26.55% (440/1657). The differences in thyroid abnormality rates by gender, age, years of radiation work, age of radiation exposure onset, DT, and job title of radiation workers were statistically significant (χ2=51.89, 49.64, 20.54, 18.29, 12.07, 16.16, P<0.05). The differences in abnormal thyroid function positive rate by gender, age of radiation exposure onset, and job title were statistically significant (χ2=26.21, 6.21, 8.32, P<0.05). The differences in the positive rates of abnormal thyroid morphology and nodules were statistically significant by gender, age, years of radiological work, age of radiation exposure onset, DT, and job title (abnormal thyroid morphology, χ2=40.24, 64.17, 37.63, 15.17, 19.28, 15.05; nodules, χ2=31.41, 77.98, 42.11, 19.16, 21.70, 13.52, P<0.05). The positive rates of thyroid abnormality, thyroid morphology abnormality, and nodules all showed a linear increasing trend with increasing age, years of radiation work, and age of radiation exposure onset (P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the factors influencing thyroid abnormalities were female (OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.72-2.74), increased years of radiological work (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.03-1.06), onset of radiation exposure in age groups of 30-34 and ≥35 years (OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.12-2.37; OR=2.58, 95%CI: 1.74-3.29), and working in department of diagnostic radiology (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.07-1.84). Conclusion Long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation has an effect on thyroid abnormalities in medical radiation workers. Among them, being female, physicians, and working in department of diagnostic radiology are at a higher risk of abnormal thyroid function; being female, increased years of radiation work, and radiation exposure onset at age ≥30 years are associated with a higher risk of reporting abnormal thyroid morphology.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyzes the current status of radiation protection in non-medical sectors, together with the vulnerable spots in the prevention and control of occupational radiation sickness in China in order to provides both technical basis for occupational health management in non-medical radiation sectors and the better protection of occupational health benefits for radiation workers.Methods:The monitoring plan for this survey was worked out on the part of the National Institute for Radiological Protection, China CDC. Survey and monitoring of the current status of radiation protection and occupational health management were, under the monitoring the plan, completed by the relevant agencies of all provincial-level regions for the key industries of non-medical sectors countrywide, involving occupational health monitoring, personal dose monitoring, radiation protection monitoring instruments equipped, and radiation protection monitoring in workplace. Based on the survey result , the deficiencies in radiation protection and occupational health monitoring in non-medical sectors were analyzed.Results:The survey of non-medical sectors was divided into general investigation and detailed monitoring, with the general investigations covering 9 075 non-medical institutions in 31 provincial-level regions across the country. Of them, a total of 4 911 institutions within 329 district-level regions received detailed investigation and radiation protection monitoring. As survey result , the X, γ ambient dose equivalent rates for the institutions using ray-generator are greater than 2.5 μSv/h, about 2.35% of the total, with a maximum of 817 μSv/h. The values for those using radioactive sources were greater than 2.5 μSv/h, about 9.57%, with a maximum of 1 700 μSv/h. The frequencies of personal dose monitoring and occupational health examination were 72.9% and 82.1%, respectively.Conclusions:There is still a gap in radiation protection between the current status and the national regulations and standards in non-medical sectors, so both regulation and management of radiation protection should be further strengthened.
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Objective To study the development of medical imaging in Shandong province and identify existing problems. Methods 378 secondary hospitals and above were surveyed with questionnaires and other means for a general picture of their radiology departments. The survey covered medical imaging examinations, human resources and equipment configurations. Results The recent five years have found a rapid growth of a variety of medical imaging examinations, digital imaging in dominance, high-end equipments as the mainstream, sufficient staffing, shortage of high-level talents in these hospitals. Conclusion The medical imaging examinations should be regarded as justified and reasonable, the competence of hospital staff should be upgraded, and operation of medical imaging examinations should be normalized.