Results and analyses of occupational eye lens doses in interventional radiology in China (2017-2019) / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the levels of dose to eye lens of interventional radiology workers in China from 2017 to 2019.Methods:The monitoring data on eye lens doses to the interventional radiology workers in 28 provinces across the country were collected from National Individual Dose Registry. Monitoring was carried out using TLDs on their left eyes and evaluated in terms of the personal dose equivalent Hp(3). By using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test, statistical analyses were made of the average annual lens doses to interventional radiology workers in the hospitals of different types at different levels for different years. Results:From 2017 to 2019, the data on eye lens doses to 2 981 interventional radiology workers were collected, with doses ranging from below the minimum detectable level (MDL) to 64.48 mSv, the average annual eye dose of 1.38 mSv, and the annual doses incurred by 0.97% monitored workers exceeding the recently recommended dose limits, 20 mSv per year. The average annual lens dose monitored in general hospitals and in cancer hospitals were 1.33 and 1.77 mSv, respectively, without statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The average annual lens dose in tertiary hospitals was 1.39 mSv, significantly higher than that in secondary hospitals where the value was 1.16 mSv ( Z=2.894, P<0.05). Conclusions:The estimated annual eye lens doses to the interventional radiology workers during 2017-2019 were in accordance with the current national standard GB 18871-2002, but with a few exceptions exceeding the current international standards. This means that there exists, to a certain degree, a potential risk for the eye lens in this work category to exceed the international limits. It is suggested to continue in effort to enhance the monitoring of eye lens dose for these workers and to increase risk awareness, and take effective protective measures so as to lower the level of eye lens doses.