Evaluation of Occupational Radiation Status and Validity of Individual Dose and Eye Lens Assessment Using Single Film Dosimeter for Angiographic Staff in Iran

Background and Aim: In angiography, the lens of the eye may be exposed to radiation and cause cataracts. In Iran, at present, only a single film dosimeter is used under the lead-apron to evaluate individual doses. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of occupational radiation as well as the validity of measuring the dose of the whole body of individuals and eye lenses using a single film dosimeter. Materials and Methods: In this study, the dose of the whole body and eye lenses were measured using a combination of film and thermoluminescence dosimeters for 35 employees of the angiography departments in three selected hospitals under the auspices of Tehran University of Medical Sciences(TUMS). To measure the eye lens dose, three thermoluminescence dosimeter pellets were used on the forehead, and left and right eyes; and to measure the whole body dose using the two-dosimetry method, a TLD card mounted on the chest and on the lead apron and a film dosimeter on the chest and under the lead apron were used. Results: The angiography personnel's monthly dose mean of the eye lenses and the whole body were approximately 240.6±6.4 μSv and 120.3±3.3 μSv,  respectively(the corresponding amount for the annual dose is less than the levels recommended by international authorities). In addition, the dose ratio of film badge to whole body and eye  lens was 0.35 and 0.51, with correlation coefficients of 0.97 and 0.5, respectively. Also, the ratio of eye lens dose to depth dose(TLD) on the lead apron was 1.18 with a correlation coefficient of 0.79. Conclusion: Using a single film dosimter under the lead apron to estimate the dose of the whole body is almost accurate but this dosimeter alone is not suitable for the assessment of the lens dose of the eye; it is necessary to use an individual dosimeter on the lead apron.