Optimizing staff radiation protection in radiology by minimizing the effective dose

• Published in: RöFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebende Verfahren Vol. 178; no. 3; p. 287
• Main Authors: von Boetticher, H, Lachmund, J, Hoffmann, W, Luska, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Health Personnel; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Phantoms, Imaging; Protective Clothing; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Protection - methods; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; Thyroid Gland - radiation effects
• ISSN: 1438-9029
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-926503

In the present study the optimization of radiation protection devices is achieved by minimizing the effective dose of the staff members since the stochastic radiation effects correlate to the effective dose. Radiation exposure dosimetry was performed with TLD measurements using one Alderson Phantom in the patient position and a second phantom in the typical position of the personnel. Various types of protective clothing as well as fixed shields were considered in the calculations. It was shown that the doses of the unshielded organs (thyroid, parts of the active bone marrow) contribute significantly to the effective dose of the staff. Therefore, there is no linear relationship between the shielding factors for protective garments and the effective dose. An additional thyroid protection collar reduces the effective dose by a factor of 1.7 - 3.0. X-ray protective clothing with a 0.35 mm lead equivalent and an additional thyroid protection collar provides better protection against radiation than an apron with a 0.5 mm lead equivalent but no collar. The use of thyroid protection collars is an effective preventive measure against exceeding occupational organ dose limits, and a thyroid shield also considerably reduces the effective dose. Therefore, thyroid protection collars should be a required component of anti-X protection.