Study of Occupational Exposure of Medical Centers in Guilan Province

Abstract Being irradiated by low level radiations for a long time، could have stochastic effects such as cancer on human body. With regard to the fact that 500 employees are working as radiation workers for medical centers in Guilan province; hence، studying about their occupational exposure can disclose the occupational risks which might be very serious، especially from health viewpoint. Assessment of the average annual effective dose for radiation workers of medical centers in Guilan province from March 2009 to March 2011. Radiation workers are divided into three different categories: nuclear medicine، radiotherapy and radiology. Effective doses of them were measured and evaluated for 18 periods of two months lasting three consecutive years. The measurement device was film badge dosimeter. Film badge usually is mounted on the chest area for a period of two months. The detectable energy range of film badge for X-ray and Gamma radiation is 10 keV to 3 MeV and for Beta radiation is 200 keV to 2. 5 MeV. After this period، the film badge was sent to the laboratory for development process and amount of exposure. The collected data were then analyzed by SPSS. The average effective annual dose for radiation workers of nuclear medicine، radiotherapy and radiology was calculated to be 0. 75، 0. 18 and 0. 06 mSv، respectively. Significant differences were detected between average annual effective doses in different groups. Occupational risk with the highest amount of exposure، was for nuclear medicine groups and with the least amount for radiology groups. However، in comparison with the world data، radiation protection status in Guilan province is reasonable. Conflict of interest: non declared