Assessment of occupational dose level from conventional x-ray on personnel in Federal Medical Center, Jalingo Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

Assessment of occupational dose level from conventional X-ray on personnel in Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, waw measured and analysed . A total of twenty (20) personnel were monitored with the use of thermo-luminiscent dosimeters (TLDs) badges. Themo luminiscent dosimeter (TLD) badges made with Lithium Fluoride (LiF) material were worn at the upper left side of chest of the body for collection of radiation dose of the exposed personnel from six different categories of workers. These categories are: radiographers, dark room technicians, radiologist, cleaners, record staff and finance staff. The personnel were monitored using the TLDs badges for a period of thirty working days the badges were evaluated using TLD Reader available at Energy Research and Training Center, ABU Zaria, Nigeria. The results show that the dose received by the exposed workers range between 860μGy - 430μGy and the highest value of effective dose recorded was 7.44mSv/year and is been received by a radiographer. This means every worker recorded effective dose lower than 20mSv/year as recommended by ICRP. The results has also show that radiographers received the highest mean dose of 668.0μGy, followed by dark room technicians with 638.0μGy, then cleaners, record staff and finance staff recorded mean deep dose of 610 μGy, 580 μGy and 557 μGy respectively. The least mean dose goes to radiologist who received 430μGy. In addition, the skin dose obtained using TLD, showed that cleaners received the highest mean skin dose of (0.27) mGy, and the least is radiologists with (0.09) mGy. It is recommended that personnel monitoring should be carried out at least once a year to assess the risks associated with exposure to workers.