PESHAWAR, July 6: A study conducted at the Pakistan Medical and Research Council has shown that health workers and paramedics are exposed to radiation levels beyond those permitted. The study also called for protective measures for radiologists, paramedics and health workers. “The radiation dose was measured at 1 mSv per hour on the hand of a radiologist during fluoroscopy examination of a patient which is 400 times higher than the permissible radiation dose level (PRDL),” said the study. The radiation rates measured on the chest of a nurse was 200 uSv per hour or 20 times more than the permissible dose of 10 uSv per hour.
It said that such high radiation levels pose serious health risks to radiologists and paramedical staff and deserve the attention of hospital managements and the national regulatory authority.
Good radiation practices should be established and implemented through incentives until these become a permanent habit, it said.
The subject of radiation, it said, should be given due importance during training courses in X-ray diagnosis.
According to the study, it has been observed that the staff involved in provision of X-ray services to patients as well as attendants of patients are unnecessarily exposed to X-ray radiation.
Under the recommendations of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Board (PNRB), the government enacted a law for the annual permissible dose of radiation for the occupational and non-occupational workers which was 20 and 1.0 mSv respectively.
From a single X-ray chest, the patient receives a dose of 0.2 mSv, it added. Due to the ignorance of the general public about the hazards of the X-ray and lethargy on the part of the radiographers for not following proper safety measures, during work get exposure to X-rays, it said.
Invented in 1895 by scientist Roentgen, its higher and prolonged doses can effect genetic and somatic changes, which have long-term repercussions.
Unaware of the hazards of the radiation, its discoverer, in an effort to get an image of an abject with X-rays exposed his left hand as an object and developed radiation injury.
So far, 69 cases of skin injuries due to exposure to X-rays have been reported worldwide, it said.
A farmer and his two children died in Egypt in 2000, when he found a radioactive rod in the field possibly used in medical equipment. The farmer took it home believing it to be a precious metal. Besides, the death of three people, 60 people were found affected with radiation.
Hands and body of the professional workers should be kept away from the centre of the X-ray beam. Protective clothing, such as lead aprons, hand gloves and lead glasses of appropriate thickness should be used. Likewise, unnecessary and repeated X-rays for monetary gain should be avoided.
Special care is needed during pregnancy, menstruation and in case of injury when the internal cells may be easily affected.
The study said that it was high time that a regular monitoring system was created for workers engaged in X-rays both in the private and public sector to make sure that they do not get overexposed to radiation.
In case health workers do get overexposed, they should be removed from radiation work for a stipulated period of time, so as to bring the radiation dose within the recommended limit.