A practical method for monitoring diagnostic radiation dosage in the newborn nursery.
Diagnostic radiation exposure in 133 consecutive newborns was studied using a TLD monitoring system. Eighty-eight per cent of dosimeters received less than 1 mSv (100 mrem) total exposure. The mean exposure per chest radiograph was 0.044 +/- 0.023 mSv (4.4 +/- 2.3 mrem). Abdominal surface exposure was 0.053 +/- 0.03 mSv (5.3 +/- 3.0 mrem) for boys and 0.044 +/- 0.021 mSv (4.4 +/- 2.1 mrem) for girls. The gonadal exposure, which was calculated from the abdominal exposure data, was 0.053 +/- 0.030 mSv (5.3 +/- 3.0 mrem) for boys and 0.026 +/- 0.012 mSv (2.6 +/- 1.2 mrem) for girls. The correction factor for beam attenuation over gonads in girls was 0.58. In general, the radiation received by these infants did not exceed the currently published protection limits.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry