How significant are the risks from occupational exposure to ionizing radiation?
Radiologists and other physicians practicing in specialties where their principal operational procedures involve the use of ionizing radiation have health risks associated with their occupational exposures. Based on two years of film badge records from this institution, it was estimated that the general radiologists received an annual occupational dose equivalent of 350 mrems. The corresponding doses for therapeutic radiologists and those practicing special procedures and cardiac catheterization were 110 mrems and 550 mrems. The estimated excess cancer deaths for general radiologists would be between 0.97 and 1.63 per 1,000 people at risk. The corresponding excess death risk for therapeutic radiologists would be 0.30 to 0.51; for those practicing special procedures and cardiac catheterization, it would be 1.52 to 2.56. The excess risk of cancer deaths to the radiologists could range from 0.3% for the radiotherapist to 1.5% for those practicing special procedures and cardiac catheterizations.
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005373:Film Dosimetry; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011871:Radiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce