title: Ambient x-ray pollution assessment at inspection gates of airports- a case study of Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini Airports in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a well-known, physical carcinogen, ambient X-ray pollution assessment would be of great importance in today's modern world. Accordingly, the present study was done to measure the exposure level of ambient X-ray at inspection gates of two airports in Iran. According to which, the X-ray was measured at different points of the inspection gates including closed and opened Curtain, as well as seating place of operators beside the X-ray inspection systems. The recorded data were then analyzed by "sign" and t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total average exposure level of the measured x-ray was 2.68 ± 0.73 μsv.h(-1). The measured x-ray exposure level was 2.07 ± 0.61 (μsv.h(-1)) released from RAPISCAN X-ray inspection system and 3.3 ± 1.34 (μsv.h(-1)) emitted from HEIMANN X-ray inspection system. Comparison of average x-ray doses of the systems in both airports showed that the minimum and maximum exposure levels were recorded at 1(m) far from the devices and at the entrance of the devices, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exposure levels at all measurement points were lower than the occupational exposure limit. This reveals the fact that the exposed operators are not probably at risk of adverse health effects.
authors: Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Gholamhossein
authors: G
authors: Pourtaghi
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Firouz
authors: F
authors: Valipour
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sepideh
authors: S
authors: Nourian
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Medical sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Amirabbas
authors: A
authors: Mofidi
keywords: Airport; Electromagnetic ionizing rays; Inspection gates; X-ray