title: Radiation exposure among medical professionals working in the Intensive Care Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the expanding use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiological modalities in critically ill patients, doctors working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are increasingly exposed to ionizing radiation. This risk of radiation exposure occurs not only during bedside radiologic procedures, but also when ICU physicians accompany patients to radiology suites. The aim of this study was to quantify levels of radiation exposure among medical professionals working in the ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out prospectively over 6 months in the ICU of a tertiary-referral cancer hospital. Two teams consisting of 4 ICU resident doctors each were instructed to wear thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) during their duty shifts. Standard radiation protection precautions were used throughout the study period. TLDs were also placed in selected areas of the ICU to measure the amount of scattered radiation. TLDs were analyzed at the end of every 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The readings recorded on TLDs placed in the ICU were almost immeasurable. The mean value of residents' radiation exposure was 0.059 mSv, though the highest individual reading approached 0.1 mSv. The projected maximum yearly radiation exposure was 0.4 mSv.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If standard radiation safety precautions are followed, the cumulative radiation exposure to ICU resident doctors is well within permissible limits and is not a cause of concern. However, with the increasing use of radiological procedures in the management of critically ill patients, there is a need to repeat such audits periodically to monitor radiation exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Suhail S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Nambiraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Deepak D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Jigeeshu V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Divatia
keywords: Dosimetry; Intensive Care Unit; occupational exposure