A national survey of occupational radiation exposure among diagnostic radiologic technologists in South Korea.
The objective of this study was to investigate representative occupational characteristics and radiation exposure for South Korean radiologic technologists. The authors conducted a national survey by stratified sampling of South Korean administrative districts and types of medical facilities. A total of 585 technologists were surveyed, and survey data were linked with dosimetry data from the National Dose Registry. A total of 73 % of radiologic technologists sampled were male, 62 % were younger than age 40 and 86.5 % began employment after 1990. The most frequent practices among radiologic technologists were diagnostic routine X-ray followed by computed tomography (CT) and portable X-ray. Male workers were more frequently involved in CT, portable X-ray and interventional radiology whereas female workers carried out most mammography procedures. The average annual effective dose was 2.3 mSv for male and 1.3 mSv for female workers. The dose was significantly higher for workers in the provinces and those who had recently started work.
Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Jeeyoung
J
Lee
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Eun Shil
ES
Cha
Radiation Health Research Institute, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Meeseon
M
Jeong
Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea leewj@korea.ac.kr.
Won Jin
WJ
Lee
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection; D012042:Registries; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult