title: A survey of sources of incoherent artificial optical radiation in a hospital environment in accordance with European Directive 2006/25/EC: evaluation of the related exposure risk.
abstract: The evaluation of incoherent artificial optical radiation (AOR) exposure in hospital environments is a complex task due to the variety of sources available. This study has been designed to provide a proposal for the precautionary assessment of the related risk. This survey suggested that, in our Institution, at least three kinds of AOR sources required specific investigations: ambient lighting, theatre operating lighting and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) sources. For each kind of evaluated sources a specific measurement approach was developed. All irradiance measurements were made using a commercial spectroradiometer. The obtained results were compared with the appropriate exposure limit values (ELVs) defined in the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines and adopted by the European Directive 2006/25/EC. The risk related to the evaluated AOR exposure was finally assessed according to our risk matrix. According to our results, the emission of ambient lighting in the actual exposure conditions was always in accordance with the ELVs and the related risk was classifiable as not relevant. The risk related to the exposure to theatre operating lighting resulted not negligible, especially when two or more sources were used with focal spots overlapping on reflective objects. UVR sources emission may represent a health hazard depending, in particular, on the set up of the device containing the source. In case of laminar flow cabinets and closed transilluminators, if the UVR source is well contained within an enclosure with interlock, it presents no risk of exposure. Otherwise, the emission arising from UVR lamps, open transilluminators or sources not provided with interlock, may represent a risk classifiable as high even in the actual working conditions. The personal protective equipment used by workers were also assessed and their suitability was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavatorta
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lualdi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polita
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolchi
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pignoli
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011840:Radiation, Nonionizing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays