New Eye Lens Dose Limit: Status of Knowledge in Campania Hospitals

The International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) in 2011 recommended the lowering of the annual eye lens dose limit from 150 mSv/year to 20 mSv/year in order to reduce the risk of X-ray-induced lens opacity in medical staff. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of knowledge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2019-09, Vol.16 (18), p.3450
Main Authors: D'Avino, Vittoria, Angrisani, Leopoldo, La Verde, Giuseppe, Pugliese, Mariagabriella, Raulo, Adelaide, Sabatino, Giuseppe, Coppola, Fulvio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiology
Cataracts
Departments
Dosimetry
Exposure
Extremities
Eye lens
Health Personnel
Hospitals
Humans
Information sources
International organizations
Interviews
Italy
Knowledge
Legislation
Lens, Crystalline - radiation effects
Medical personnel
Nurses
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Orthopedics
Physicians
Protective Devices
Questionnaires
Radiation
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Dosimeters
Radiation effects
Radiation Protection
Studies
Thyroid gland
Urology
Workers
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Summary:The International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) in 2011 recommended the lowering of the annual eye lens dose limit from 150 mSv/year to 20 mSv/year in order to reduce the risk of X-ray-induced lens opacity in medical staff. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of knowledge of the new eye lens dose limit and of the radioprotection culture among operators. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to physicians, X-ray technicians, and nurses working in five hospitals of the Campania region, Italy. A total of 64 questionnaires were collected in the hospital departments in which procedures involving ionizing radiation were routinely performed. The data analyzed yielded the following results: 12 operators affirmed to know the new eye lens dose limit, 53 operators routinely wore lead aprons, and 23 operators used lead glasses. Four workers performed eye lens dosimetry through specific dosimeters. A significant lack of knowledge of the reduced eye lens dose limit suggests the need to implement radioprotection-training programs aimed at raising awareness about the importance of health care in the workplace and at reducing the risk of radio-induced effects to the eye lens.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph16183450