Assessment of radiation dose on occupational health workers of some selected hospitals in Jigawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

Medical Occupational Health workers under Radiology and Dental departments are generally exposed to chronic low dose and long-term doses of ionizing radiations in their bodies. The research was carried out to evaluate the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on the occupational health workers for some selected hospitals in Dutse Emirate of Jigawa State, Nigeria. The trends and distribution of dose from occupational radiation exposure to radiation health workers from five selected hospitals in Jigawa State were assessed and evaluated using renowned techniques. The collected data to monitor and compute the total doses by workers was from a period of eight months (from January 2023 to August 2023). Total of 79 medical occupational health workers were monitored from two different departments (Radiology and Dental Department) comprising 60% in radiology department and 40% from Dental Department. The results Show that the average estimated dose for all departments ranged from 0.39 to 3.92 mSv. The study revealed that workers in radiology department had the highest dose compared to personnel in Dental Department.  Moreover, there are no such risks of radiation dose to occupational health workers, patients and people visiting the two departments. Based on this research, all departments working with ionizing radiation are within the International Standard of 20mSv as stated by ICRP, UNCEAR and they should ensure a strict obedience to such radiation safety practices to protect the occupational health workers, while people living in a vicinity and patients have to be enlightened about harmful effects of radiation to the humankind.