Abstract

In the publication the authors of the aforementioned article arrive at the conclusion that in angiography and radioscopy, the official individual dose systematically underestimates the effective dose, especially with lacking thyroid protection shield. Furthermore, they conclude that the official measurement specifications to assess the effective dose of occupationally exposed staff have only insufficiently been adapted to the needs of radiology. Instead, they wish measurement procedures through the application of which a possible underestimation of the effective dose could be avoided.

The Commission on Radiological Protection’s evaluation of the statements included in this article showed that without thyroid protection shield, the official individual dose Hp(10) can underestimate the effective dose E. The underestimations result from the fact that for a realistic measurement of the individual dose it is recommended in the Directive on Physical Radiation Protection Control to Determine the Body Doses, Part 1 (External Radiation Exposure), to measure the individual dose beneath the protective clothing, if such clothing is worn. On the other hand, if a thyroid protection shield is lacking, the contribution to the effective dose resulting from the thyroid is significantly enhanced.

In the opinion of the Commission on Radiological Protection, the measurement specifications included in the provisions of the Directive on Physical Radiation Protection Control to Determine the Body Doses in Case of External Radiation Exposure are sufficient for a conservative assessment of the effective dose in radiology. Furthermore, the SSK states that there is no official measurement specification that requires the conservativity of E to Hp(10). In fact, until the control threshold (5 mSv) is reached, the single measurement of the individual dose is considered to be a sufficiently accurate assessment of the effective dose and no more accurate determination of the body dose is considered necessary.

For activities in radiology with possible high thyroid doses, the carrying of thyroid protection shields should urgently be implemented. The SSK emphasizes that the statement on the application of safety precautions is a basic issue and does not only apply to the thyroid protection shield dealt with here.

The Commission on Radiological Protection passed the statement “Short Evaluation of the Publication ‘How Conservative Is the Assessment of the Effective Dose by Official Personal Dosimetry for the Staff in Radiology?’” in its 234th meeting on 14 May 2009.