Survey of ionizing radiations to workers in Carlos Andrade Hospital during March 1998 and December 2000

Ionizing radiation represents a daily risk for the people who work occupationally exposed to radiations at Carlos Andrade Marin hospital. For that reason, the knowledge of the basic concepts of the physical phenomenon of ionizing radiation and the study of dosimetry that is carried out to occupationally exposed workers at Carlos Andrade Marin hospital are very important to manage ionizing radiations as a risk factor. This study shows the system of dosimetry of Carlos Andrade Marin hospital. Moreover, it includes an analysis between the doses received by workers occupationally exposed of Carlos Andrade Marin hospital and the limit dose internationally recommended. For this investigation, it was used bibliographical revision, descriptive, historical, and inductive study, and descriptive statistics with the software Microsoft Office Excel 2003. The hypothesis of this research is that the workplaces exposed to ionizing radiations at Carlos Andrade Marin hospital have an appropriate dosimetry system. Furthermore, it considers superficial and deep doses of occupationally exposed workers of both genders and age. The obtained results of the studied period 1998 to 2000 are: i) The 99% of the occupationally exposed workers used the dosimeter. ii) The higher superficial dose -13,34mSv - corresponds to a Hemodynamic doctor. iii) The higher deep dose -7,1mSv - corresponds to a Nuclear Medicine medical technologist. iv) The higher doses mentioned above are under the limits internationally recommended by the International Commission on International Protection. These limits are 20mSv per year and 100mSv per 5 years respectively. The conclusions of the investigation are: i) Carlos Andrade Marin hospital has an adequate Dosimetry system and the occupationally exposed workers are permanently monitored with the dosimeter. ii) The Nuclear Medicine workers have the higher doses of exposition related to the other areas of Carlos Andrade Marin hospital. iii) The most exposed professionals are the doctors of interventionism, for instance, Hemodynamic doctors. The Dosimetry system at Carlos Andrade Marin hospital must be fortified and workers who work with open sources of radiation must be equipped with dosimeters - ring or bracelet type- to control the superficial doses. In addition, occupationally exposed workers must achieve a culture of radiological security and protection. Finally, the Ecuadorian law number 891 of 1979, which is the regulation of Radiological Protection, must be reviewed and updated. This document is not either a complete work about the control of ionizing radiations at hospitals or a procedures manual with norms or recommendations. Nevertheless, it is an investigation of the dosimetry process and pretends to motivate the continuous improvement of this matter. In the future, this investigation will be the cornerstone to edit a procedure manual of radiological protection and security for areas that are exposed to ionizing radiations. This thesis has three attachments: Attachment 1: Database of the occupationally exposed workers (elaborated by the author) Attachment 2: Chart of Conversion Units. Attachment 3: Ecuadorian Law No 891 (Regulation of Radiological Protection). (The author)