A radiation accident involving localized exposure to x-ray of a diffractometer

Radiation overexposure to the x-ray beam of a diffractometer affected the hands of three workers in Camacari, Brazil. The patient's clinical pictures, characterized by an erythema preceding the skin manifestations, their aspect and the occupational histories, made the diagnosis of a radiation accident possible before its dosimetric identification. Doses evaluations using thermoluminescent dosimeters and ionizing chambers correlated well with the clinical estimations. The immediate cause of the accident was poor maintenance of the device that caused its back window to be permanently open, but lack of adequate information on the possible biological effects of ionizing radiation and on the correct operational procedures were contributory facts. Medical evolution has been favourable, specially because the low energy of the x-ray and its low penetrating capacity. The accident highlights the need for the adequate training of radiation workers. (author)