Radiation awareness and exposure reduction with audible monitors

The monitoring of radiation exposure to individuals working in diagnostic radiology is usually carried out with film badges or thermoluminescent dosimeters. Though these cumulative exposure readings provide useful information, it is retrospective and of little value in educating staff in avoiding or reducing hazards. Small inexpensive radiation monitors that emit an audible chirp on exposure to a predetermined amount of radiation are available from several firms. Most of these devices use a Geiger-Mueller tube as the radiation detector and, consequently, are not suitable for quantitative measurements in the diagnostic range. However, due to their extreme sensitivity they are ideal for use in radiation awareness program in diagnotic radiology. At the same time this extremely high sensitivity may cause the users to become apprehensive about an apparent lack of protection unless adequate education is also provided, with the sensitivity of the monitor being demonstrated and put into perspective