Radiodermatitis. Etiological and medico-legal considerations

This study covers 22 radiodermatitis cases recorded in and around Paris and in industry, from January 1st 1967 to mid-1977, by the health insurance treasury of te Paris region. Special attention was paid to the analysis of their frequency, seriousness and causes and of the medico-legal problems involved. According to our observations these accidents mainly affect radiometallographers, crystallographers, people studying materials by X-fluorescence and technicians responsible for maintenance of medical X-ray radiotherapy machines, the activities most prevalent in the industrial use of ionizing radiations. Three main accident factors are observed: imperfections in the protection system and in the maintenance of equipment; carelessness of personnel towards ionizing radiations owing to the apparent absence of immediate effects; lack of information on the danger of ionizing radiations and on the defensive measures necessary. Three means of protection must be developed as a result: wearing of an extra dosimeter on the wrist or finger; permanent information of staff; checks on equipment and constant improvement in the protection of particularly dangerous instruments (gammagraphs). Acute and chronic radiodermatitis are taken in charge as occupational diseases since they appear in table six of these illnesses with a coverage period of 60 days and 10 years. Radiodermatitis patients face the question of professional reclassification, a difficulty all the greater as their qualifications are high. The possibility of paid professional training for occupational disease victims is especially useful when the subjects are still young