MINIMIZING THE EXPOSURE TO THE EYE LENS OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS ASSISTING PATIENTS DURING CHEST X RAYS: A PHANTOM STUDY

Abstract As chest x rays involve risks of patients falling, radiologic technologists (technologists) commonly assist patients, and as the assistance takes place near the patients, the eye lenses of the technologists are exposed to radiation. The recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection suggest that the risk of developing cataracts due to lens exposure is high, and this makes it necessary to reduce and minimize the exposure. The present study investigated the positions of technologists assisting patients that will minimize exposure of the eye lens to radiation. The results showed that it is possible to reduce the exposure by assisting from the following positions: 50% at the sides rather than diagonally behind, 10% at the right side of the patient rather than the left and 40% at 250 mm away from the patient. The maximum reduction with radiation protection glasses was 54% with 0.07 mmPb and 72% with 0.88 mmPb.