EVALUATION OF SHIELDING BARRIER OF A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY UNIT
Abstract
Recently, concerns have been expressed on the radiological standards of Computed Tomography (CT) units in terms of radiation protection. This study was carried out in the CT scan unit of General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital (GARSH), Katsina, Nigeria. The study aimed to evaluate the radiation shielding barrier of a Computed Tomography unit of GARSH, Katsina, Nigeria. The main objective of this study is to determine the shielding barrier thickness required to attenuate the unshielded radiation. Calculations of the shielding barrier thickness were carried out using XRAYBARR software. The total workload for the CT modality was found to be 48.32 mA-min per week for an average of 32 patient per week. The shielding barrier thickness required in attenuating the unshielded radiation dose for wall 1, 2, 3, 4, control area, floor and ceiling was 155.1, 146.8, 112.5, 98.10, 98.10, 193.0 and 128.0 mm thickness concrete, respectively. The already constructed shielding barrier thickness was found to be 244mm thickness concrete. Ratio of the calculated barrier thickness to the designed barrier thickness was less than 1. This showed that the constructed shielding barrier thickness was adequate and safe. The area monitoring of the strategic areas in the CT unit was carried out using calibrated radiation survey meter. The result revealed that, the background and leakage radiation doses were within the recommended dose limit. High radiation dose was recorded at the door of the CT scan room. It was recommended that the occupational workers should always use thyroid shield and light-lead glasses.
References
Akintunde, A. O. (2005). Effective dose as a limiting quantity for the evaluation of primary Barriers for diagnostic X-ray facilities, Health physics, 89(1), 100-116. 57(6), 819-824.
Anikoh, S.O., Nuhu, H., Mangset, W.E., Sirisena, U. A. I., & Mallam, S. P.(2015). Optimization of Radiation Protection in Diagnostic Radiology in Jos University Teaching Hospital Shielding Evaluation. African Journal of Natural Sciences (AJNS). 12(3), 1119-1104.
Brenner, D. J., & Hall, E. J. (2007). Computed tomography- an increasing source of radiation Exposure. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(22), 2277-2284
Dixon, R. L., Gray, J. E., Archer, B. R., & Simpkin, D. J. (2005). Radiation protection Standard Their Evaluation from science to philosophy. Radiation dosimetry, 115(1-4), 16-22.
International Atomic Energy Agency, (2000), IAEA: Safety Standard Senses. Preparedness and Responses for a Nuclear or Radiology Emergency, No. 123, GS-R-2.
International Commission on Radiological Protection (2004). Recommendations of the ICRP, ICRP Publication 93. Ann. ICRP 33(4).
Kalender, W. A. (2006). X-ray computed tomography. Physics in medicine & Biology, 51(13), R-29.
Lanser, P. (2014). Catheter – Based Cardiovascular Interventions: A knowledge based approach, Vol. 1, Berlin, Heideberg: SPRINGER.
Miglioretti, D. L., Johnson, E., Williams, A., Greenlee, R.T., Weinmann, S., Solberg, L. I., & Smith-Bindman, R. (2013). The use of Computed tomography in pediatrics and the associated radiation exposure and estimated cancer risk. JAMA pediatrics. 167(8), 700-707
Moores, B., & Regulla, D. (2011). A review of the scientific basis for radiation protection of the patient. Radiation protection dosimetry, 147(1-2), 22-29.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Management. NCRP (2005). Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Medical use of X-rays and Gamma rays of Energies up to 10MeV, Bethesda, MD;
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
