Re: Film Badges

["Steven M. Jones" <smjones@info2000.net>]

ALARA policy allows one to consider economics in the "reasonableness"
part of the analysis.  When I do the analysis, I really struggle with 
spending thousands of dollars for enough leaded glasses to outfit 
everyone involved in angio, cath lab and EP cases to protect against a
risk that has been shown to be all but nonexistent at doses received by 
such medical personnel.  Per BEIR V (p.363), "... the threshold for a 
vision-impairing cataract under conditions of highly fractionated or 
protracted exposure is thought to be no less than 8 Sv (ICRP 84).  This 
dose exceeds the amount of radiation that can be accumulated by the 
lens through occupational exposure to irradiation under normal working 
conditions and greatly exceeds that which is likely to be accumulated
by a member of the general population through other types of exposure."  
While I don't mean to criticize your decision to recommend leaded 
glasses, I feel there should be a realistic risk before spending any 
money on protection.  How have others approached this "ALARA dilemma"?

Lily Lodhi wrote:
> 
> ALARA policy.
> 
> At 01:06 PM 2/5/98 -0600, Steven M. Jones wrote:
> >While I agree with your use of two badges for angio, cath lab and EP
> >personnel, how do you justify the recommendation to wear leaded glasses
> >and leaded sleeves?  Given the relatively high threshold dose for
> >radiation-induced cataracts, especially for fractionated doses, I have
> >great difficulty recommending the use of leaded glasses for medical
> >workers.  What scenario do you foresee where doses to eyes can be high
> >enough to justify the expense of supplying leaded glasses to medical
> >radiation workers?
> >
> >Lily Lodhi wrote:
> >>
> >> For individuals who work in areas such as angio, cath and EP labs we ask
> >> them to wear two badges one under lead apron at waist line and one on top of
> >> lead apron on collar. Film badge under lead apron, TLD on top.  It will
> >> prevent the mixing of badges. They must wear thyroid shield.  We recommend
> >> that they wear leaded glass and if applicable leaded sleeves. Webster
> >> formula can be used to calculate their whole body dose.
> >
> >Steve Jones, M.S., DABR (smjones@info2000.net)
> >Centennial Medical Physics, LLC
> >Fort Collins, CO
> >
> >