Organ dose estimation for Occupationally Exposed Workers in medical practice in Gabon during the period 2013–2023

Abstract

This paper aimed to update the results of a previous study in terms of H_p (10) for the period 2013–2023 and to estimate organ doses based on H_p (10) and exposure conditions (radiation energy and irradiation geometry) of Gabonese Occupationally Exposed Workers (OEWs) in the medical practice. A total of 1181 dose records for 243 OEWs were evaluated. Doses were collected for an eleven-year period, from 2013 to 2023. Fourteen public and private hospitals were involved. Organ absorbed doses were estimated using measured H_p (10) values and two dose conversion coefficients: (1) the air kerma-to-H_p (10) conversion coefficient and (2) the air kerma-to-organ dose conversion coefficient. H_p (10) and organ dose values were assigned a 95 % expanded uncertainty confidence interval based on a previously established function. The mean ± standard deviation and the range of years of exposure of OEWs were 4.9 ± 2.7 years and (1–10) years, respectively. The mean and median annual doses values determined in the present study were close to those determined in a previous study. The overall mean cumulative dose for this period was 1.6 mSv (1.2–2.3) mSv. Organs with the highest mean cumulative absorbed doses were skin, 2.0 mGy (1.5–2.8) mGy, eye-lens, 1.9 mGy (1.5–2.7) mGy, testes, 1.7 mGy (1.3–2.5) mGy, thyroid, 1.5 mGy (1.2–2.2) mGy, and female breast, 0.9 mGy (0.7–1.2) mGy. Finally, the study showed that cumulative organ doses estimated in the present study are significantly lower than those presented in the literature.