Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation in Interventional Cardiology Practices in Bangladesh during 2010-2014

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess, analyze and discuss the occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in interventional cardiology practices in Bangladesh for the last 5-year periods. Method: Each year, about 100 workers working in interventional cardiology departments of big hospitals in Dhaka City were monitored using Harshaw Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs) for quarterly basis. The effective dose of the occupational workers were measured using Two Harshaw TLD Readers (one is manual TLD reader, model-4500, and another is automatic TLD reader, model 6600 plus). Finding: The average annual effective dose (about 80 % workers) in interventional cardiology practices were <2mSv in 2010-2014 and no monitored workers were found to have received an occupational exposure >50 mSv in a single year or >100 mSv in a 5 year period. The status and trends in occupational exposure demonstrate that radiation protection conditions at the majority of the workplace were adequate. Despite that, further optimization is necessary due to large variations observed in the maximum individual doses over the 5-year periods.