Optimizing Radiation Protection: Evaluation of Shielding in the Radiology Departments of Two Hospitals in North Eastern Nigeria

Vontau N T; Jwanbot DI; Seresina A; Chagok NMD; Anikoh SO

doi:10.56201/ijmepr.v9.no6.2025.pg49.58

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Optimizing Radiation Protection: Evaluation of Shielding in the Radiology Departments of Two Hospitals in North Eastern Nigeria

Vontau N T, Jwanbot DI, Seresina A, Chagok NMD, Anikoh SO

Abstract

The basic radiation protection measures such as the use of Time-Distance-Shielding is one of the methods of controlling exposures of patients. workers and members of the public to X-ray radiation. Structural radiation protection for diagnostic X-ray facilities is most commonly performed following the recommendations of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Report No. 49. The aim of this research was to evaluate if shielding barriers in the general radiography rooms of Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital Gombe were adequate. The evaluation was based 'on the shielding concept XRAYBARR which was used to calculate the barrier thickness required to reduce the total annual dose to acceptable limit. The calculated values from XRAYBARR were compared to the shielding design already constructed. The results showed that in some controlled and uncontrolled areas, calculated doses beyond the barriers were greater than the design dose limit, indicating that the shielded barriers in place were not adequate and did not comply with international standards. Results also showed that the radiography room of Specialist Hospital, Gombe was small in size in relation to workload, contributing to the high unshielded radiation dose inside the X- ray room. An ever-increasing workload due to increase in population and urbanization means that protection barriers that were adequate a few decades earlier will eventually become inadequate in offering protection. These results indicate that some areas will either need to be redesigned or designated as controlled sites in order to comply with lowest radiation dose possible principle.

Keywords

XRAYBARR; shielding barriers; design dose; occupancy factor; workload

References

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Optimizing Radiation Protection: Evaluation of Shielding in the Radiology Departments of Two Hospitals in North Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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