Experimental Assessment of Workplace Radiation Exposure in Diagnostic X-ray Medical Imaging Centres in Benin from 2019 to 2020

The ease of prescribing radiological examinations has prompted an expansion in radiological procedures and, consequently, an increase of occupational dose to medical imaging workers. However, little is known about radiation exposure in the workplace of medical radiology professionals in many countries, and in Benin particularly. The purpose of this study was to assess ambient radiation doses in diagnostic X-ray medical facilities in Benin and to observe whether exposure levels are below reference levels. A total of 72 public and private medical imaging centres participated in a cross-sectional study carried out from June 2019 to February 2020 in Benin. These centres had 59 X-ray, four chest and six computed tomography (CT) scan rooms. A calibrated radiameter able to measure short, pulsed or continuous X fields and gamma/beta (50 nSv to 10 Sv) was used to measure exposure levels in these functional rooms. Scattered X-ray doses and exposure time from radiological examinations both behind the lead glass of the control area to assess the levels of exposure of professionals and outside of the examination room to evaluate the level of exposure of the public (including non-exposed workers) have been provided. Equivalent doses estimated per hour were compared with the reference levels of 7.50 and 0.05 μSv per hour for workers and the public, respectively. At the control area, the mean/median (min-max) equivalent doses were 0.09/0.07 (0.00-0.21), 2.39/0.13 (0.00-75.67), and 228.39/28.65 (0.39-869.75) μSv per hour for the chest, X-ray, and CT-scan rooms, respectively. Among 69 examination rooms, 13.04% of the equivalent dose estimated in the workplace behind the lead glass was greater than 7.50 μSv per hour; 65 out of 69 examination rooms showed that 40.00% of the equivalent dose estimated behind the doors was greater than 0.05 μSv per hour. These results demonstrated that current controls, including leaded glass separating the control panel and leaded doors between the examination room and the corridor, are inadequate to limit radiation exposures. The controls must be upgraded and a dosimetry program should be implemented to monitor exposures of employees, patients, and visitors.