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Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gottesman, BE; Gutman, A; Lindsell, CJ; Larrabee, H
Published in: Am J Emerg Med
November 2010

OBJECTIVE: The National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) limits health care-associated occupational exposures to radiation to 5000 mrem/y. Previous studies suggested that emergency physicians were not exposed over this limit. Their relevance to contemporary practice is unknown. We hypothesized that emergency physicians are currently exposed to radiation levels above the NCRP limits. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted at an urban, academic, level I trauma center emergency department (ED). Thermoluminescent dosimeter radiation badges were placed on the torso and ring finger of all physicians staffing the ED during May 2008. Thermoluminescent dosimeter badges were affixed to 8 portable phones that are carried by physicians in the ED 24 hours a day. At the end of the study period, exposure dose for each subject was estimated. RESULTS: Seventy-five physicians enrolled in the study; 41 residents worked a median of 94 hours and 34 attendings worked a median of 54 hours. Compliance for physician badge wearing was 99%, ring wearing was 98%, and phone wearing was 100%. Two subjects had detectable levels of radiation on their torso thermoluminescent dosimeters of 4 and 1 mrem, respectively. One phone badge had a detectable level of 1 mrem. The annual extrapolated exposure for the subject with the highest radiation level would have been 50 mrem, below the 5000 mrem exposure limit for health care workers. CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians working in an urban, academic, level I trauma center ED do not appear to be at risk of exceeding the NCRP dose limits for ionizing radiation exposure to their torso or extremities.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Emerg Med

DOI

EISSN

1532-8171

Publication Date

November 2010

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1037 / 1040

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Prospective Studies
  • Physicians
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Urban
  • Film Dosimetry
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Gottesman, B. E., Gutman, A., Lindsell, C. J., & Larrabee, H. (2010). Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study. Am J Emerg Med, 28(9), 1037–1040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2009.06.008
Gottesman, Brent E., Amy Gutman, Christopher J. Lindsell, and Hollynn Larrabee. “Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study.Am J Emerg Med 28, no. 9 (November 2010): 1037–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2009.06.008.
Gottesman BE, Gutman A, Lindsell CJ, Larrabee H. Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study. Am J Emerg Med. 2010 Nov;28(9):1037–40.
Gottesman, Brent E., et al. “Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study.Am J Emerg Med, vol. 28, no. 9, Nov. 2010, pp. 1037–40. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2009.06.008.
Gottesman BE, Gutman A, Lindsell CJ, Larrabee H. Radiation exposure in emergency physicians working in an urban ED: a prospective cohort study. Am J Emerg Med. 2010 Nov;28(9):1037–1040.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Emerg Med

DOI

EISSN

1532-8171

Publication Date

November 2010

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1037 / 1040

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Prospective Studies
  • Physicians
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Urban
  • Film Dosimetry
  • Emergency Service, Hospital