Radiological Protection of Operators and Auditors as a Result of CT Scan Radiation Leakage: Iraqi Kurdistan Hospitals

Rate of radiation leakage from the CT-Scan rooms has measured for 10 public Hospitals in Iraqi Kurdistan, using radiation survey dosimeter. Annual exposure dose considered as a main factor to asses risks of that leakage on the health of operators and auditors. Average leakage dose measured at the control room, table of operators, the main doors, and waiting hall. Average time of exposure for the years of 2009, 2010, and 2011 has been evaluated through data of statistics unit in each hospital. The results show that the range of exposed dose by the operators and auditors depended on the rate of leakage dose and the time of exposure.  The largest and smallest amount of annual radiation dose received by the operators were in the hospitals of Hawler teaching (51.55±67.189) µSv in Erbil , and Shahid Aso (0.222±0.061) µSv in Sulaymania, respectively. The largest and smallest amount of annual radiation dose received by the auditors were in the hospitals of  Azady’s (469.884±283.1) µSv in Duhok, and Shorish (0.324±0.18) µSv in Sulaymania, respectively. However, the much increased contributions of CT procedures to the Kurdistan region population dose indicate an urgent need to develop radiation protection and optimization activities for these high dose procedures to the low and accepted levels.