Annual assessment of radiation exposure levels among radiology personnel at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

The evaluation of occupational exposure to external ionizing radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic settings is crucial for understanding regulatory compliance and technological advancements. This research provides an analysis of occupational radiation exposure among radiology staff of Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto, Nigeria, and compares the findings with relevant studies. A total of 30 radiology staff members participated, each identified by a TLD code instead of their names. Various parameters, including Average Annual Effective Dose (AAED), Annual Collective Dose (ACD), Individual Distribution Ratio (NRE), Collective Dose Distribution Ratio (SRE), and Lifetime Probability of Cancer Risk (LFTR), were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. The findings revealed that radiology workers had an AAED of 1.13 ± 0.51 mSv and an ACD of 33.90 ± 0.51 man mSv. The NRE and SRE indicated that 40.27% of the radiology staff received doses exceeding 1 mSv, while none exceeded 10 or 15 mSv. The LFTR for all medical radiation workers at UDUTH was less than 1 in a million, suggesting minimal lifetime cancer risk. Overall, the dose distribution trend indicates a shift towards lower exposure levels, highlighting the effectiveness of radiation protection protocols maintained by the majority of the staff.