Trends and Characteristics of Occupational Radiation Exposure in the Period from 2009 to 2019 in Hubei Province, China

This study examines occupational ionizing radiation exposure in Hubei Province, China, from 2009 to 2019, focusing on three key occupational categories (medical, industrial, and others). A total of 126,291 workers participated, with numbers increasing from 3,270 in 2009 to 20,961 in 2019. The average annual effective dose was 0.43 mSv, contributing to a total dose of 54,133.42 man·mSv over 11 years. Most workers (91.7%) received doses below the public limit of 1 mSv annually. Specifically, the proportion of workers exceeding 1 mSv (RN1) decreased from 19.1% in 2009 to 6.5% in 2019, while the proportion exceeding 10 mSv (RN10) remained very low, dropping from 1.0% in 2009 to 0.1% in 2019. The Mann-Kendall test revealed a statistically significant reduction in average annual doses (P < 0.01), with higher doses observed in specific categories, such as nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, industrial radiography, and well logging. These results suggest a consistent decrease in radiation exposure, stabilizing at a low level, reflecting the effectiveness of radiation protection measures during this period. However, the findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring, especially for workers in high-exposure occupations, to ensure effective radiation protection.