Thermoluminescence dosimetry in small animal digital radiography, the dose to animals, and their adopters

In veterinary radiology, the dose to radiation workers, animals, and the public should be reduced as low as reasonably achievable. Immobilization of the pets is necessary for obtaining images with acceptable image quality. The adopters are usually asked to immobilize their pets during the imaging. Therefore the dose equivalent values received by the animal adopters are also important. This study aims to assess the dose to the hands and whole body of the adopter and the entrance skin dose (ESD) to the animals undergoing radiographic imaging using LiF: Mg, Ti (TLD 100) for one month of work in a veterinary department in Shiraz. The results showed that the dose received by the animals varied from 0.20 mSv to 0.53 mSv. The average dose equivalent values to hands, Hp(0.07), and body, Hp(10) of adopters are 0.35, and 0.14 mSv Respectively.