ESTIMATION OF H(P)(3) AMONG STAFF MEMBERS IN TWO NUCLEAR MEDICINE UNITS IN FINLAND

The eye lens exposure among 16 technicians in two nuclear medicine departments at university hospitals in Finland was investigated by measuring the operational quantity H(p)(3) using EYE-D dosemeters. For all workers, the annual mean H(p)(3) was estimated to be 1.1 mSv (max. 3.9 mSv). The relation between H(p)(3) to routinely monitored personal dose equivalent H(p)(10) was clearly correlated. Considering individual dose measurement periods (2–4 weeks), the H(p)(3)/H(p)(10) ratio was 0.7 (Pearson’s coefficient r = 0.90, p < 0.001, variation of ratio 0.1–2.3). The variation decreased considerably with increasing H(p)(10) (σ(2) = 0.04 vs. 0.43 for H(p)(10) > 0.1 mSv vs. < 0.1 mSv, respectively), i.e. higher H(p)(10) predicts H(p)(3) more reliably. Moreover, annual H(p)(10) data from national dose register during 2009–2018 were used to derive the annual H(p)(3) applying the H(p)(3)/H(p)(10) ratio. The data from Finnish nuclear medicine departments imply that routine measurements of H(p)(3) among nuclear medicine technicians are not justified.