Evaluation of Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk in Some Selected X-Ray Diagnostic Centers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The evaluation of background ionizing radiation in some selected X-rays diagnostic centers in Port Harcourt has been carried out. This research was achieved with the used of Radex (RD 1212) radiation meter to measure the exposure rate due to ionizing radiation, and geographical coordinate system was employed to record the coordinates of the sampled locations. The exposure rate ranged from 0.14 to 0.22 μSv/h with a mean value of 0.180.03 μSv/h, this value was quite higher than the acceptable limit of 0.133μSv/h set by the international commission on radiological protection (ICRP). The computed annual equivalent dose ranged from 0.25 to 0.39 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.310.05 mSv/y, the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) dose varied from 0.17 to 0.27 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.220.35 mSv/y. This value is lesser than the safe limit of 1mSv/y as recommended by ICRP. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged from 0.64x10-3 to 0.77x10-3 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.760.12x10-3 mSv/y which is quite higher than the safe limit of 0.29x10-3 (UNSEAR). Therefore, the diagnostic centers in Port Harcourt may not be radiologically safe to both occupational workers and patients who are radiologically diagnosed from the general public. Even though the signs of health risk issues are not physically pronounced the chances of contracting radiological health relative issues is still significant. Therefore, is it recommended that adequate steps should be taken to ensure that radiation leakage should be contained, if possible to the barest minimum.