Long-term monitoring of radiation exposure of employees in the department of nuclear medicine (Szczecin, Poland) in the years 1991-2007.

Occupational radiation exposure is a hazard that should be avoided or at least minimised. This study aimed to evaluate the radiation exposure of nuclear medicine department employees monitored during the 1991-2007 period, and to investigate the relationship between the annual effective doses of the personnel and the number of radioisotope procedures performed. Overall, 2014 quarterly effective whole-body doses, categorised into six occupational groups, monitored with personal dosemeters, were analysed statistically. There was a wide variation in the average annual doses among the different occupational groups. During the 17 years covered by this study, there was no incidence of a dose exceeding the annual dose limit of 20 mSv. There was a weak correlation between the average annual dose for monitored employees and the number of nuclear medicine procedures performed. Apart from exposure, personal skill in dealing with radioactive substances, compliance with radiation protection rules is an important factor to minimise the effective dose.