A practical method for monitoring diagnostic radiation dosage in the newborn nursery.

Diagnostic radiation exposure in 133 consecutive newborns was studied using a TLD monitoring system. Eighty-eight per cent of dosimeters received less than 1 mSv (100 mrem) total exposure. The mean exposure per chest radiograph was 0.044 +/- 0.023 mSv (4.4 +/- 2.3 mrem). Abdominal surface exposure was 0.053 +/- 0.03 mSv (5.3 +/- 3.0 mrem) for boys and 0.044 +/- 0.021 mSv (4.4 +/- 2.1 mrem) for girls. The gonadal exposure, which was calculated from the abdominal exposure data, was 0.053 +/- 0.030 mSv (5.3 +/- 3.0 mrem) for boys and 0.026 +/- 0.012 mSv (2.6 +/- 1.2 mrem) for girls. The correction factor for beam attenuation over gonads in girls was 0.58. In general, the radiation received by these infants did not exceed the currently published protection limits.