Radiological Risk Assessment Among Occupational Health Workers in Selected Radiological Centres in Warri City, Nigeria

Background and Objective: The exposure of patients and workers handling radiological equipment in Nigerian hospitals is becoming of increasing concern to both experts in the field of radiation and the regulatory agency in the country. This study, therefore, evaluates the occupational health workers associated with the use of some radioactive ladened equipment in selected radiological centres in Warri City Delta State, Nigeria to ascertain the exposure levels to both operators and patients within the environment. Materials and Methods: The BIR data were collected in situ from four selected radiological centres for indoors and outdoors exposure using a well-calibrated Gamma scout, Geiger counter multi-radiation meter and a GPS meter were used. Results: The measured average exposure assessment for indoors are well above ambient level but are within for outdoors. The radiological risk parameters evaluated revealed elevated values and in some cases above international permissible limits. The averaged ELCR for all the centres obtained were found to be higher than the recommended world average mean value of 0.29×10^–3 (mSvy^–1). The overall obtained results of the study area do not constitute any immediate radiological health effect on the workers, patients and the public. Conclusion: The mean excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for occupational health workers for all the radiological centres was 0.66 μSvy^–1 which is relatively higher than the worldwide average of 0.29 μSvy^–1. These evaluated values may not cause immediate health issues to the health workers, but the accumulation of these doses may be detrimental.