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Revista de la Asociación Española de Especialistas en Medicina del Trabajo

On-line version ISSN 3020-1160Print version ISSN 1132-6255

Abstract

VAZQUEZ RIVAS, Fabián et al. Ionizing radiation in healthcare workers: thyroid function and risk levels of occupational exposure. Rev Asoc Esp Espec Med Trab [online]. 2022, vol.31, n.1, pp.29-40.  Epub May 23, 2022. ISSN 3020-1160.

Introduction:

One of the sectors with the highest rates of use of ionizing radiations is the healthcare system. There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to ionizing radiations could be associated with alterations in thyroid hormone levels.

Objectives:

To analyze a possible association between the levels of thyroid hormones and the occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in healthcare workers according to the current classification of PER A (with more probability of risk of exposure) and PER B (with less probability of risk of exposure), plus the influence of other factors. To analyze the values of personal dosimeters according to the occupational exposure in the different areas of work and level of risk.

Material and Methods:

Retrospective comparative study of TSH, T3 and T4 in exposed healthcare workers (PER A and PER B) and control group, working from 2014 to 2019. Levels of personal dosimeters were compared in the areas classified according to the level of risk of exposure.

Results:

No statistically significant relationship was found between the levels of thyroid hormones and the occupational exposure to radiation in PER A, PER B, though higher levels of TSH were found in the exposed groups PER B (2,6 ± 1,4) and PER A (2,7 ± 1,3) compared to TSH levels in the control group (2,4 ± 1,5). There is a statistically significant difference between the individual five-year dose of healthcare workers and the levels of occupational exposure, with values in the areas classified according to the level of exposure with values of 0,1 ± 0,3 in the low exposure area and 0,9 ± 1,4 in the medium/high exposure area.

Conclusions:

There is a relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiations and the individual dosimetric values, thus areas of work should be considered when designing preventive measures in healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiations.

Keywords : healthcare workers; thyroid hormones; ionizing radiation; occupational exposure.

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