Radiation Protection Dosimetry Advance Access originally published online on March 28, 2008
Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2008 130(2):239-243; doi:10.1093/rpd/ncm490
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Occupational exposure of medical radiation workers in Lithuania, 1950–2003
Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Santariskiu 1, 08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
* Corresponding author: vitalija.samerdokiene{at}gmail.com
Received July 19, 2007, amended October 17, 2007, accepted November 19, 2007
This study presents the summary of historical exposures, measurement practice and evolution of the recording of the individual doses of medical radiation workers during 1950–2003 in Lithuania. The aim of this study is to present occupational exposure of medical radiation workers in Lithuania since the earliest appearance period. Data from publications have been used for the earliest two periods prior to 1969; data from the archives of the largest hospitals, for the period 1970–1990 and data from Lithuanian Subdivision of Individual Dosimetry of Radiation Protection Center, for the period 1991–2003. The analysis of the data obtained from personal records allows to conclude that the average annual effective dose of Lithuanian medical radiation workers was greatly reduced in radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine in all occupational categories from 1950 to 2003. During the last period 1991–2003 extremity doses clearly decreased and after 1994 were no longer present in Lithuania.