Radiation dose assessment on operator during the dental postmortem procedure using handheld radiograph system

Radiation Dose Assesment

Abstract

Portable handheld radiograph devices are increasingly common in forensic odontology, particularly in postmortem dental examinations. However, concerns remain regarding radiation exposure to operators handling these devices in mortuary settings. This study aimed to assess the radiation dose to the lens of the eye and fingers of the operator that is exposed to radiation from the NOMAD™ Pro handheld Radiograph. The radiation exposure on the operator of a dental portable handheld radiograph device in the dental postmortem procedure was monitored from March 2020 to February 2021. NanoDot™ OSL Dosimeters (Landauer, IL, USA) were positioned near the eyes and fingers of the operator to estimate the radiation dose. The dosimeters were then analysed using the LAUNDER’s MicroStar reader and corrected based on the background reading and calibration parameters. Data from 80 procedures were analysed with the equivalent yearly doses for eyes and fingers were estimated and compared to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended limits. Results showed that the annual dose estimation for the lens of the eyes was 1.34 (range 0.56-6.57) mSv/yr while the fingers were 1.52 (range 0.40-5.51) mSv/yr. Radiation exposure to the fingers was slightly higher than exposure to the eyes but remained within requirements of the ICRP dose limits. In conclusion, even though portable radiograph equipment is useful in forensic odontology, operators only receive safe and low levels of radiation exposure. The continuous safe use of these devices in postmortem dental examinations is ensured by appropriate monitoring and adherence to safety procedures.

KEYWORDS: Forensic odontology, Portable handheld radiograph, Radiation exposure, Operator safety, Post-mortem dental examination