Professional paper
Lesions trough exposure to X-rays and radium rays in the medical personnel in this country
Miroslav Fleischhacker
; Institut za higijenu rada Zagreb
Abstract
The author discusses the results of periodical examinations of physicians and of auxiliary medical personnel occupationally exposed to X-rays and radium rays in the period from 1946 to 1951. 209 persons were examined and 700 complete hematological examinations were carried out. The frequency of occupational lesions is shown in tables 4-8. The following facts transpire as significant:
(1) A strikingly greater frequency of lesions of hematopoietic organs in the group of auxiliary medical personnel (5.7%) than in physicians (1.9%). The author believes this to be caused by a longer exposure to radiation of the whole body because of inadequate personal and technical protection and sometimes also by incorrect attitudes of the auxiliary personnel during work.
(2) A strikingly low number of lesions of hematopoietic organs in persons having suffered X-ray skin lesions (i. e. 3 in 28). This was found out also in more severe long-lasting lesions; thus, there were normal hematological findings even in a patient with a cancer of the fingers and with metastases in regional lymph glands. These rare lesions of hematopoietic organs were met with also in patients with X-ray skin lesions, the majority of whom did not use protective aprons, their whole bodies having thus been exposed to radiation. It was therefore not surprising to find lesions of the testis in one case. The author attempts to explain these phenomena by the selective sensibility of the skin to X-ray radiation and by a longer exposure of often unprotected doctor's hands to the very source of radiation.
(3) When there was a lesion in hematopoietic organs there was also a tendency towards leucopenia, neutropenia and relative lymphocytosis. In absolute numbers of lymphocytes there are large numbers of lymphopenias. The monocyte finding, were often on the upper limit of normal. Morphological changes on leukocytes were found as well. Lower hemoglobin values were found in all patients; lower erythrocyte values were found in 4 and lower thrombocyte values in 6 of the 8 with lesions of hematopoietic organs.
(4) The clinical pictures of lesions of hematopoietic organs were predominantly light and transitory. Therefore exposed persons should often have their blood picture checked because otherwise those lesions risk to remain undiscovered.
(5) There were 24 out of 105 doctors (22.8%) and 4 out of 104 auxiliary medical personnel (3.8%) suffering from occupational skin lesions. This difference is accounted for by the different kind of exposure and by the lack of adequate hand protection in the group of physicians.
(6) The conditions of work of our medical personnel are not yet - in spite of the great progress achieved in the last few years - up to the standards of the Regulation on Protective Measures relating to work with X-ray installations and radioactive materials. Therefore the technical supervision of all installations should be carried out and adequate means for personal protection secured. Moreover, there should be frequent periodical examinations of those concerned in order to discover initial lesions and protect them in time. The question of the length of work and of annual leaves bas not been definitely settled because so far the personnel is not being checked for the degree of exposure to radiation energy
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
187544
URI
Publication date:
24.9.1952.
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