Real-time Radiation Monitoring and Assessment of Radiation Risk on Public around BSMMU Hospital Campus, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Objective: Ionizing radiation is extensively used in the hospital for diagnosis and treatment procedures to patients and its usage increasing day by day with the socio-economic development of the country. The aim of the study is to monitor the real-time radiation around the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital campus and estimation of the radiation risk on public. Method: The real-time radiation monitoring around the BSMMU hospital campus was performed using digital portable radiation monitoring device (DPRMD). The DPRMD meets all European CE standards and the American “FCC 15 standard”. The DPRMD was placed at 1 meter above the ground on tripod and data taking time for each monitoring point (MP) was 1 hour. Each MP was identified using Garmin eTrex GPS device. 32 MPs were selected for taking the real-time radiation dose rates around the BSMMU hospital campus from August-September 2019. Results: The real-time radiation dose rates around the BSMMU hospital campus were ranged from 0.020-2.45 µSv/hr with an average of 0.211 ± 0.094 µSv/hr. The annual effective dose on public were ranged from 0.222 ± 0.052 mSv to 1.247 ± 0.071 mSv with an average of 0.368 ± 0.097 mSv. The excess life-time cancer risk (ELCR) on public was estimated based on the annual effective dose that ranged from 0.881×10-3 to 5.12×10-3 with an average value of 1.488×10-3 around the BSMMU hospital campus, which means that in every thousand people, one person is at the risk of developing cancer caused by the scattered radiation exposure from the hospital. Conclusion: Real-time radiation monitoring makes possible to ensure the protection the radiation worker and the public from unnecessary radiation hazard. The study also provides the instantaneous information of inappropriate operation of radiation generating equipments and improper handling of radioactive substances in the hospital.