Radiation safety in operating theatres is critical due to the growing use of radiation-emitting equipment in surgical specialties. While individual knowledge and compliance have been widely studied, limited research has focused on the systemic processes influencing radiation protection implementation. This study aimed to analyze radiation safety processes across healthcare roles to identify factors that facilitate or hinder effective protection. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 212 healthcare professionals (116 technologists, 57 nurses, 26 surgeons, and 13 anesthesiologists) working in operating theatres with radiation-emitting equipment. The survey assessed process effectiveness in seven areas: safety checks, responsibility clarity, equipment accessibility, dosimeter use, communication, learning from incidents, and interdepartmental coordination. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and content analysis. Ethical approval was obtained, and the sample size was justified based on statistical power considerations. Significant variations in process effectiveness were found across roles, especially in equipment accessibility (p = 0.0039) and communication (p = 0.0201). Anesthesiologists reported higher effectiveness scores, while surgeons reported lower scores. Only 25 % of participants reported "always accessible" radiation protection equipment, and 30.7 % cited insufficient training as a major barrier. Team communication was the top enabler (44.8 %), while time pressure (28.8 %) and lack of awareness (29.2 %) were key barriers. Radiation safety in operating theatres is a systems issue requiring a focus on organizational processes, not just individual compliance. Addressing systemic factors, such as equipment accessibility and communication, is crucial for improving radiation safety.
Zeolite is a microporous crystalline material composed of hydrated aluminosilicates of alkali and alkaline earth metals, available in both natural and synthetic forms and commonly used in its powdered state. This study investigates the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of natural zeolite powder under gamma irradiation in the dose range of 0.5-150 Gy. TL glow curve measurements at heating rates of 2-15 degrees C s- 1 revealed an optimal rate of 8 degrees C s- 1 for maximizing TL response. The material exhibited a good linear dose response, high sensitivity at low doses, excellent reproducibility, and a fading of approximately 27 % after 28 days. The effective atomic number (Zeff = 11.53) closely matches that of human bone (11.6-13.8), underscoring its potential for medical dosimetry. Kinetic parameter evaluation further confirmed stable glow peak behavior, with activation energies and trap lifetimes indicating moderately stable trapping centers, thereby reinforcing the reproducibility and reliability of the zeolite TL response. Overall, these findings establish natural zeolite powder as a low-cost, efficient, and sustainable candidate for radiation detection and medical applications.
A pioneering investigation characterised the spatial distribution of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, along with their associated radiological hazard parameters, in soil samples collected around an oil-fired thermal power plant, with precise quantification performed using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined to be 31, 38, and 411 Bq/kg, respectively, with observed ranges of 21-40, 30-50, and 310-510 Bq/kg, reflecting the inherent spatial variability in soil radioactivity around the study area. Enhanced radioactivity above the global average was recorded to be within 0-50 m of the power plant, which can be attributed to the enrichment factor mainly due to plant emissions and natural geochemical processes. The multivariate statistical analysis validated that 226Ra and 232Th were the major contributing factors in defining the hazard profile in the radiological environment, and this was further reinforced by the strong correlation between these radionuclides in terms of principal component loadings and cluster analysis. This study indicates considerable spatial heterogeneity in radionuclide distributions, primarily being driven by spatial associations with the sources, and providing an initial basis for the risk-informed environmental monitoring network around thermal power plants.
This study assesses the spatial distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides in soils surrounding the Siddirganj Combined Cycle Power Plant, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Thirty soil samples were collected at radial distances of 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 m from the facility and analyzed using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry to determine the activity concentrations of 226Ra,232Th, and 40K. The mean activity concentrations were 17 +/- 1, 31 +/- 3, and 329 +/- 27 Bq/kg, with observed ranges of 14-20, 21-41, and 260-400 Bq/kg, respectively. In general, the measured activities were below the worldwide average values of 30, 35, and 400 Bq/kg reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Some spatial variability was observed among sampling distances; however, no systematic increase in radionuclide concentration was detected with proximity to the power plant, indicating that the distribution is primarily controlled by natural soil characteristics. Correspondingly, the calculated radiological hazard parameters, including absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose, remained within internationally accepted reference levels. These results suggest that the soils in the study area do not pose significant radiological risk under current environmental conditions and are suitable for typical land-use activities such as agriculture and construction. Nevertheless, periodic monitoring is recommended to support long-term environmental assessment.
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) can accumulate in surface dust near industrial zones and, upon inhalation, may pose potential health hazards. This study reports the activity concentrations of NORMs in dust collected from Savar Upazila, one of the most industrialized areas in Bangladesh. A total of 20 dust samples were collected from the vicinity of different industries and analyzed using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The measured concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 ranged from 17 +/- 1 to 32 +/- 2, 22 +/- 2 to 51 +/- 5, and 350 +/- 25 to 520 +/- 42 Bq/kg, respectively, with mean values below or close to the corresponding world averages of 30, 35, and 400 Bq/kg, respectively. Ra-226 levels stayed below the global average, but a few samples showed higher Th-232 and K-40, which is probably due to local geology and some industrial influence. All the radiological hazard parameters were found within the international safety limits. These findings indicate that street dust in Savar does not show significant enrichment of NORMs and poses negligible radiological health risks to pedestrians and nearby residents. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring is recommended to ensure environmental and occupational safety in this rapidly industrializing region.
Objective: This study aimed to characterize age-related geometric changes of the aortic arch in a Saudi population using high-resolution computed tomography angiography (CTA) and to generate region-specific reference values that may improve cardiovascular risk assessment. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at King Faisal Medical Complex in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Seventy adults aged 20-80 years were categorized into young (20-40 years), middle-aged (41-60 years), and older (61-80 years) groups. CTA datasets were analyzed using specialized software to quantify aortic arch width, height, length, and curvature. Results: In a cohort of 70 participants, aortic arch width showed the strongest correlation with age (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). The radius of curvature also showed a moderate positive association with age, reflecting progressive aortic unfolding. In contrast, arch height and arch length did not show significant age-related variation. Across all age groups, males consistently exhibited larger aortic dimensions than females. The findings present preliminary regional insights into thoracic aortic remodeling and may indicate plausible regional impacts, including high-altitude physiological adaption, which deserve additional exploration. Conclusion: This study reveals that Taif's high-altitude environment (similar to 1,800 m) may suggest possible regional influences on aortic remodeling, shedding light on thoracic aortic remodeling in Saudi Arabia. These findings, which address a significant regional knowledge gap, highlight the necessity of preliminary region-specific benchmarks for more accurate cardiovascular assessment.
This pioneering study investigated the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in 25 quarry pit soils collected from Jhalokati, Barishal, and Dhamrai, Bangladesh. HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry revealed that the measured activity concentrations ofspace(226)Ra (15-22spaceBq/kg),space(232)Th (14-34spaceBq/kg), and majority ofspace(40)K (260-480spaceBq/kg) in quarry pit soils were below the worldwide average values of 30, 35, and 400spaceBq/kg, respectively. Importantly,space(137)Cs was undetectable in all samples, indicating no influence from past nuclear fallout events. The relatively low levels of radionuclides are attributed to the regional geological setting, characterized by alluvial sediments with inherently low radioelement content, as well as processes of weathering, leaching, and quarrying that further reduce radionuclide retention. Radiological hazard parameters were similarly low: the radium equivalent activity ranged from 64 to 97spaceBq/kg (mean 80spaceBq/kg), well below the recommended limit of 370spaceBq/kg; the outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rates (31-48 and 38-57 nGy/h, respectively) were lower than the global average values of 59 and 64 nGy/h; the annual effective doses (0.22-0.34 mSv/y, mean 0.28 mSv/y) remained far below the public dose limit of 1 mSv/y; both the external (0.18-0.27) and internal (0.23-0.33) hazard indices werespace<1, indicating safe radiological conditions. This study identifiesspace(232)Th as the primary contributor to environmental radiological risk, with strong correlations to hazard parameters, whilespace(226)Ra andspace(40)K exhibit weaker correlations and distinct geochemical behaviors, highlighting the regional variability ofspace(40)K concentrations and the uniformity ofspace(226)Ra andspace(232)Th across study sites. Overall, the results demonstrate that quarry pit soils in the studied regions pose negligible radiological risk, providing the first radiological baseline for quarry materials in Bangladesh.
The requirement for low-dose mammography is essentially important given the high radiosensitivity of breast tissue, coupled with the fact that screening programs necessitate multiple exposures throughout a patient's lifetime. Consequently, accurate dosimetry within the mammography dose range is crucial to guarantee safety and efficient dose measurement. Thermoluminescence (TL) along with microstructural analyses were performed on natural flake graphite (NFG) to evaluate its potential as a dosimeter for clinical X-ray applications, particularly within mammographic dose ranges (2-20 mGy). The study involved a thorough analysis of TL glow curves, dose-linearity, TL-sensitivity, signal loss, and repeatability. A 532 nm laser Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized to analyze the microstructure of the irradiated NFG. Promising characteristics of the NFG included a high response to dose (R-2 of approximately 0.99 %), enhanced TL-sensitivity at lower level doses, and strong reproducibility (similar to 4 %). Following 28 days of irradiation, the fading rate was roughly 22 % in an ambient light room and 23 % in a dark room condition. Furthermore, the ratios of defect intensity (I-D) to graphite intensity (I-G), represented as I-D/I-G, closely reflected the oscillated pattern perceived in other carbonaceous materials. The structural parameters including crystallite size, dislocation-density, and lattice-strain, were assessed from the XRD pattern, confirming the dose-dependent structural changes and supportive to Raman and PL spectroscopy findings. The findings indicate that NFG might offer a promising candidate for developing a low-cost, hydrophobic, and human tissue-equivalent TL dosimeter, which might serve various applications in the healthcare field.
Background Rising use of pediatric CT scans has heightened concerns about radiation exposure compared to non-ionizing imaging modalities. This systematic review investigated factors contributing to repeat CT scans in children and assessed their association with cancer risk. Main body Main body: A comprehensive search of Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed identified 30 eligible studies, with five studies involving over seven million participants included in the meta-analysis. CT exposure was associated with a significantly increased overall cancer risk (RR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.44-1.54). Risk of brain tumors was significantly elevated (RR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.22-1.97), whereas evidence for leukemia was less conclusive (RR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.72-2.12). A dose-response relationship was observed, with patients receiving two or more CT scans showing substantially higher cancer risk (RR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.74-3.61) compared with a non-significant risk for those receiving only one scan (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.73-1.56). Conclusion These results highlight the need for practical pediatric CT guidelines. CT scans should be performed only when clinically justified, using optimized low-dose protocols and non-ionizing imaging alternatives when appropriate. Future research should develop evidence-based recommendations that balance diagnostic benefits with the long-term risks of radiation exposure, ensuring safe and effective imaging practice for children.
This study investigates the TL response of NAKO glass for accident-related dose reconstruction. Samples with thicknesses of 0.4 and 0.5 cm were annealed at 400 degrees C for 1 h prior to irradiation with 60Co gamma rays (2-100 Gy) and diagnostic X-rays (2-15 Gy). Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy confirmed Si, Na, Ca, and Mg as major elements. The TL response displayed strong linearity, with R2 values of 0.9784 and 0.9884 for gamma and 0.9336 and 0.9483 for X-rays. Glow curves showed peaks at 150-300 degrees C (gamma) and 200-300 degrees C (X-rays), with higher gamma-induced intensity due to greater penetration. Enhanced sensitivity was observed at low doses (2 Gy). Fading analysis showed signal losses of approximately 21% for gamma irradiation and higher fading for X-ray irradiation after 28 days. The kinetic parameters obtained from different peak shape models further confirmed the well-defined glow peak and its dose-dependent variation. The activation energy and trap lifetime values suggest moderately stable trapping centres, which contribute to the good reproducibility and reliability of the NAKO TL response. The effective atomic number (10.91-10.96) falls between that of soft tissue and bone, indicating that NAKO glass may approximate the radiological behaviour of certain biological materials. These results support its feasibility as a practical material for retrospective environmental and personal dosimetry.
This study presents an integrated assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiological hazards in coastal sediments and marine biogenic materials from St. Martin's Island, the only coral island in Bangladesh. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K (Bq/kg) showed clear matrix-dependent variations, with mean values of 19 +/- 1, 31 +/- 3, and 320 +/- 22 in sands; 20 +/- 1, 26 +/- 2, and 273 +/- 17 in rocks; 10 +/- 1, 12 +/- 1, and 150 +/- 10 in coral skeletons; and 10 +/- 1, 9 +/- 1, and 110 +/- 8 in seashells, respectively. Some of the sediment samples exhibited activity concentrations exceeding global average values, whereas all coral and seashell samples remained well below these reference levels. All evaluated radiological hazard indices were significantly lower than internationally recommended limits, indicating negligible radiological risk for residents, visitors, and associated personnel. This study provides the most comprehensive radiological baseline to date for St. Martin's Island by offering the first integrated comparison of abiotic (sand and rock) and biogenic (coral skeletons and seashells) marine matrices in the coastal environment. These findings establish a comprehensive radiological baseline that will support future environmental monitoring programs and radiological safety assessments in Bangladesh, particularly for coastal regions where natural and anthropogenic influences may evolve over time.
Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with progressive renal complications, often leading to diabetic nephropathy. Early detection of renal morphological changes is essential for prevention and management. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of T1DM duration on renal size and morphology using ultrasound, with a focus on kidney length, width, thickness, and cortical characteristics. Methods and Results: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 94 patients with T1DM in Taif, Saudi Arabia, between November 2024 and May 2025. Patients of both sexes, aged 1-70 years, underwent renal ultrasound in accordance with standard hospital protocols. Kidney dimensions (length, width, thickness) and cortical echogenicity were measured and compared across different disease durations and age groups. Slight renal enlargement was observed in 73.7% of patients, predominantly in younger age groups (10-20 years), while 26.3% demonstrated slight renal atrophy, more frequent among older patients. The length and width of the kidneys gradually decreased 10 years after disease onset, reflecting progressive loss of parenchyma. The duration of longer diabetes appears to increase the likelihood of kidney atrophy, especially in older patients. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a non-invasive and effective tool for monitoring renal morphological changes in patients with T1DM. Early-stage kidney hypertrophy trend appears to progress toward atrophy with longer disease duration, especially in older patients. underscoring the importance of routine renal monitoring to identify early diabetic nephropathy and guide timely intervention.
Background: Nuclear medicine procedures are widely used in diagnostic imaging due to their ability to provide functional information about organs and tissues. However, these procedures involve exposure to ionizing radiation, which raises concerns about patient safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. Optimizing radiation doses has become essential to minimize unnecessary exposure while maintaining image quality. Objective: This study aims to assess patient radiation doses (administered activities), propose local diagnostic reference level (DRLs) to both adult and paediatric patients in Taif, Saudi Arabia and estimate effective radiation doses (ED), associated with commonly performed nuclear medicine procedures. Methodology: Data were collected from 277 adult and 60 pediatric patients who underwent nuclear medicine procedures at three NM centers in Taif City. Patient demographics (age, gender, weight, and height when available) and procedure-specific information were obtained from electronic medical records (EMR) and radiological information system (RIS). Administered radiopharmaceutical activities were the primary dose metric for DRL establishment which then converted to effective doses (mSv) using standard conversion factors from ICRP Publication 128. Descriptive analysis was conducted to calculate mean and median doses and propose local DRLs. Results: The study found that adult procedures such as bone (HDP and MDP) and thyroid scans had mean effective doses of 3.54 mSv, 3.71 mSv, and 3.46 mSv, respectively, all within international standards. Paediatric renal MAG3 procedures showed wider variation depending on age, ranging from 0.35 mSv (1-year-old) to 2.5 mSv (10-year-old), while the DRL for aforementioned procedure was 740.770 and 185 MBq respectively, for adult and for paediatric renal MAG3 showed 40-185 MBq depending on age. Conclusion: Most procedures were within global safety benchmarks. However, elevated paediatric doses highlight the need for local DRLs and ongoing dose optimization. Implementing region-specific DRLs will improve protocol consistency, enhance safety, and support better-quality nuclear medicine services.
This review explores the establishment of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for pediatric brain computed tomography (CT) examinations in Saudi Arabia and compares them with nine other countries. An extensive search strategy was employed across various databases, resulting in the inclusion of 9 studies. The studies included patient-based and phantom-based investigations into DRLs, highlighting variations across age groups and countries. Findings suggest notable differences in CT dose index (CTDI mGy) and dose length product (DLP mGy.cm) values. There was a difference in the classification of age group between Saudi food and drug administration (SFDA) and literature. For the age groups 0-5 years and 6-15 years, the DRLs for the SFDA were as follows: CTDI (28 and 42 mGy) and DLP (482 and 697 mGy cm). The discussion emphasizes the importance of age-specific DRLs to optimize radiation doses while ensuring patient safety and diagnostic efficacy. Recommendations include adopting globally accepted standards for dose optimization and continued research into factors influencing DRL variations. Limitations include varying age groupings among studies and limited access to some relevant literature. Overall, this study underscores the importance of standardizing DRLs for pediatric CT to improve patient care and safety.
The research examines the exceptional physical characteristics of Mg3AB3 (A = N, Bi; B = F, Br, I) perovskite compounds through density functional theory to assess their feasibility for photovoltaic applications. Mechanical characterization further supports their stability where out of all the compounds, Mg3BiI3 demonstrates high ductility, while Mg3NF3 and Mg3BiBr3 possess a brittle nature. The calculated elastic constants and anisotropy factors also substantiate their mechanical stability, while there is an observed declining trend in Debye temperature with increase in atomic number. From the electronic point of view, Mg3NF3 can be considered as a wide-bandgap insulator with the bandgap of 6.789 eV, whereas Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 can be classified as semiconductors suitable for photovoltaic applications bandgaps of 1.626 eV and 0.867 eV, respectively. The optical characteristics of such materials are excellent and pronounced by high absorption coefficients, low reflectivity, and good dielectrics, which are very important in the collection of solar energy. Among them, Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 possess high light absorption coefficient, moderate reflectivity, and good electrical conductivity, indicating that they are quite suitable for applying the photoelectric conversion materials for solar cells. In addition, thermal analysis shows that Mg3NF3 is a good heat sink material, Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 are favorable for thermal barrier coating materials. Due to their high absorption coefficients, low reflectance and suitable conductivity, both Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 could be regarded as the most appropriate materials for the creation of the next generation of photovoltaic converters.
Neutron radiation has significant implications in numerous fields, such as nuclear power generation, medical radiotherapy and scientific research. But the unique features of neutrons render accurate dose measurements and monitoring. The exceptional structural stability of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and the presence of boron has made it a viable option for neutron dosimetry. The present work investigates the thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics of neutron irradiated h-BN powder, focusing on its dose-response, glow curve features, linearity index, sensitivity, fading and reproducibility properties according to the standard TL procedure. The findings demonstrate that h-BN presents a clearly defined TL glow curve with a peak-maxima around 245 degrees C, indicating its potential application in neutron dosimetry covering the dose range of 4-15 Gy. This study reveals that h-BN exhibits greater linearity with sublinear behavior. The TL sensitivity remains almost unaffected by increasing neutron doses and the appropriateness for repeated dose measurements is confirmed by reproducibility experiments, which show high reliability with a standard variation of 2.39 %. Furthermore, after 28 days of irradiation, fading analysis shows minimal signal loss (similar to 19 %), demonstrating that charge carriers retain in trap for long period. Moreover, the kinetic parameters were determined through the application of initial rise, glow curve deconvolution, and peak shape methods. The observed extended lifetimes indicate that traps can efficiently retain electron-hole pairs for an extended period, a key feature suitable for TL dosimetry. These accumulated results validate h-BN as a highly stable and effective neutron dosimeter, ideally suited for situations that demand precise and consistent dose measurement.
This study presents the advanced results of our prior study on LiZnBO3 (LZB) phosphor. The samples were produced using the high-temperature solid-state reaction (SSR) technique by incorporating optimizations in the synthesis parameters to enhance crystallinity. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were utilized to study the structural properties. The samples were subjected to radiation exposure with photon energy of 6 MV, ranging from 0.5 to 8 Gy. To get a complete glow peak within the range, the pre-heat temperature was changed along with the reader's TTP (time-temperature profile) configuration. Two thermoluminescence (TL) glow peaks were detected at around 155 degrees C and 240 degrees C for the entire photon energy range. The low-temperature prominent peak is beneficial for improving the TL reader's efficiency and lifespan. According to fading investigations, these glow peaks demonstrated notable stability over a prolonged period of 30 days. The new minimum detectable dose was anticipated to be 31.4 mGy on average. Moreover, the proposed material's reusability was examined, yielding promising findings. Afterward, a comparative study was performed in terms of linearity, sensitivity, glow peak position, and intensity between the conventional TLD-100 and LZB samples. The results indicate that the LZB exhibits outstanding features as an alternative material for low-doseradiation dosimetry.
Background and aim: Liver lesions have a wide range of diseases that can be detected by different imaging modalities. The current aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of triple-phase computed tomography (CT) in hepatic lesions cases compared with histopathology results. Methods: A retrospective study of 190 patients (mean age: 53.94, SD: +/- 16.2) who underwent triple-phase CT from December 2022 to May 2023 at King Abdelaziz Specialist Hospital and King Faisal Medical Complex in Taif City. Patients met the inclusion criteria if they had undergone triple-phase CT and were diagnosed with liver disease in the radiologist's report. Results: Triple-phase CT shows high diagnostic accuracy for hepatic abnormalities, and it agrees largely with the gold standard, particularly in the detection of cysts (95.3%; k = 0.927) and fatty liver (95%; k = 0.945). It performs consistently well in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (90.1%; k = 0.753), liver abscess (91.1%; k = 0.761), and metastases (92%; k = 0.824). The majority of Hemangioma (60%) and Fatty Liver (77.8%) cases were found in females, while a higher incidence of HCC (69.3%) and Metastasis (64%) was observed in male patients. Conclusion: Triple-phase CT is a useful diagnostic tool for better evaluating hepatic lesions. It is a reliable tool for differentiating the benign lesion from the malignant. A better understanding of vascular characteristics aids in both diagnosis and management strategy.
Due to factors such as convenience, affordability, and ease of preparation, instant noodles have become a staple food worldwide, including in Malaysia. The country boasts a significant instant noodle market, exhibiting high per capita consumption, particularly among students, children, and individuals with busy lifestyles. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in popular instant noodle brands widely consumed in Malaysia. Samples were collected from the AEON supermarket in Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. The concentration of NORM in the instant noodle samples was assessed using a HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer and found a variation in the activity of radionuclides across different samples. Overall, the activity concentrations (Bq kg- 1) of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K are in the ranges of 4.2 f 1.1-15.1 f 1.9, 1.3 f 0.3-4.4 f 0.3, and 54.6 f 5.3-521.2 f 26.0, respectively. The annual effective dose was estimated based on the consumption characteristics of instant noodles by the local population and was found to be below the allowed limit of 290 mu Sv y- 1, as suggested by UNSCEAR. Hence, no immediate health risks were identified. Although the sampled noodle brands do not currently pose a significant radiological risk to the public, cumulative dietary exposures over time may not be entirely negligible. This is because the UNSCEAR reference limit considers contributions from all food, i.e., not for a single food item. Therefore, periodic monitoring of radiation levels in instant noodles is recommended to maintain public health and safety.
This study investigates the occupational radiation exposure levels among 50 healthcare professionals, including Radiographers, Nurses, and Radiologists, who were monitored for radiation doses across various operational scenarios within the Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine departments at a university hospital, consisting of approximately 54 % males and 46 % females, from 2020 to 2022. The lowest recorded radiation exposure was 0.11 mSv, and the highest was 0.88 mSv, with all values remaining below the recommended safety limit of 20 mSv. Results indicate that both departments experienced reduced radiation exposure in 2020 due to pandemicrelated operational changes, with subsequent years showing divergent trends. The Diagnostic Radiology department stabilized radiation levels, suggesting effective refinement of safety protocols. In contrast, the Nuclear Medicine department observed a concerning increase in radiation exposure, highlighting areas needing enhanced safety measures. A Machine Learning Linear Regression model has been used to examine the relationship between various predictor variables and the radiation levels. The result shows that these predictors explain only about 9.2 % of the variance in radiation levels. This study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and tailored interventions to ensure the health and safety of radiation workers, reflecting dynamic changes in healthcare practices and the critical need for robust radiation safety frameworks.