Occupational Diseases Caused by Ionizing Radiation in Medical Personnel in the Czech Republic in the Years 1974-1997

Overview

The authors present a survey of occupational diseases caused by ionising radiation in medical personnel in the Czech Republicin the years 1974 - 1997. in the course of these 24 years the incidence of occupational diseases of this type proved to be sporadic(in the range of 0 - 0.4 % of notified occupational diseases with a decreasing tendency over this period of time).There have been 136 cases of occupational diseases caused by ionizing radiation (item 19 or chapter II./1 of corresponding listsof occupational diseases), 111 cases having been in public health care. The most frequently diagnosed condition was radiationdermatitis (88 cases). physicians proved to be the most frequently affected occupational group in the period of 1991 - 1997. Theage at the time of notified occupational diseases in the seven - year period was in the range of 45 and 77 years. The workersaffected by radiation dermatitis had the shortest (5 years)and the longest (46 years) duration of exposure.Lung cancer caused by radioactive chemicals (item 33 or chapter III./6 of the corresponding lists of occupational diseases) inthe public health care has been diagnosed only in two persons in the years 1974 - 1997. The authors draw attention to the fact thatthe described occupational diseases were caused by higher exposures in previous years or developed as a consequence of exceptio-nal radiation events. In view of the present advanced level in the system of protection against ionizing radiation the authors do notsuppose numbers of this kind of diseases to grow.

Key words:
occupational diseases - ionizing radiation - public health - trends of evolution - occupation - age - exposure - prevention