Hazardous Effects of Veterinary Radiation on Humans
Diagnostic radiology is said to be an essential part of present-day veterinary medicine. While there are benefits to the animal being x-rayed, precautions must be taken to reduce the possible harmful effects of ionizing radiation to the operator.
Before digging deep into diagnostics radiology, let’s understand radiation therapy in veterinary medicine. The therapy is used in veterinary medicine to treat a variety of localized tumours. With recent trends in radiation therapy which are more towards “tailored” therapy. As it helps in the precise and targeted dose of radiation within the tumour rather than the normal tissue of the animal body. Radiation works with the principal mechanism of damaging the DNA of neoplastic cells. Photons or electrons are generated with a linear accelerator, which then is targeted to the tumour. The effects of radiation are dependent on the presence of oxygen within a cell. Tumours respond to radiation therapy depending on their rate of cellular division, i.e. slowly dividing tumour cells will respond slowly to radiation whereas rapidly growing or dividing tumour cells will respond in a more rapid fashion.
But, this radiation therapy involves human risk when provided to the animals.
The radiation dose received by an operator is generally low due to their protection gears during the veterinary radiological examination as the animals are not stable and are provided with anaesthesia. The body’s natural defence mechanisms make its efforts to repair the damage done on exposed cells. While an individual’s immune system, age, or sex may dictate the speed and effectiveness of the body’s ability to repair cells, exposure to ionizing radiation, even at low doses, may cause irreversible damage. Therefore, even the low dose of ionizing radiation may result in a potential health hazard.
Safeguarding the health veterinary workers can minimize exposure risks by following documented safety procedures and using radiation monitors. Dosimeters are devices that can monitor an individual’s exposure to x-ray, beta, and gamma radiation. Dosimeters workes in such a way that it can be worn for a specified period of time and then returned for processing and analysis. An exposure report is generated that identifies any radiation exposure incurred during the wearing period. For the following reasons, a veterinary worker should wear a dosimeter:
It can help in detecting faulty equipment and gaps in safety practices. The exposure data can indicate problems with x-ray equipment, operational procedures, and employee workload.
It can verify whether the dose limits are exceeded or not. With regions, the highest level of radiation exposure per individual can be determined. These reports provide the data ensuring individuals are not exposed to exceeded limits.
It also provides a lifelong dose of history. Individuals have access to a personalized dose record which indicates their accumulated radiation exposure over a career which can help in keeping the record.
And lastly, it can monitor pregnant workers as there is increased exposure risks during pregnancy when fetal cells are developing and multiplying. To monitor and minimize the exposure level to radiation in pregnant women, dosimeters can be used.
With Dosimeters, one can keep a check on the level of exposure of an individual and prevent the damage done by excessive radiation dose.
