Assessment of working environment and personal dosimeter-wearing compliance of industrial radiographers based on chromosome aberration frequencies

Industrial radiographers are exposed to relatively higher doses of radiation thanother radiation-exposed workers in South Korea. The objective of our study wasto investigate the impact of specific occupational conditions on chromosomeaberration frequency and evaluate dosimeter-wearing compliance of industrialradiographers in Korea. We studied individual and occupational characteristicsof 120 industrial radiographers working in South Korea and evaluated thefrequency of dicentrics and translocations in chromosomes to estimate radiationexposure. The association between working conditions and chromosome aberrationfrequencies was assessed by Poisson regression analysis after adjusting forconfounding factors. Legal personal dosimeter-wearing compliance among workerswas investigated by correlation analysis between recorded dose and chromosomeaberration frequency. Daily average number of radiographic films used in thelast six months was associated with dicentrics frequency. Workers performingsite radiography showed significantly higher translocation frequency than thoseworking predominantly in shielded enclosures. The correlation between chromosomeaberration frequency and recorded dose was higher in workers in the radiographyoccupation since 2012 (new workers) than other veteran workers. Our study foundthat site radiography could affect actual radiation exposure to workers.Controlling these working conditions and making an effort to improve personaldosimeter-wearing compliance among veteran workers as well as new workers may benecessary to reduce radiation exposure as much as possible in theirworkplace.