THE IMPLICATIONS OF ICRP 60 ON THE MONITORING OF PREGNANT HOSPITAL STAFF

The recent recommendations of the International Commission on Radiolog ical Protection (ICRP) introduced a supplementary dose limit for the s urface of the abdomen of pregnant staff, to restrict the radiation dos e to the foetus. This has wide ranging implications on the monitoring of staff in hospitals, some of which are studied here. The relationshi p between foetal dose, entrance surface dose to the abdomen and person al monitor reading was determined using an anthropomorphic phantom loa ded with thermoluminescence dosemeters to record the dose to the uteru s, as well as on the surface of the abdomen. Film badges were attached to the phantom at various anatomical positions. This phantom was irra diated for simulations of fluoroscopic examinations in diagnostic radi ology and various brachytherapy treatments. The relationships between monitor reading and foetal dose have been derived, and a number of pra ctical monitoring problems for pregnant staff discussed.