Do Doctors Get Exposed To Radiation?
Radiation safety in healthcare is crucial for any staff member working with equipment like C-arms, fluoroscopy, and X-rays that emit ionizing radiation during use. This includes medical professionals involved in diagnostic or interventional treatment for a variety of health conditions.
Facilities or healthcare providers trying to minimize ionizing radiation exposure will often wonder who is commonly at risk and what the best practices are to keep staff members protected. Read on as we discuss exposure risks for doctors and what clinicians can do to shield against radiation during radiographic procedures.
Are Doctors Exposed To Radiation?
Doctors are exposed to radiation in several medical specialties, such as interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, and other surgical specialties like orthopedics or vascular surgery.
A doctor’s radiation exposure is especially high while operating on patients using techniques like C-arm-guided fluoroscopy for real-time medical imaging.
C-arm fluoroscopy is highly effective but comes with risks because of the ray beams it uses. AORN found that the average C-arm emits 20 mSv (2 rem) of scattered radiation per minute. The FDA also emphasizes that fluoroscopy can result in high doses during complex procedures, which presents a significant occupational hazard.
One of the most critical safety measures is using lead shielding such as aprons, thyroid collars, and glasses.
AORN found that the average C-arm emits 20 mSv (2 rem) of radiation per minute. The FDA also stresses the exposure risks of fluoroscopy, saying it emits relatively high doses during complex interventional procedures that require appropriate precautions. One of the most common safety measures that will protect doctors from radiation is using shielding like lead aprons.
Do Healthcare Workers Get Exposed To Radiation?
Doctors aren’t the only staff members who need to manage exposure levels. Nurses and technologists in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, and other medical specialties are also frequently exposed to radiation.
A study in the Journal of Radiology Nursing noted that nurses are frequently exposed to radiation during procedures and often mention that they feel untrained to stay safe during exposure. Therefore, it’s important for healthcare facilities to provide effective medical imaging safety training and implement proper policies to reduce staff exposure.
Information from the National Cancer Institute also stresses the effects of regular low-dose exposure for X-ray technologists. The research suggests that frequent low-dose healthcare worker radiation exposure can increase the risk of cancer, cataracts, tissue damage, and other negative health outcomes.
Which Profession Is Exposed To The Most Radiation?
Some of the highest radiation exposure professions include:
Interventional and diagnostic radiologists: An analysis in January 2024 estimated that over 30 million healthcare workers in radiology (including both diagnostic and interventional radiology) are exposed to regular low doses of radiation that can cause negative health outcomes without proper safety precautions.
Interventional cardiologists: Another study from the British Journal of Radiology showed that radiologists and cardiologists had some of the highest exposure rates in the last 25 years, especially surgeons and anaesthetists.
Radiation therapists: Research in February 2025 emphasized the need for standardized training for radiation therapists due to the high exposure risks for staff and patients.
Orthopedic surgeons: 92% of 406 orthopedic surgeons surveyed during a study in 2021 reported using intraoperative ionizing radiation at least once per week, which can lead to exposure risks without proper protection.
Nuclear medicine technologists: The CDC notes that nuclear medicine imaging can emit higher radiation doses than traditional X-rays, and some procedures may be longer, increasing exposure levels.
What Are The Common Sources Of Radiation In Healthcare Settings?
The most common sources of medical radiation are the equipment used during interventional and diagnostic imaging. The Nuclear Radiation Commission lists several types of equipment that emit notable radiation doses in medical settings, including:
Diagnostic X-rays
Fluorocospy
CT scans
Mammograms
External and internal beam treatments during radiation therapy
How Do Healthcare Professionals Minimize Radiation Exposure?
Governing bodies like the CDC and OSHA recommend following the principles of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) to reduce radiation exposure. The three main best practices under ALARA that help with radiation protection are time, distance, and shielding. They go as follows:
Time: Minimize time near the radiation source.
Distance: Stand as far away from the radiation source as possible. AORN recommends a distance of at least 6 feet when procedures allow it.
Shielding: Using personal protective equipment (PPE) that contains dense materials like lead to slow and absorb radiation before it reaches the clinician’s body. Common radiation shielding includes lead aprons, thyroid shields, protective goggles, and mobile lead barriers.
Using shielding like lead aprons is one of the most essential protective measures since elements like time and distance can’t always be improved during extensive procedures where clinicians may have to operate right next to the radiation source.
How Effective Is Protective Equipment Like Lead Aprons?
PPE like lead aprons is highly effective. Several clinical trials show positive results across different types of equipment:
A study from the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma found that 0.5 mm lead aprons can reduce radiation doses by 99%.
Research from Spine showed that snug lead thyroid shields could lower radiation doses by approximately 8.5 times.
A study from the Korean Journal of Pain found that 0.5-0.75 mm lead glasses could reduce radiation doses to the lens of the eye by more than 95%.
How To Keep PPE As Safe And Effective As Possible
Performing regular integrity inspections and cleaning is essential to keep PPE like lead aprons and thyroid shields in top condition.
PPE will accumulate wear and tear with regular use, which can impact its effectiveness if not repaired. A study from Radiography Open stated that cracks, holes, or tears in garments may reduce their protective capabilities. We recommend performing annual inspections using radiographic scanning to accurately identify damage before it becomes severe.
Regular deep cleaning and disinfection are also essential. As high-touch items, lead aprons can harbor harmful microorganisms if not properly cleaned. While AORN recommends quarterly deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces like door handles and equipment, similar attention should be given to X-ray garments. Proper cleaning prevents the spread of infections to ensure staff and patient safety.
What Are The Standards For Radiation Protection In Healthcare?
While researching radiation protection standards, it’s important to consider regulations and dose limits established by governing bodies.
OSHA’s dose limit for occupational radiation exposure in medical settings is 12.5 mSv per quarter (50 mSv per year) for the whole body.
The International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) provides another set of recommendations. The ICRP’s guidelines state that doses should average no more than 20 mSv per year over a 5-year timespan, with no single year exceeding 50 mSv.
Healthcare facilities and teams should consult with their radiation safety officer (RSO) to form appropriate protocols for radiation safety to ensure exposure remains under established limits. Ongoing training and exposure monitoring with personal dosimeters can help with risk reduction while allowing healthcare professionals to feel confident in their safety decisions.
Conclusion: Staying Safe In A Radiological Environment
While radiation exposure is a risk in several healthcare departments and procedures, healthcare teams can take measures to remain safe. Consulting with your facility’s RSO and following the principles of ALARA, including using appropriate shielding, are great places to start.
When you’re looking for effective PPE for the shielding component of ALARA, we can provide assistance at Radiological Care Services (RCS). We help source shielding such as lead aprons, thyroid shields, vests, skirts, glasses, and mobile barriers from top manufacturers.
We also provide several services to clean and maintain your protective garments for long-term effectiveness. Our services include:
Deep cleaning and disinfection
Inspections using X-ray scanning
Garment repairs
Garment disposal
Inventory management with our RADCOMPLY™ software
Contact us today to learn more about how RCS can assist with your needs.