Objective To investigated the dose of eye lens of some interventional-radiology workers in three hospitals in Chongqing, as well as to analyze the related factors and to put forward the countermeasures to reduce the equivalent dose.

Methods A total of 99 interventional radiology workers (92 males and 7 females; aged 20–40(30.0±6.2) years) from three hospitals (two general hospitals and one cancer hospital) in Chongqing were included. They were monitored by thermoluminescence dosimetry for one month, and the annual equivalent dose of eye lens was estimated according to the number of surgeries. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the difference in lens equivalent dose between the left and right eyes of interventional radiology workers. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the factors influencing lens equivalent dose in the left and right eyes of interventional-radiology workers. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to analyze the difference in the overall distribution of lens equivalent dose of the left or right eyes of interventional-radiology workers in three hospitals with different operation types. Bonferroni method was used to compare the lens equivalent dose of left or right eyes with different operation types.

Results For the 99 interventional radiologists in the three hospitals, the median estimated annual equivalent dose was 5.38(2.46, 13.10) mSv for the left eyes and 3.54(1.55, 8.48) mSv for the right eyes. The estimated annual equivalent dose of the lens in the left and right eyes of two radiation workers were 42.72 mSv and 48.00 mSv respectively, which were close to the International Commission on Radiological Protection's single annual dose limit of 50 mSv. They did not exceed the annual equivalent dose limit of 150 mSv for eye lens in China. A significant difference existed in the equivalent dose of lens in the left and right eyes of interventional-radiology workers in three hospitals (Z=−5.599, P<0.001). Among the influencing factors, gender, smoking habit, operation exposure time, and instrument output dose had no significant effect on the equivalent dose of left and right eyes (β=−2.007–7.694; all P>0.05). A significant difference existed in the equivalent dose of lens in the left eye between the lower extremity venography and coronary angiography or other operations (H=24.115, 39.569; both P<0.05). A significant difference existed in the equivalent dose of lens in the right eye between lower extremity venography and hepatic artery chemoembolization or other operations (H=23.719, 39.347; both P<0.05).

Conclusions The estimated annual equivalent dose of some interventional-radiology workers in three hospitals in Chongqing did not exceed the existing national standard. Attention should be paid to the shift arrangement, protective measures, and health monitoring of medical workers in lower extremity venography operation.