Radiation exposure sitting next to xray room?

[Deleted]

This is a long shot question, but MMers are smart so I thought maybe someone would have an answer or could tell me where to look. My work station is right next to the xray room. I sit less than two feet from the wall that the "bucky" (I guess this is the grid that the X-rays hit when taking an X-ray) is up against. There is no lead in the wall-- just a regular wall (I know bc when they were renovating the office you could see straight into the xray room through the holes where the outlets are). Anyway, I've been sitting here for over a year and one of the xray techs just mentioned this to me today and asked if I was worried that I was being exposed to too much radiation. Well, honestly, it never crossed my mind. Now I am feeling paranoid about it. I am completely clueless as to how any of this works so I'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about this. Should I be concerned? Any idea how I could find out if I need to be concerned? Thanks!

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Feb 1, 2013 15:13:50 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I was also going to ask about wearing one of those things that measures your exposure to radiation.

I'm going to tell them I want them to get me one. I feel like I need to put on a lead apron right now...like I can feel my eggs mutating...lol. 

[Deleted]

Are you sure lead-lined drywall wasn't used? It can still have outlet holes in it. It's definitely worth asking.

[skib]

Is it a digital or traditional machine? I know (at least for dental x-rays) that digital exposes you to less radiation overall, so I assume (though I'm obviously not an expert) that there would be less radiation coming through the wall.

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Feb 1, 2013 15:35:10 GMT -5 aswartzw said:

Are you sure lead-lined drywall wasn't used? It can still have outlet holes in it. It's definitely worth asking.

I have no idea, I can certainly ask. These are the things I need to know about before I freak out

[pamela]

I would find out what the wall is actually made of and they should provide you with a dosimeter. Most used in that situation aren't self-reading so you wear it for a few months, they send it off to be processed and you get a new one. Is it your company with the X-ray or next door? You can also contact the department in your state responsible for overseeing X-rays.

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Feb 1, 2013 15:55:46 GMT -5 pamela said:

I would find out what the wall is actually made of and they should provide you with a dosimeter. Most used in that situation aren't self-reading so you wear it for a few months, they send it off to be processed and you get a new one. Is it your company with the X-ray or next door? You can also contact the department in your state responsible for overseeing X-rays.

I was hoping you would chime in...thanks! I just asked my site supervisor here for a dosimeter and she is going to get me one. It is my company with the xray (I work in an urgent care). I will see if I can find out what the wall is made of. I feel like a pain in the ass doing this, but it just hit me that maybe I should be concerned. 

[pamela]

Don't feel bad about asking. That setup does sound questionable and they should have been looking out for you.

[Deleted]

Places cheap out or just don't think. It's definitely worth the concern.

[chia]

I'd try calling someone at OSHA, referencing these standards/regs:
www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiationionizing/index.html

The contact info for your regional office should be here:
www.osha.net/free-osha-stuff-from-osha-and-osha-net/contact-osha-offices/

[dr.girlfriend]

All the walls of our x-ray rooms are shielded. They even have special fittings for the electrical outlets, etc.

[caramia17]

My old office was Immediately adjacent to our CBCT. There was lead in the wall, but for standard X-ray tube, a 6 ft. radius decreases the radiation to safe levels with the collimation.

What type of X-rays is it? How many kVp? mA?