Abstract:

Objective To understand the current status of radiation levels and radiation protection management for radiological workers in pet hospitals in Beijing City，and provide scientific basis for improving the level of radiation protection management and the effectiveness of administrative supervision and law enforcement. Methods In 2024，46 pet hospitals equipped with veterinary X-ray devices in Beijing City were selected to investigate the management of radiological workers，as well as the configuration of protective equipment and facilities. Radiation levels in workplaces with veterinary X-ray devices were measured according to the relevant testing methods specified in GBZ 130-2020 "Requirements for Radiological Protection in Diagnostic Radiology"，and the data were analyzed. Results A total of 46 veterinary X-ray devices and 66 radiological workers from 46 pet hospitals in Beijing were investigated. The rates of personal dose monitoring，radiological protection knowledge training，and occupational health examinations were 95.9%，80.3%，and 72.7%，respectively. The configuration rates of warning light interlock devices，Chinese warning signs，and self-closing doors in workplaces were 95.7%，60.9%，and 8.7%，respectively. The configuration rates of radiological protective equipment，including lead rubber aprons，lead rubber caps，lead rubber neck covers，lead rubber gloves，and lead protective glasses were 95.7%，93.5%，91.3%，19.2%，and 2.2%，respectively. Radiation levels were measured in 46 equipment rooms. At some detection points，including the radiological worker's operating position，the operation room door，the equipment room door，and the adjacent eastern，southern，and northern areas of the equipment room，the ambient dose equivalent rate was >25 μSv/h，with a maximum value of 145 μSv/h. The estimated annual effective dose was less than 0.25 mSv，indicating that the protection of all equipment rooms met the standards. For the four detection points in the radiological worker soperational areas，pairwise comparisons of the ambient dose equivalent rates were conducted using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Among them，statistically significant differences were found between the radiological worker's operating position and both the operation room door and the equipment room door（both P<0.05）. Conclusion Certain deficiencies exist in some veterinary hospitals in Beijing City regarding the implementation of established radiation safety management protocols and responsibilities，and it is recommended to strengthen and fully implement radiation safety management work.

Key words: Veterinary hospital, Veterinary X-ray equipment, Radiation protection