Operator Exposure to Scatter Radiation from a Portable Hand-held Dental Radiation Emitting Device (Aribex™ NOMAD™) While Making 915 Intraoral Dental Radiographs†

  1. Robert A. Danforth D.D.S.1,
  2. Edward E. Herschaft D.D.S., M.A.2,
  3. John A. Leonowich Ph.D.3

Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00960.x

Issue

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume 54, Issue 2, pages 415–421, March 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Danforth, R. A., Herschaft, E. E. and Leonowich, J. A. (2009), Operator Exposure to Scatter Radiation from a Portable Hand-held Dental Radiation Emitting Device (Aribex™ NOMAD™) While Making 915 Intraoral Dental Radiographs. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 54: 415–421. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00960.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences (Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology), UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV.

  2. 2

    Professor, Biomedical Sciences (Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology), UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV.

  3. 3

    Radiation Safety Officer, University of Nevada—Las Vegas, NV.

*Additional information and reprint requests: Robert A. Danforth, D.D.S. UNLV School of Dental Medicine 1001 Shadow Lane MS-7410 Las Vegas, NV 89106-4124 E-mail: robert.danforth@unlv.edu

  • †

    Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 18–23, 2008, in Atlanta, GA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 FEB 2009
  2. Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009
  3. Received 11 Mar. 2008; and in revised form 24 April 2008; accepted 1 June 2008.

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Keywords:

  • forensic science;
  • radiation exposure;
  • radiation safety;
  • portable radiation emitting device;
  • maximum permissive dose

Abstract:  Operator exposure to backscatter radiation while using an Aribex™ NOMAD™ radiation emitting device (a portable, self-contained, cordless, hand-held dental X-ray unit) was determined while the operator employed various typical and atypical use scenarios during the exposure of 715 digital and/or film-based dental radiographs and 200 study control exposures. Study data was compared to the radiation safety occupational exposure annual Maximum Permissive Dose (MPD) of 50 mSv (5000 mrem) to determine the possible exposure risk to an unprotected operator using this device. The results showed the reproductive organs received the highest dose and the thyroid the least. The average operator whole body dose for the study was determined to be 0.047 mSv (4.47 mrem) or 0.09% of the annual MPD. Extrapolating the data as an expression of averaged annual operator exposure resulted in a whole body dose of 0.4536 mSv (45.36 mrem) or 0.9% of the annual MPD, These results are well below established occupation exposure limits and are compatible with those published by the manufacturer.

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