Nepal

Kathmandu, June 22 Bir Hospital shut down its CT scan service yesterday after radiation was found leaking from its highly shielded room. The hospital has closed its services upon the recommendation of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology as a monitoring team from NAST found higher level of radiation in areas around the CT scan room.

It has suggested that the hospital adopt protection measures against radiation leakage.

The hospital had fixed a new CT scan machine six months ago. Immediate exposure to high level of radiation will harm blood and skin cells.

Effect of radiation on gonads, one of the reproductive organs in a male or female can lead to birth defects in babies, said Dan Bahadur Karki, president of Nepal Radiologist Association. Skin burns can occur when exposed to higher level of radiation.

A long term exposure to radiation could result in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The early symptoms of sickness from radiation are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Radiation leakages can occur in hospitals due to defects in X-ray machines or when proper shielding of the X-ray room is not maintained.

To prevent radiation leakage lead shielding is necessary, said Buddha R Shah, a senior scientist at Physical Science Laboratory, Faculty of Science, NAST. The hospital is unsure of resuming the services any time soon as it lacks enough budget for repair and maintenance of the CT scan room.

&It costs around 20-25 lakh to maintain the room.

We don&t have enough budget.

It takes two to three months for any maintenance work at the hospital incurring a cost of above Rs five lakh as the hospital administration has to go through a tender process,& said Kedar Century, director at the hospital. We are looking for alternatives and are considering moving the machine to a room that has an old CT scan machine.

If this is done, the CT scan service can be resumed after a week, according to Century. At least 70 patients benefit from CT scan service at the hospital on a daily basis.

A CT scan service costs around 2,500 to 4,500 depending on the type of scan. The monitoring team on June 17 had concluded that the level of radiation was ten times higher than the background level.

It was found to be 2.12 microsievert per hour on the console room — main room of the CT scan, which contains a computer display and a keyboard that control the scanner.

The monitoring was done on the window lead glass of the CT scan room. It had also detected 1.02 microsievert per hour of radiation in the room — one metre away from the window lead glass.

The team had also recorded high level of radiation at the entrance lead door and in the waiting room.

&Protection is required whenever the leaked radiation is ten times higher than the background level.

The body concerned should increase the thickness of lead.

They should properly shield the door,& said Shah. The team had monitored the area upon the request of the hospital after a leakage was suspected. According to Safety Standards Occupational Radiation Protection, the safety guide of International Atomic Energy Agency, for occupational exposure of workers over the age of 18 years, radiation dose limit is 20 millisieverts per year for over five consecutive years (100 mSv in 5 years) and 50 mSv in any single year. &For the public, the minimum permissible level of radiation absorption is 1 millisievert per year,& said Karki. Radiation is measured using the unit sievert, which quantifies the amount of radiation absorbed by human tissues.

One sievert is equivalent to 1,000 millisieverts (mSv) and one millisievert is equivalent to 1,000 microsieverts. &Lead glasses are necessary to seal the passage of radiation. The lead door of a CT scan room should always be closed,& said Karki.

There is no proper monitoring mechanism for the leakage of radiation at hospitals. Hospitals have been approaching NAST to monitor radiation level at their own.

To track leakages in a CT scan room, NAST has been providing thermoluminescent dosimeter — a tool used for assessment by ionising radiation. &If there is a higher reading in the tool then we try to find out the causes of increased radiation level.

It helps to monitor the leakage from CT scan and X-ray machines, explained Shah. The government should make it mandatory for hospitals to monitor such leakage on a regular basis, said Karki. The post CT scan service shut following radiation leak appeared first on The Himalayan Times.





Unlimited Portal Access + Monthly Magazine - 12 issues-Publication from Jan 2021


Buy Our Merchandise (Peace Series)

 


Contribute US to Start Broadcasting



It's Voluntary! Take care of your Family, Friends and People around You First and later think about us. Its Fine if you dont wish to contribute and if you wish to contribute then think about the Homeless first and Feed them. We can survive with your wishes too :-). You can Buy our Merchandise too which are of the finest quality.

Debit/Credit/UPI

UPI/Debit/Credit

Paytm


STRIPE


Construction of Mahakali Bridge resumes after five months


FM Shrestha holds meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi


[Nepal] - Aarti Hamal, daughter of Mayor of Dhangadhi Gopal Hamal, has actually gone missing out on from Goa, India


INTERVIEW: Astronaut Ruben F. Salinas eyes Everest summit before suborbital spaceflight


UK court orders to delay extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to US on espionage charges


APF to mobilize a unit of its platoon on 24-hour border patrol


Govt at work for prosperity: Chair Nepal


Changing political trend in Germany: Rise of right-extremism


Isarel begins distributing the amp;#039;terror victims allowance amp;#039; to the deceased amp;#039;s family


SC orders affiliation for B -C college to offer medical courses


Nepali nationals in Portugal to receive passport services


What is Holi, the Hindu festival of colors and how is it celebrated


Season amp;#039;s first Everest permit issued; Icefall doctors fixing route below Camp I


Indian toddler climbs Everest base camp as trekkers increase in Nepal


DPM Shrestha in Beijing


Five killed, three injured in Achham tractor accident


[Nepal] - -# 039; Mithila Mahakumbha -# 039; to conclude today


Holi celebrations sweep across Tarai region today


World Tuberculosis Day: Prevention Campaign in Baglung


[Nepal] - Just 27pc population has access to pure drinking water


Rain to continue for three more days


Japan hands over sanitary napkin making machine in Parsa


Lumbini is the fountain of Buddhism, DPM Shrestha says


Recording of statement with leader Mahara complete


World Happiness Report places Nepal in 93rd ranking


Home Ministry issues 21-point directives


[Nepal] - Humanitarian Staging Location to be built in Pokhara


[Nepal] - Japan turn over training center, emergency shelter in Rautahat


In memory of mountaineering legend David Breashears


96pc children vaccinated against measles, rubella


Govt waives climbing royalty for Nepal-Korea Friendship Expedition


[Nepal] - Nepal -# 039; s billionaire Binod Chaudhary under CIB scanner over land grab scandal


DNA tests of relatives ongoing to ascertain identity of Nepalis killed in Russia-Ukraine war


[Nepal] - The Asia Structure releases - Formative Research on Kid Trafficking in Nepal


Ridi-Tamghas route to remain closed for three weeks


7SF hands over insurance premium of Icefall Doctors to SPCC


DAOs instructed to place facilitation desk to hear usury victims amp;#039; problems


Long-neglected school building in Bajura to get new life


[Nepal] - Archeological study reveals hints of early malaria, 7th century chaang in Upper Mustang


[Nepal] - Conclave on Global Peace for Success in Lumbini


Govt to make diplomatic efforts to claim Nepali territory


No compromise over good governance: PM Dahal


[Nepal] - Three male rhinos in CNP moved internally


Nisikhola bus accident: death toll reaches nine, identity of all deceased ascertained


PM emphasizes the need to remain aware of climate change impacts on food security


[Nepal] - FALSE:: ERROR: UNSUPPORTED ENCODING


Japan, UNDP collaborate to advance climate smart agriculture, build resilient communities in Jajarkot


[Nepal] - FALSE:: ERROR: UNSUPPORTED ENCODING


Two killed in Myagdi jeep accident


[Nepal] - FALSE:: ERROR: UNSUPPORTED ENCODING


[Nepal] - FALSE:: ERROR: UNSUPPORTED ENCODING


[Nepal] - FALSE:: ERROR: UNSUPPORTED ENCODING


Gandaki province chief, Bhatta, assumes office


PM Dahal pledges support for Pokhara amp;#039;s development


Fire guts property worth around Rs 5 million


Local obstruction delays Nagdhunga Tunnel breakthrough by 14 meters


[Nepal] - Pokhara stated as Tourism Capital of Nepal


Prosperity through the use of technology, says Prime Minister Dahal


Earthquake recorded in Rasuwa


New power formula to alter the speed of government: PM Dahal


Fire in Morang rice mill causes loss of Rs 15M





13