An estimation of the genetically significant dose from diagnostic radiology for the South African population, 1990-1991
Hering, E.R.; Kotze, T.J.; Maree, G.J.
Health Physics 74(4): 419-428
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-9078 PMID: 9525414 Document Number: 491239
The genetically significant dose was initially defined by UNSCEAR in 1958. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) derived a formula from this definition as shown in the NRPB Report, NRPB-R106. It combines the frequency of radiological examinations obtained during the country-wide survey and estimates of gonadal doses for different examination types, together with population and child expectancy data. The task was set to rind a model in order to draw the best representative sample of the population, and it was determined in a unique way, namely the so-called Dollar Unit Sampling method. A sample of 27 institutions out of a possible 292 (9%) was drawn. The GSD for the total South African population was calculated, using the above-mentioned formula, as 95 muGy. The breakdown of the genetically significant dose for the various South African race groups was Asian-229 muGy; black-67 muGy; people of color (mixed race)-112 muGy; and white 463 muGy.