Assessment of priorities when introducing some radiation protection methods in radiodiagnosis.

An estimate is made for the average population dose of ionising radiation for a diagnostic X-ray room, and indications are given of how the population dose can be assessed for individual rooms. By taking the percentage reduction of exposure on introducing selected methods of radiation protection, the expected population dose reduction is estimated for each method. Allowance is made for the length of use for a new method, and for loss of use for existing material. The population dose reduction is expressed in financial terms to obtain a ratio of this value to the cost of the protection method. Recommendations are made regarding the order of introduction of these methods.