Radiology blues: Comparing occupational blue-light exposure to recommended safety standards.

Background: The blue-light hazard is a well-documented entity addressing the detrimental health effects of high-energy visible light photons in the range of 305 nm -- 450 nm. Radiologists spend long hours in front of multiple light-emitting diode (LED)--based diagnostic monitors emitting blue light,...

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Published in:South African Journal of Radiology Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
Main Authors: Wentzel, Mari, Janse van Rensburg, Jacques, Terblans, Jacobus J.
Format: diagnostic images equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: African Online Scientific Information System PTY LTD 2023
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: South African Journal of Radiology
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      dt: 2023
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        atl: Radiology blues: Comparing occupational blue-light exposure to recommended safety standards.
      aug:
        au:
          Wentzel, Mari
          Janse van Rensburg, Jacques
          Terblans, Jacobus J.
        affil: Department of Clinical Imaging Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
      sug:
        subj:
          Radiology Service Standards
          Occupational Exposure Adverse Effects
          Blue Light Adverse Effects
          Occupational Safety Standards
          Human
          Hospitals
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Nonexperimental Studies
          Radiologists Psychosocial Factors
          Occupational Health Standards
          Occupational Diseases Prevention and Control
          Occupational Exposure Prevention and Control
          Brain Radiography
          Tomography, X-Ray Computed Methods
          Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods
          Spectrum Analysis Methods
          Computer Peripherals
          Descriptive Statistics
      ab: Background: The blue-light hazard is a well-documented entity addressing the detrimental health effects of high-energy visible light photons in the range of 305 nm -- 450 nm. Radiologists spend long hours in front of multiple light-emitting diode (LED)--based diagnostic monitors emitting blue light, predisposing them to potentially higher blue-light dosages than other health professionals. Objectives: The authors aimed to quantify the blue light that radiology registrars are exposed to in daily viewing of diagnostic monitors and compared this with international occupational safety standards. Method: A limited cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Four radiology registrars at two academic hospitals in Bloemfontein from 01 October 2021 to 30 November 2021 participated. Diagnostic monitor viewing times on a standard workday were determined. Different image modalities obtained from 01 June 2019 to 30 November 2019 were assessed, and blue-light radiance was determined using a spectroscope and image analysis software. Blue-light radiance values were compared with international safety standards. Results: Radiology registrars spent on average 380 min in front of a diagnostic display unit daily. Blue-light radiance from diagnostic monitors was elevated in higher-intensity images such as chest radiographs and lower for darker images like MRI brain studies. The total bluelight radiance from diagnostic display units was more than 10 000 times below the recommended threshold value for blue-light exposure. Conclusion: Blue-light radiance from diagnostic displays measured well below the recommended values for occupational safety. Hence, blue-light exposure from diagnostic monitors does not significantly add to the occupational health burden of radiologists. Contribution: Despite spending long hours in front of diagnostic monitors, radiologists' exposure to effective blue-light radiance from monitors was far below hazardous values. This suggests that blue-light exposure from diagnostic monitors does not increase the occupational health burden of radiologists.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        diagnostic images
        equations & formulas
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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