MAPPING OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION LEVELS AROUND HOSPITAL RADIOLOGY FACILITIES IN PEMATANGSIANTAR

Abstract

The increasing utilization of radiological technologies in healthcare, particularly within hospital facilities, continues to advance medical services. However, uncontrolled exposure to ionizing radiation in environments surrounding these facilities poses significant health risks to staff, patients, and the general public. While regulations for radiation safety are established, the implementation and monitoring of radiation levels in the external environments of radiological facilities in developing cities like Pematangsiantar remain underexplored areas. Global trends indicate a rise in secondary radiation exposure incidents requiring attention, yet specific data on the conditions in Pematangsiantar are notably scarce, creating a critical knowledge gap in local radiation risk mitigation and prevention strategies. This study aimed to comprehensively map environmental radiation (gamma) levels at various strategic points around the radiological facilities of three major hospitals in Pematangsiantar and to identify contributing factors to radiation level variations, referencing international radiation safety standards. The primary hypothesis predicted significant variations in environmental radiation levels around radiological facilities, with distance from the radiation source and the presence of shielding materials being key predictors of measured radiation levels. The research employed a descriptive analytical design with a quantitative approach. The sample comprised gamma radiation measurements taken at 100 systematically distributed points within a 50-meter radius of the radiology units in three selected hospitals, utilizing purposive sampling to ensure representation of affected areas. Measurements were conducted using portable Geiger-Müller counters, which were calibrated, demonstrated high accuracy (±5%), and had proven reliability in diverse field conditions. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to illustrate radiation level distribution and inferential statistics (ANOVA and linear regression) to identify correlations between radiation levels and distance and environmental characteristics. Findings revealed average environmental gamma radiation levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.25 µSv/hour across the three hospitals. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed in average radiation levels between hospitals, with Hospital X exhibiting the highest values. Linear regression analysis confirmed distance from the radiation source as the strongest predictor of environmental radiation levels (R² = 0.65, p < 0.001), with radiation levels decreasing exponentially with increasing distance. Notably, unexpected increases in radiation levels were detected at some points near parking areas, suggesting potential secondary exposure from inadequately shielded equipment or minimal accumulated radiation leakage. In conclusion, this study successfully mapped environmental radiation levels around hospital radiological facilities in Pematangsiantar, confirming variations influenced by distance and other environmental factors. These findings contribute to the scientific understanding of external radiation distribution and provide an empirical basis for developing more effective local radiation safety policies. Key recommendations include enhanced routine monitoring, re-evaluation of radiation shielding designs, and ongoing educational programs for the surrounding community regarding potential risks and preventive measures.