protected from radiation by the apron from the front. Drawings of fluoroscopy

on file showed clearly that when the decedent had turned to open or close the
lead lined film storage box at his right, his left hip was exposed to beams from

the X-ray machine. The area of his left ischium was the portion of his body
closest to the source of X-ray and was unprotected. His film badge and his
dosimeter did not show the dose he absorbed in the area of the left hip,left

showed that measurements made in the vicinity of the Picker X-ray diagnostic
unit (Imperial) were found to beasfollows:

Scattered Radiation Around Fluoroscope

leg, and other parts not covered by the lead apron as he went about his work.

Position

said. ‘‘We cannot determine just how much radiation reached the hip, legs and
lower trunk, but we know it was substantially more than reached the badge
and the dosimeter. Moreover, the exposure was repeated and extended over

I.
2.
3.
4,
5.

The Bureau’s claims examiner noted the facts shown in the record, and he

many years’.
A hospital inspection report dated October 1956 stated: “For the past six
weeks the charge reader has been defective. Prior to that time readings had

been uniformly low.” An inspection report dated April 1957 of a visit by the
government agency’s consultant in radiology, a radiologist, read: “Roentgen

output at tabletop in fluoroscopy: 3.0 MA 90 KVP 5.7 1/min.” The
radiologist’s report of July 1961 stated: “Roentgen output at tabletop in
fluoroscopy: 0.8 MA 114 KVP 1.9 r/min; 3.0 MA 90 KVP 3.8 r/min.” In July

1962 his report stated: “... radiation exposure is recorded on film

badges .. . All radiation exposures are well below recommendedlevels.”
Hospital records described the type of machine used by claimant as follows:

Fluoroscopic - 1949 - General Electric, Model KX-11, Type 8 MK3,

60 cycle, 200 MA, 100 KVP. - Replaced May 1962 - General Electric
imperial, KX-19, 60 cycle, 300 MA, 130 KVP.
Radiographic - 1949 - General Electric Model KX-14, Type 8 MK3,
60 cycle, 500 MA, 100 KVP. - Replaced April 1964 - General Electric

Aristocrat [1, Model 60, 300 MA, 150 KVP.
Urology - General Electric - KX- 14, Type 8 MK3, 60 cycle, 200 MA,

100 KVP.
Portables - 2 each - 1949 Field Unit, Picker X-Ray Field Unit, Style
1348, 30 MA, 100 KVP.

The Bureau asked the hospital to supply information concerning the
quantitative data on the levels of radiation present at various points throughout
the room where claimant worked under normal operating procedures... In
response, the hospital submitted a Radiation Survey and Inspection Report
dated September 25, 1967 of the equipment used by claimant, in which a
certified radiological physicist calculated the maximum expected doses per
week at various positions around each X-ray unit. He indicated that in
evaluation of the Maximum Permissible Doses per week the following presently
accepted (NCRP) values of Maximum Permissible Doses were used as a guide:
Maximum Permissible Dose, controlled or restricted areas - 100
mi/wk |

Maximum Permissible Dose, uncontrolled or restricted areas - 10
-

mr/wk

1 foot right
I foot left
1 foot front
Waist
Knees

6. Feet

7. Eyes
8. Three screen
9. 3 foot back and
3 foot right

me/hr
300
300
300
200
10

me/hr*
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.0

Position
Control-door open
Control-doorclos.
Corridor
Entrance
Toilet

Storage

3.0

3.0
3.0

40

Maximum Expected Dose/wk
mr/hr
3.0
0.2
0.5
0.5
0.3

0.5

1.5

In conclusion the report stated ‘‘Ail X-ray equipment and installations were

found to meet presently accepted standards of radiation protection .
Medical Evidence: The attending physician reported.

it is my medical opinion that the chondrosarcomaofleft ischium was
the result of [the] cumulative effects of radiation over a period of 22
years from 1943 to 1965...

The Bureau’s Medical Director was of the opinion that the employee’s death
was directly attributable to his exposure to X-radiation:
In reviewing the etiology of chondrosarcoma and its relationship to

X-ray exposure, I have referred to the text Occupational Tumors and

Allied Diseases by Dr. W. C. Hueper. In this reference he states ‘The
causal role which excessive and prolonged exposure to roentgen rays

plays in the production of sarcomas in the connective tissue in man has
been confirmed by numerous experimental observations made in
animals.” Roentgen sarcomas are generally histologically fibrosarcomas,
spindle cell sarcomas, or polymorphous-cell sarcomas, the latter

frequently showing a tendency to myxematous transformations.
Chondrosarcomais a sarcoma ofthe cartilage. The prognosis of roentgen

sarcoma is bad. Thus with this support of relationship, as indicated by
the above reference and by the [attending] physician . . . in my opinion
there is a very definite relationship between the onset of the sarcoma
and the degree of «xposure received. The factual information in this
record to me confirms the fact that the recorded exposure on the film
badges does not indicate the large amount ofradiation to the left pelvic
area.

The report showed that at the hospital all areas containing radiation sources
and the entire dark room area were considered controlied. The report further

i fluoro drapes (simulated
with
*The report indicated that the measurements were made
vicinity of the other units were
drapes withlead apron) and measuremeats made in the
similar to those shown abovefor the Picker X-ray unit.

108

109

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