| The X-irradiation accident occurred
in 1983. The subject, born in 1940, was exposed on several days between
1 and 16 June 1983, when carrying out radiographic examinations with an
X-ray source. He had not been exposed to therapeutic irradiation or cytostatics
before, nor had he been treated or investigated with radionuclides. Because
of a defect, the X-ray machine emitted radiation for about 3 seconds after
it had been turned off. The voltage of the machine was 120-130 kV during
radiography and 60 kV during the ‘postirradiation’ period. Measurements
carried out by reconstruction with a phantom gave estimates of 6 Sv to
the chest and 12 Sv to the right hand. The patient dose detected his exposure
by observing erythema of his chest, right hand, and right arm, starting
around 15 June 1983. Later, the right hand developed some strong skin damage
and a stiffening, and both effects have persisted to date. The first sample
of venous blood was taken on 4 July, i.e. 18 days after the last exposure. |