It is permissible for a pregnant worker to make a decision as to whether to continue working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory during her pregnancy. Appropriate protection and monitoring must be provided. Fetal exposure to high doses of radiation between weeks 8 and 15 may also result in mental retardation, as determined from Japanese survivors of the atomic bomb. This can be accomplished through careful attention to radiation dose exposure. The greatest concern about the nonstochastic effect of long-term occupational exposure is the formation of cataracts.
Cataracts usually form after a latent period of several years.
The recommended maximum exposure to the eye lens is 15 rems per year. Eye protection is therefore warranted. Leaded eyeglasses help reduce the exposure risk. The film badge basically contains a piece of x-ray film. The magnitude of exposure to x-rays is derived based on the density of the exposed photographic film within the badge compared with densities from film that has had known amounts of exposure.