SANTÉ PUBLIQUE
Dossier
Jérôme Benoit*, Marina Carniato**
*(EBVS, spécialiste en radio-oncologie)
**Oncovet
Avenue Paul-Langevin
59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq
À mesure que les usages des rayonnements ionisants se multiplient, les dangers qu’ils peuvent comporter pour la santé augmentent, s’ils ne sont pas correctement utilisés ou confinés.
La sensibilisation des vétérinaires aux dangers liés à la pratique radiologique passe par leur compréhension. Certains risques, dits “déterministes”, sont liés à la dose de rayonnements reçue et leurs effets apparaissent de manière aiguë ou retardée. Les études de postes permettent d’évaluer les doses susceptibles d’être reçues par les différents personnels lors d’un usage normal des équipements. Dans le secteur vétérinaire, et pour la majorité des activités, ces doses sont faibles, à condition de respecter les bonnes pratiques
→ Veterinarians must understand the dangers associated with radiological practice in order to be aware of the risks involved. Certain risks, known as “deterministic”, are linked to the dose of radiation dose and the effects appear in an acute or delayed manner. It is possible to assess the doses likely to be received by the various personnel during normal use of the equipment by studying the personnel work positions. In the veterinary sector, and for the majority of activities, these doses are low, provided that good practices are followed. In the medical sector, the main dangers are the occurrence of radiation-induced cataracts and the harmful effects on the fœtus during pregnancy. Other “stochastic” risks are per-chance effects at single or chronic low doses that are not visible in the short term expressed later as cancers. The operator exposed to radiation consents to a certain level of exposure, but this must be as low as possible, according to the principle “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA). Team training is essential, and the public must be excluded from these activities.