Ambient x-ray pollution assessment at inspection gates of airports- a case study of Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini Airports in Iran

Background: as a well-known, physical carcinogen, ambient x-ray pollution assessment would be of great importancein today’s modern world. accordingly, the present study was done to measure the exposure level of ambient x-ray atinspection gates of two airports in iran. according to which, the x-ray was measured at different points of the inspectiongates including closed and opened curtain, as well as seating place of operators beside the x-ray inspection systems.the recorded data were then analyzed by “sign” and t-tests.results: the total average exposure level of the measured x-ray was 2.68 ± 0.73 ?sv.h-1. the measured x-ray exposure levelwas 2.07 ± 0.61 (?sv.h-1) released from rapiscan x-ray inspection system and 3.3 ± 1.34 (?sv.h-1) emitted from heimannx-ray inspection system. comparison of average x-ray doses of the systems in both airports showed that the minimum andmaximum exposure levels were recorded at 1(m) far from the devices and at the entrance of the devices, respectively.conclusions: the exposure levels at all measurement points were lower than the occupational exposure limit. this revealsthe fact that the exposed operators are not probably at risk of adverse health effects.