RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM DIFFERENT TELEVISION SCREEN TYPES SOLD IN MINNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

In this study, x-ray dose rate levels from 14 different models/brands of television (TV) Screens commonly sold in Minna town were measured. The TVs were divided into two groups (flat and curved screen) with the aim of comparing dose rates from the two screen models of equal Screen sizes. The dose rate for each of the different TVs was measured with the aid of a low level radiation monitor (Digilert Nuclear Radiation Monitor; S.E. International, Inc, USA) placed at 5cm and 10cm from the screen. The total radiation count from the screens was measured for 3600s and converted to dose rate (mR/hr). The radiation dose rates from TVs with flat screen ranged from 0.094mR/hr to 0.289mR/hr, while for the Curved Screen it ranged from 0.023mR/hr to 0.109mR/hr at 5cm and from 0.0016mR/hr to 0.026mR/hr for curved screen and 0.003 mR/hr to 0.075 mR/hr for flat screen at 10cm. Generally, for same model and screen size, the dose rates from TVs with flat screen were higher than that with curved screen. Although this work confirms the presence of low level radiation from TV screen, the dose rate obtained for all the 14 TVs considered were below the 0.5mR/hr recommended by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S.