According to Baylor College of Medicine, approximately 15 percent of all natural and man-made types of radiation experienced by people in the United States are from medical procedures. X-rays from these devices are measured in two ways, as entrance dose and effective dose. Entrance dose refers to the amount of radiation that enters the body, measured in units called grays, or Gy, and the effective dose is the response of absorption by specific tissues and organs.
Imaging
X-rays are used in diagnostic imaging to examine bones, teeth and internal structures. In CT scans, X-rays reveal cross-sections of the body, and in interventional radiology, X-rays direct internal procedures. X-rays pass through the body and are absorbed in differing amounts according to the density of the tissues and organs. The differing levels of exposure are captured on a detector, such as an X-ray film positioned behind the body part being radiated. This creates a picture that can then be examined.
Skin Injury
According to the journal "Radiology," skin damage can occur if patients are exposed to too much radiation from X-rays. The accepted amount of radiation before a patient may exhibit overexposure is 2Gy. "Radiology" states that the amount of exposure necessary to cause symptoms may vary from person to person based on numerous factors such as radiation sensitivity, the presence of diabetes mellitus or connective tissue disorders.
Fetal Birth Defects
The American College of Radiology states that the health of the mother weighed against the risk to the fetus must be taken into consideration in regards to X-ray imaging. It maintains that most radiation is not harmful to the fetus, especially if X-rays are of the extremities of the mother. In normal exposure of under 50 to 100 mGy, effects are none or so low as to be imperceptible. Over that level, spontaneous abortion, malformation, mental retardation or deficits in IQ may occur.
References
- Baylor College of Medicine: Types of Ionizing Radiation
- University of Rhode Island: Homepage for for X-rays, CT Scans and Angiograms
- "Radiology": Minimizing Radiation-induced Skin Injury in Interventional Radiology Procedures
- American College of Radiology: ACR Practice Guidelines for Imaging Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Adolescents and Women with Ionizing Radiation
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