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Don't get X-Ray done just because your Doctor says until it is entirely necessary.
X-rays can cause mutations in our DNA and, therefore, might lead to cancer later in life. For this reason, X-rays are classified as a carcinogen by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States government. However, the benefits of X-ray technology far outweigh the potential negative consequences of using them.
It is estimated that 0.4 percent of cancers in the U.S. are caused by CT scans.Some scientists expect this level to rise in parallel with the increased use of CT scans in medical procedures. At least 62 million CT scans were carried out in America in 2007.
According to one study, by the age of 75 years, X-rays will increase the risk of cancer by 0.6 to 1.8 percent. In other words, the risks are minimal compared to the benefits of medical imaging.
Each procedure has a different associated risk that depends on the type of X-ray and the part of the body being imaged. The list below shows some of the more common imaging procedures and compares the radiation dose to the normal background radiation that all people encounter on a daily basis.
Different X-ray procedures release different quantities of radiation.
Chest X-ray:
Equivalent to 2.4 days of natural background radiation
Skull X-ray:
Equivalent to 12 days of natural background radiation
Lumbar spine:
Equivalent to 182 days of natural background radiation
IV urogram:
Equivalent to 1 year of natural background radiation
Upper gastrointestinal exam:
Equivalent to 2 years of natural background radiation
Barium enema:
Equivalent to 2.7 years of natural background radiation
CT head:
Equivalent to 243 days of natural background radiation
CT abdomen:
Equivalent to 2.7 years of natural background radiation.
These radiation figures are for adults. Children are more susceptible to the radioactive effects of X-rays.
Don't get X-Ray done just because your Doctor says until it is entirely necessary.
X-rays can cause mutations in our DNA and, therefore, might lead to cancer later in life. For this reason, X-rays are classified as a carcinogen by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States government. However, the benefits of X-ray technology far outweigh the potential negative consequences of using them.
It is estimated that 0.4 percent of cancers in the U.S. are caused by CT scans.Some scientists expect this level to rise in parallel with the increased use of CT scans in medical procedures. At least 62 million CT scans were carried out in America in 2007.
According to one study, by the age of 75 years, X-rays will increase the risk of cancer by 0.6 to 1.8 percent. In other words, the risks are minimal compared to the benefits of medical imaging.
Each procedure has a different associated risk that depends on the type of X-ray and the part of the body being imaged. The list below shows some of the more common imaging procedures and compares the radiation dose to the normal background radiation that all people encounter on a daily basis.
Different X-ray procedures release different quantities of radiation.
Chest X-ray:
Equivalent to 2.4 days of natural background radiation
Skull X-ray:
Equivalent to 12 days of natural background radiation
Lumbar spine:
Equivalent to 182 days of natural background radiation
IV urogram:
Equivalent to 1 year of natural background radiation
Upper gastrointestinal exam:
Equivalent to 2 years of natural background radiation
Barium enema:
Equivalent to 2.7 years of natural background radiation
CT head:
Equivalent to 243 days of natural background radiation
CT abdomen:
Equivalent to 2.7 years of natural background radiation.
These radiation figures are for adults. Children are more susceptible to the radioactive effects of X-rays.