Radiation exposure of fertile women in medical research studies

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198808000-00051· OSTI ID:7091674

Vetter, R J

Fertile women may be exposed to ionizing radiation as human subjects in medical research studies. If the woman is pregnant, such exposures may result in risk to an embryo/fetus. Fertile women may be screened for pregnancy before exposure to ionizing radiation by interview, general examination, or pregnancy test. Use of the sensitive serum pregnancy test has become common because it offers concrete evidence that the woman is not pregnant (more specifically, that an embryo is not implanted). Evidence suggests that risk to the embryo from radiation exposure before organogenesis is extremely low or nonexistent. Further, demonstrated effects on organogenesis are rare or inconclusive at fetal doses below 50 mSv (5 rem). Therefore, there may be some level of radiation exposure below which risk to the fetus may be considered essentially zero, and a serum pregnancy test is unnecessary. This paper reviews the fetal risks and suggests that consideration be given to establishing a limit to the fetus of 0.5 mSv (50 mrem), below which pregnancy screening need not include the use of a serum pregnancy test.

• Research Organization: Mayo Clinic/Foundation, Rochester, MN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7091674
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 55:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FETUSES
RADIATION DOSES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
TERATOGENESIS
RADIOBIOLOGY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ABDOMEN
EMBRYOS
PREGNANCY
RISK ASSESSMENT
WOMEN
ANIMALS
BIOLOGY
BODY
BODY AREAS
DOSES
FEMALES
MAMMALS
MAN
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man