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Title: Medical radiation exposure and genetic risks

Abstract

Everyone is exposed to background radiation throughout life (100 mrem/year to the gonads or 4 to 5 rem during the reproductive years). A lumbosacral series might deliver 2500 mrem to the male or 400 mrem to the female gonads. A radiologic procedure is a cost/benefit decision, and genetic risk is a part of the cost. Although cost is usually very low compared to benefit, if the procedure is unnecessary then the cost may be unacceptable. On the basis of current estimates, the doubling dose is assumed to be 40 rem (range 20 to 200) for an acute dose, and 100 rem for protracted exposure. Although there is no satisfactory way to predict the size of the risk for an individual exposed, any risk should be incentive to avoid unnecessary radiation to the gonads. Conception should be delayed for at least ten months for women and three or four months for men after irradiation of the gonads. The current incidence of genetically related diseases in the United States population is 60,000 per million live births. Based on the most conservative set of assumptions, an average gonadal dose of 1000 mrem to the whole population would increase the incidence of genetically relatedmore » diseases by 0.2%.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville
OSTI Identifier:
6839244
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
South. Med. J.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 73:No. 9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; FEMALE GENITALS; GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS; MALE GENITALS; RADIOTHERAPY; SIDE EFFECTS; GENETICALLY SIGNIFICANT DOSE; MUTAGENESIS; MUTATION FREQUENCY; PATIENTS; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; RADIATION DOSES; REPRODUCTION; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BODY; DOSES; GENETIC EFFECTS; MEDICINE; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ORGANS; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIOLOGY; THERAPY; 560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man; 550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Baker, D G. Medical radiation exposure and genetic risks. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.1097/00007611-198009000-00023.
Baker, D G. Medical radiation exposure and genetic risks. United States. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198009000-00023
Baker, D G. 1980. "Medical radiation exposure and genetic risks". United States. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198009000-00023.
@article{osti_6839244,
title = {Medical radiation exposure and genetic risks},
author = {Baker, D G},
abstractNote = {Everyone is exposed to background radiation throughout life (100 mrem/year to the gonads or 4 to 5 rem during the reproductive years). A lumbosacral series might deliver 2500 mrem to the male or 400 mrem to the female gonads. A radiologic procedure is a cost/benefit decision, and genetic risk is a part of the cost. Although cost is usually very low compared to benefit, if the procedure is unnecessary then the cost may be unacceptable. On the basis of current estimates, the doubling dose is assumed to be 40 rem (range 20 to 200) for an acute dose, and 100 rem for protracted exposure. Although there is no satisfactory way to predict the size of the risk for an individual exposed, any risk should be incentive to avoid unnecessary radiation to the gonads. Conception should be delayed for at least ten months for women and three or four months for men after irradiation of the gonads. The current incidence of genetically related diseases in the United States population is 60,000 per million live births. Based on the most conservative set of assumptions, an average gonadal dose of 1000 mrem to the whole population would increase the incidence of genetically related diseases by 0.2%.},
doi = {10.1097/00007611-198009000-00023},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6839244}, journal = {South. Med. J.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 73:No. 9,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}