Radiation risks and information needs of pregnant and lactating women.

This a historical review and current information regarding risks and effects of ionizing radiation in the context of human pregnancy and in particular the information needed for pregnant women to understand the type and magnitude of risks placing them in a realistic context. Much of our understanding comes from early animal studies but has been supported by studies of human exposure to medical radiation, radiation accidents and nuclear weapons.

Patient Exposure from Radiologic and Nuclear Medicine Procedures in the United States and Worldwide: 2009-2018.

The U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) conducted a retrospective assessment of the U.

Evolution of radiation protection for medical workers.

Within a few months of discovery, X-rays were being used worldwide for diagnosis and within a year or two for therapy. It became clear very quickly that while there were immense benefits, there were significant associated hazards, not only for the patients, but also for the operators of the equipment. Simple radiation protection measures were implemented within a decade or two and radiation protection for physicians and other operators has continued to evolve over the last century driven by cycles of widening uses, new technologies, realization of previously unidentified effects, development of recommendations and regulations, along with the rise of related societies and professional organizations.

Patient Exposure from Radiologic and Nuclear Medicine Procedures in the United States: Procedure Volume and Effective Dose for the Period 2006-2016.

Background Comprehensive assessments of the frequency and associated doses from radiologic and nuclear medicine procedures are rarely conducted. The use of these procedures and the population-based radiation dose increased remarkably from 1980 to 2006. Purpose To determine the change in per capita radiation exposure in the United States from 2006 to 2016.

Summary of NCRP 2019 Annual Meeting, NCRP Meeting the Challenge at 90: Providing Best Answers to Your Most Pressing Questions About Radiation.

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) held its 55 Annual Meeting 1-2 April 2019 in Bethesda, Maryland. The 2019 meeting was a special year for NCRP as it marked the 90 Anniversary of the founding of the predecessor organization, US Advisory Committee on X-Ray and Radium Protection. Leaders for the scientific portion of the meeting were Fred A.

Patient Radiation Exposure: Imaging During Radiation Oncology Procedures: Executive Summary of NCRP Report No. 184.

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) recently assessed patient radiation exposure in the United States, which was summarized in its 2019 NCRP Report No. 184. This work involved an estimation of the number of medical procedures using ionizing radiation, as well as the associated effective doses from these procedures.

Recent Epidemiologic Studies and the Linear No-Threshold Model For Radiation Protection-Considerations Regarding NCRP Commentary 27.

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Commentary 27 examines recent epidemiologic data primarily from low-dose or low dose-rate studies of low linear-energy-transfer radiation and cancer to assess whether they support the linear no-threshold model as used in radiation protection. The commentary provides a critical review of low-dose or low dose-rate studies, most published within the last 10 y, that are applicable to current occupational, environmental, and medical radiation exposures. The strengths and weaknesses of the epidemiologic methods, dosimetry assessments, and statistical modeling of 29 epidemiologic studies of total solid cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, and thyroid cancer, as well as heritable effects and a few nonmalignant conditions, were evaluated.

Medical Radiation Exposure in the United States: 2006-2016 Trends.

The use of radiation in medicine and the associated population dose grew very rapidly from 1980-2006 predominantly as a result of computed tomography and nuclear medicine. Over the last decade there have been significant changes in image detectors and processing with almost complete elimination of film use. Economic and reimbursement issues have also had a significant effect on usage.

Implications of recent epidemiologic studies for the linear nonthreshold model and radiation protection.

The recently published NCRP Commentary No. 27 evaluated the new information from epidemiologic studies as to their degree of support for applying the linear nonthreshold (LNT) model of carcinogenic effects for radiation protection purposes (NCRP 2018 Implications of Recent Epidemiologic Studies for the Linear Nonthreshold Model and Radiation Protection, Commentary No. 27 (Bethesda, MD: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements)).

Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium on 30 Years after the Chernobyl Accident: Current and Future Studies on Radiation Health Effects.

This commentary summarizes the presentations and discussions from the 2016 Gilbert W. Beebe symposium "30 years after the Chernobyl accident: Current and future studies on radiation health effects." The symposium was hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies).

38th Lauriston S. Taylor lecture: on the shoulders of giants - radiation protection over 50 years.

Most advances in science, technology, and radiation protection are not truly new ideas but rather build upon a foundation of prior work and achievements by earlier generations of scientists and researchers. This paper summarizes major achievements over the last 50-70 y in the various areas involved in radiation protection as well as giving information about some of those who were, and are, significant contributors.

Estimating the lifetime risk of cancer associated with multiple CT scans.

Multiple CT scans are often done on the same patient resulting in an increased risk of cancer. Prior publications have estimated risks on a population basis and often using an effective dose. Simply adding up the risks from single scans does not correctly account for the survival function.

Nuclear medicine practices in the 1950s through the mid-1970s and occupational radiation doses to technologists from diagnostic radioisotope procedures.

Data on occupational radiation exposure from nuclear medicine procedures for the time period of the 1950s through the 1970s is important for retrospective health risk studies of medical personnel who conducted those activities. However, limited information is available on occupational exposure received by physicians and technologists who performed nuclear medicine procedures during those years. To better understand and characterize historical radiation exposures to technologists, the authors collected information on nuclear medicine practices in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

A report from the 2013 international workshop: radiation and cardiovascular disease, Hiroshima, Japan.

Two longitudinal cohort studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors-the life span study (LSS) and the adult health study (AHS)-from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) indicate that total body irradiation doses less than 1 Gy are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but several questions about this association remain.In particular, the diversity of heart disease subtypes and the high prevalence of other risk factors complicate the estimates of radiation effects. Subtype-specific analyses with more reliable diagnostic criteria and measurement techniques are needed.

Applications of justification and optimization in medical imaging: examples of clinical guidance for computed tomography use in emergency medicine.

Availability, reliability, and technical improvements have led to continued expansion of computed tomography (CT) imaging. During a CT scan, there is substantially more exposure to ionizing radiation than with conventional radiography. This has led to questions and critical conclusions about whether the continuous growth of CT scans should be subjected to review and potentially restraints or, at a minimum, closer investigation.

Ninth Annual Warren K. Sinclair Keynote Address: effects of childhood radiation exposure: an issue from computed tomography scans to Fukushima.

The acute and chronic effects of radiation on children have been and will continue to be of great social, public health, scientific, and clinical importance. The focus of interest on ionizing radiation and children has been clear for over half a century and ranges from the effects of fallout from nuclear weapons testing to exposures from accidents, natural radiation, and medical procedures. There is a loosely stated notion that "children are three to five times more sensitive to radiation than adults.

Estimation of risk from medical radiation exposure based on effective and organ dose: how much difference is there?

The authors compare radiation risks of potential cancer following diagnostic radiation exposure evaluated with the use of organ and effective doses. Lifetime attributable risk values of CT scanning are estimated with the use of ICRP (Publication 103) risk models and Russian national medical statistics data. For populations under the age of 50, the risk evaluated using organ doses usually differs from that using effective doses by <30 %.

Methodology for estimating cancer risks of diagnostic medical exposure: with an example of the risks associated with computed tomography.

Because of fast growing medical radiation use, estimating possible late health effects of radiation, including potential cancer risk, is an issue of substantial interest. Since physicians make the decision to order or perform a radiological procedure, it is very important to provide them with objective information about possible radiation-associated risks. Methodology for estimating cancer risks based on recommendations of ICRP Publication 103 is presented in the paper.

Medical effects and risks of exposure to ionising radiation.

Effects and risk from exposure to ionising radiation depend upon the absorbed dose, dose rate, quality of radiation, specifics of the tissue irradiated and other factors such as the age of the individual. Effects may be apparent almost immediately or may take decades to be manifest. Cancer is the most important stochastic effect at absorbed doses of less than 1 Gy.