HOW MUCH RADIATION DO WE LINKS TO MORE X-RAY RECEIVE FROM COMMON X-RAY RELATED INFORMATION PROCEDURES? X-rays and Pregnancy:

To explain it in simple terms we can http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh- compare the radiation exposure Departments of Diagnostic Imaging from one chest x-ray as equivalent vsv/med/xray-radiographie_e.html to the amount of radiation exposure Niagara Health System one experiences from our natural The College of Medical Radiation surroundings in 10 days. Technologists of Ontario:

http://www.cmrto.org/home/default. For this Your Comparable asp procedure: effective to natural

radiation background Ministry of Health-Healthcare dose is: radiation Providers: for:

Chest: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english Routine Chest 0.1 mSv 10 days /providers/providers_mn.html X-ray CT Scan 8 mSv 3 years Patient Information Page – Chest Radiological Society of North Abdominal America: Region http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety Intraveous 1.6 mSv 6 months /index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray&bhcp=1 Pyelogram (IVP)

Upper G.I. 2 mSv 8 months Barium Enema 4 mSv 16 months CT Scan 10 mSv 3 years Abdomen Central Nervous System

CT Scan Head 2 mSv 8 months Woman’s Imaging Mammography 0.7 mSv 3 months

X-RAY SAFETY WHAT ARE X-RAYS AND WHAT NATURALLY-OCCURRING DO THEY DO? “BACKGROUND” RADIATION As with other medical procedures, EXPOSURE x-rays are safe when used with X-rays are a form of radiant energy, care. Radiologists and Medical like light or radio waves. Unlike We are exposed to radiation from Radiation Technologists have light, x-rays can penetrate the body, natural sources all the time. The been trained to use the minimum which allows a radiologist or average person receives an amount of radiation necessary to technologist to produce images of effective dose of about 3mSv per obtain a diagnosis. The amount of internal structures. The radiologist year from naturally occurring radiation used in most examinations or technologist can view these radioactive materials and cosmic is very small and the benefits images on film or on a computer radiation from outer space. greatly outweigh the risk of harm. monitor. X-rays are produced only when the MINIMIZING YOUR RISK exposure switch is momentarily MEASURING RADIATION DOSE turned on. As with visible light, no • If you have concerns about radiation remains after the switch is The scientific unit of measurement the amount of radiation you turned off. for radiation dose, commonly will receive from diagnostic referred to as “effective dose”, is x-rays, discuss your WHO IS THE RADIOLOGIST? the millisievert (mSv). concerns with your doctor prior to your scheduled The Radiologist is a specialized Because different tissues and examination. physician who performs x-ray organs have varying sensitivity to procedures and interprets x-ray radiation exposure, the actual dose • If you are pregnant, or think images. to different parts of the body from you may be, tell your doctor an x-ray procedure varies. The or the technologist before WHO IS THE MEDICAL term “effective dose” is used when having an x-ray. RADIATION TECHNOLOGIST? referring to the dose averaged over the entire body. The Medical Radiation • If you must have an x-ray, Technologist is a licensed medical tell your doctor or the professional that produces technologist about any diagnostic images using various similar x-rays you have had forms of radiation. recently. You may not need to repeat them.