FAQs

Q: What is the cancer risk from radiation?

A: Exposure to radiation can tamper the normal mechanism of cell division and lead to uncontrolled growth. This uncontrolled growth of cells is called cancer.

A variety of natural and artificial sources constantly present a certain amount of background radiation in the environment. Most people receive about three tenths of a rem (300 mrem) every year from these natural background sources.()

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Q: What are the long term health effects of radiation?

A: Long term exposure leads to teratogenic and genetic mutations.

Exposure of fetuses (unborn children) to radiation can lead to:

Smaller head or brain size Poorly formed eyes Abnormally slow growth Mental retardation

Genetic mutations induced by radiations can be passed from parent to child.

Q: Which part of pregnancy is the most vulnerable to radiation induced damages?

A: The first trimester of pregnancy is the period when maximum care has to be given. Fetuses are particularly sensitive between weeks 2 and 15 of pregnancy. Fetal development may complete by the 26th week of pregnancy. After this, the carcinogenic risk is similar to that of a newborn.

Q: What are the common sources of radiation during pregnancy?

A: Radiographic imaging (X-rays) is not generally advised (except in absolute necessities if any). A pregnant woman may accidentally swallow or breathe in radioactive materials.

Q: Can radiation exposure before birth increase a person's risk of getting cancer later in life?

A: Yes. But this risk depends upon two factors:

The amount of radiation to which the baby was exposed The amount of time that it was exposed

A radiation dose to the fetus roughly equivalent to 500 chest x-rays at one time leads to an increase in lifetime cancer risk of less than 2% (above the normal lifetime cancer risk of 40% to 50%).

Q: What is Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)?

A: This is a constellation of health effects due to radiation exposure. Symptoms are usually caused due to damage to the blood cells, digestive system and brain.

Nausea Weakness Hair loss Skin burns Diminished organ function

ARS is different from the stochastic effects of radiation (which are due to chronic exposure).

Q: Does exposure to radiation affect the thyroid gland? (Source: American Thyroid Association)

A: The thyroid gland requires iodine to function properly. Hence radioactive iodine contributes to thyroid cancer. Most of the nuclear accidents release radioactive iodine into the atmosphere. This is absorbed by the body. Absorption of too much radioactive iodine can cause thyroid cancer to develop several years after exposure.

In babies and children, the thyroid gland is one of the most radiation sensitive parts of the body. Hence they are greater risk than others.

Q: How can I prevent thyroid cancer from radiation exposure?

A: Potassium Iodide (KI) is the only FDA approved drug for this purpose. Brochures published by the American Thyroid Association recommend that people should take one dose of KI a day while they are being exposed to radioactive iodine until the risk no longer exists. Some refer to these as anti-radiation pills.

But this has to be done only after discussion with the health authority.