Is Japan’s Radiation in our Hospitals?

As we watch the devastation in Japan unfold, we are becoming more aware of the dangers of radiation. Remembering Chernobyl, many of us recall the nuclear disaster that affected much of Russian and Western Europe. These are serious nuclear accidents, but can we be exposed to radiation every day? How much is too much and what is it doing to our body?

Radiation is everywhere. Bananas, pistachios, and kitchenware all have radioactive particles. You cannot avoid being exposed to some levels of radiation every day. The amount is so small that it is not harmful to your body. Radiation exposure is measure in sierverts. Death is the result of exposure of 5,000 mSv and radiation poisoning is secondary to about 1,000 mSv. A banana contains 0.0001mSv. Smoking 1.5 packs a day exposes you to 13mSv/ year. The limit for nuclear power plant workers is 20mSv/year. The lowest clearly carcinogenic level is 100 mSv/year.

That is your everyday life but what about the hospital. X-rays and CT scans are sources of radiation. They are important diagnostic tools that allow physicians to see inside of your body without cutting you open. I take x-rays of most of my patients to better understand the biomechanical structure of their foot. X-rays are also an important tool during foot surgery. Am I putting my patients in radiation danger? An extremity x-ray exposes a patient to about 0.001 mSv. This is equivalent to the radiation you are exposed to in 3 hours of a normal day. A CT scan can be potentially more dangerous with exposures about 10 mSv. Some studies suggest about 2% of all cancers can be linked to over exposure due to multiple CT scans.

What should you do? It is important to understand that these diagnostic tests are often necessary to make appropriate diagnoses and treatments. These tests are safe when used properly. An MRI has no radiation exposure. Though there are more contraindication with use of an MRI because it can disrupt a pacemaker and the picture is distorted if metal implants are near the area of interest. If you are having a bad year and are seem to be in and out of the doctor’s office and having many tests, you should have a conversation with your doctors about radiation exposure. When you start to have multiple CT scans a year, there is a concern of excess radiation exposure. Very few people fall into this category.

Knowing the dangers of radiation, many safely protocols are set in place to limit exposure. In the hospital and in our daily lives, our radiation exposure is kept to a minimum. Unfortunately, nuclear disasters do happen. As danger lingers, our thoughts are with Japan.