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Saturday, May 11, 2013

More about x-ray risks

Fact:
Early X-ray machine

Repeated doses of x-rays from x-ray imaging do increase your risk of developing cancer. The most potent is CT scans, one session of which carries a 1/1,000 risk of developing cancer. You can curb the risk from excessive radiation by using other imaging methods that do not involve ionising radiation which include MRI and ultrasound.  Avoid all forms of radiation, be it ionising or non-ionising other than for medical purposes.

Here is the body of a letter sent to the radiation whistle blower, Dr Semelka:

"I am a radiologist and like you, Dr. Semelka and apparently too few others, am deeply concerned about the profligate use of CT that is currently the norm. I am especially concerned about the deep state of denial (or ignorance) that practicing radiologists manifest about the radiation burden CT is imposing on the public. In my conversations with residents and staff at the university hospital I taught at for many years, I am able to summon only grudging acceptance of the realities of adverse biological effects of what has become a nearly reflex use of CT both in the ER and in the rest of the practice".


Radiation Risk From CT Scans by Gary Moller

Xray Safety Semelka

Moral of the story:
Some health professionals can be very slow to change their ways, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. So, be prepared stick up for yourself when it comes to looking after your own health and that of your family.

Read my other articles about this topic.

6 comments:

Wayne said...

normal old style TV sets and computer screens "cathode Ray tubes" put out X rays, hte closer you are to them the more exponential the exposure becomes, the bigger the screen the more radiation it emits, dont sit close to the TV, keep your kids sitting on the other side of the room, as it is we receive several times the safe dosage of Xrays from TV sets, emissions from computer screens are less than TV seets out the front, however out the back of them is a different story

Anonymous said...

The outer glass allows the light generated by the phosphor out of the monitor, but (for color tubes) it must block dangerous X-rays generated by the impact of the high energy electron beam. For this reason, the glass is made of leaded glass (sometimes called "lead crystal"). Because of this and other shielding, and protective circuits designed to prevent the anode voltage rising too high, the X-ray emission of modern CRTs is well within safety limits.

Anonymous said...

The outer glass allows the light generated by the phosphor out of the monitor, but (for color tubes) it must block dangerous X-rays generated by the impact of the high energy electron beam. For this reason, the glass is made of leaded glass (sometimes called "lead crystal"). Because of this and other shielding, and protective circuits designed to prevent the anode voltage rising too high, the X-ray emission of modern CRTs is well within safety limits.

Gary Moller said...

Keith, Because you have academic training in this area, I would appreciate elaboration and further comment on the guts of the original work that I based my article on. As I see it, the real issue with xray imaging is the cumulative damage to our genetic code over a lifetime rather than the risks of a single doses. I also understand that the real focus for concern is CT scans. I listened to an interview with a health expert here in NZ a short while ago. He was going on about how the large NZ body was throwing increasing strain on their imaging equipment because of the energy required to get adequate images through such large body cross sections. Machines were overheating, so the planning is for more powerful versions. Sounds like a lot of radiation to me.
With regards to the "leaded glass" the fact is that xrays are still being emitted and just how do we determine what is "safe"?

Wayne said...

lets get it clear LCD laptop type screens and plasma dont emit Xrays
its the bulky CRT monitors and tv's that emit the Xrays
XRays smash up your DNA causing irreperable damage and mutations in your genes the average western child received four times the save yearly dose of xrays from watching tv in front of a CRT TV.
LCD and Plasma screen monitors and TV's should be seen as an investment in your health over cheaper CRT's
is the rising cancer rate as a result of these screens? science says in theory it is party resopnsible

Wayne said...

there is still a big issue in offices where people who sit behind someone elses monitor in an offie are getting bathed in Xray's from behind.