Why is ionizing radiation more dangerous to children

Only of these atomic-bomb survivors have died prematurely of cancer caused by radiation, an increased mortality of less than 1 per cent. While thousands of the hibakusha received extremely high doses, many were exposed to moderate or lower doses, though still far higher than those received by victims of the Chernobyl or Fukushima nuclear accidents.

At these moderate or lower doses, the LSS found that ionising radiation does not raise rates of any disease associated with radiation above normal rates in unexposed populations. And regardless of dose, the LSS has found no evidence that nuclear radiation causes multi-generational genetic damage.

None has been detected in the children of the hibakusha. Based on these findings, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimates that the lifetime cancer death toll from the Chernobyl nuclear accident might be as high as 4,, two-thirds of 1 per cent of the , Chernobyl victims who received doses high enough to be of concern.

B oth nuclear accidents have demonstrated that fear of radiation causes more harm to health than radiation itself. Worried about radiation, but ignoring or perhaps just unaware of what the LSS has learned, , people in the area around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants were hastily evacuated.

The Japan Times reported that the evacuation was so rushed that it killed 1, people, 90 per cent of whom were 65 or older. The earthquake and tsunami killed only 1, in that area. The World Health Organization found that the Fukushima evacuation increased mortality among elderly people who were put in temporary housing. The dislocated population, with families and social connections torn apart and living in unfamiliar places and temporary housing, suffered more obesity, heart disease, diabetes, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, compared with the general population of Japan.

Though Chernobyl released far more radioactive material than Fukushima, fear caused much more health damage still. Post-traumatic stress disorder was widespread, anxiety and alcoholism and suicidal thinking increased dramatically.

If you are pregnant, tell the medical staff before any imaging exam using ionizing radiation is conducted. Medical imaging can be an essential medical tool to speed treatment and recovery. If your healthcare provider thinks that you, a family member or friend may have a significant medical condition, a diagnostic examination should not be refused because of the fear of radiation exposure.

The risk associated with these tests is very small compared to the help provided by the imaging test. Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician.

To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. Cumulative absolute breast cancer risk for young women treated for Hodgkin lymphoma.

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Repplinger M. Nosek A. Are facilities following best practices of pediatric abdominal CT scans? Lee C. Reduction in radiation doses from paediatric CT scans in Great Britain. Parker M. Larson D. National trends in CT use in the emergency department: — Townsend B. These low levels of exposure vary with location, altitude and type of building materials used in home construction.

You may also be exposed to the radioactive gas radon if your house or building has a leaky foundation. Every day, we use Ionizing radiation to help us live healthy lives.

Ionizing radiation is found in smoke detectors, used to disinfect medical instruments and blood, and to perform many other tasks in our daily lives. It is also a byproduct of nuclear power generation. Our main exposure to ionizing radiation in manmade sources is through the use of diagnostic medical exams. Ionizing radiation can penetrate the human body and the radiation energy can be absorbed in tissue. This has the potential to cause harmful effects to people, especially at high levels of exposure.

Natural sources of ionizing radiation usually release ionizing radiation at low levels, which also means the amounts of radiation absorbed by our bodies doses is usually small. Natural sources of ionizing radiation include radioactive elements that are naturally in our body. For example, a very small fraction of the potassium in our bodies is radioactive. Radon, however, is a natural radioactive gas found in rock formations that can release higher levels of radiation that can pose health risks.

It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The levels of radon in your home or building depend on a variety of factors.

You can test your home or building to determine whether you or your family is at risk of high levels of radon exposure. For more information on radon, click here. Medical diagnostic exams are the main manmade source of ionizing radiation exposure in the U.