William Atkins
Wednesday, 04 March 2009 20:55
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The NCRP Report No. 160, which is entitled “
Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States,” provides a comprehensive review of all radiation exposures for 2006.
The publication is only available from the
NCRP publications website.
Another press release by the American College of Radiology (
ACR ) counters the disadvantages stated within the NCRP press release by stating some of the advantages of radiation scans and tests.
The press release “
Self-Referral of Medical Imaging Exams a Primary Factor in Sixfold Increase to Americans’ Radiation Exposure from Scans Since 1980” by the American College of Radiology states, quotes Dr.
James H. Thrall, the chairperson of the ACR Board of Chancellors.
Dr. Thrall states,
“It is essential that this Report not be interpreted solely as an increase in risk to the U.S. population without also carefully considering the tremendous and undeniable benefits of medical imaging. Patients must make these risk/benefit decisions regarding their imaging care based on all the facts available and in consultation with their doctors.”
The president of the Society of Computed Body Tomography and Magnetic Resonance (SCBT-MR), Dr.
Sanjay Saini, added (within the same ACR press release),
“Medical imaging has revolutionized medicine and is undoubtedly saving and extending lives everyday. It is vitally important that patients do not put off needed imaging care based on this Report which neither quantifies the associated health risks nor specifies the radiation protection actions that should be taken.”
Please read the ACR news release for additional information.
Page three concludes with additional information on radiation scans.
