[ RadSafe ] X-rays linked to increased childhood leukemia risk

[Scott, Bobby]

Hi All:

I agree with Barbara and Cary. Note also that for this case-control
study, the average radiation dose may have been higher for controls than
for leukemia cases. This would be expected if on average the controls
had more CT scans than cases, while the cases on average had more
routine x-rays. With a higher average radiation dose for controls, the
same data would implicate a possible protective effect of the X-rays,
rather than an increase risk of leukemia. It may also be useful for
researchers to take a look at medications that were administered to the
kids for pain from broken bones (basis for some of the X-ray exposures).

Bobby
B. R. Scott
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
Albuquerque, NM, USA
 
-----Original Message-----
From: BLHamrick at aol.com [mailto:BLHamrick at aol.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 9:27 PM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] X-rays linked to increased childhood leukemia
risk

If this is the paper I'm thinking of (and, I'm 96% certain it is), one  
should also take note that the researchers did not distinguish amongst 
different  types of imaging.  There's a huge difference between a
routine chest 
x-ray  (~10 millirem) and an abdominal/pelvic CT exam (~1 - 2 rem).
They also 
did  not mention if any attempt was made to determine if the parents 
understood that  ultrasound and MRI do not use ionizing radiation.  As I
recall, the 
 imaging information was garnered exclusively through parental interview

and not  by looking at any imaging records.  It is my opinion this study
was  
poorly designed, and I am quite surprised it was even published.
 
Barbara L. Hamrick, CHP 
 
 
In a message dated 1/19/2011 8:56:44 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
cary.renquist at ezag.com writes:


Just  as we get a little sanity with respect to immunizations, a new
source of  woo is going to be scaring parents into making  poor
decisions...

Seems rather irresponsible to publish this -- if  what they are
observing
was really caused by the x-rays, then there would  likely be a major
epidemic of leukemia.  My guess for a culprit is the  inflammation and
repair response involved in bone injuries or something  along those
lines.
Extraordinary results require extraordinary  evidence.

X-rays linked to increased childhood leukemia risk  
http://j.mp/gysNRq


... Specifically, the researchers found that  children with acute
lymphoid leukemia (ALL) had almost twice the chance of  having been
exposed to three or more X-rays compared with children who did  not have
leukemia. For B-cell ALL, even one X-ray was enough to  moderately
increase the risk. The results differed slightly by the region  of the
body imaged, with a modest increase associated with chest X-rays.  ...

Just checked, the paper is actually available for  download:
<http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/current>


Cary


---
Cary  Renquist
crenquist at isotopeproducts.com or  cary.renquist at ezag.com

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