MEDHP-SEC: Re: Breast Cancer High in X-ray Techs Before 1950

[Ted de Castro <tdc@xrayted.com>]

1950 was JUST ABOUT the time the "shock proof" shielded tube housing

came to be!



Before that it was unshielded glass tubes, aerial HV cables and spark

gap regulation.



At least that is what I derive from reading articles by Trout dated in

the early 50's.



Wasn't actually there (or at least not old enough to know anything

relevant) so can't say for sure.



Maybe some slightly more senior person can add some first hand

information.



"Jacobus, John (OD/ORS)" wrote:

> 

> I thought this might be of interest.

> 

> -- John

> John Jacobus, MS

> Certified Health Physicist

> 3050 Traymore Lane

> Bowie, MD  20715-2024

> 

> E-mail:  jenday1@email.msn.com (H)

> -------------------------------------------------

> Breast Cancer Mortality High in X-Ray Techs Who Worked Before 1950

> 

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 19 - Women who worked in the US as radiologic

> technologists before 1950 have a higher risk of death from breast cancer

> compared with women who started working in such jobs in 1960 or later,

> according to a report in the June 19th issue of the Journal of the National

> Cancer Institute.

> Dr. Michael Hauptmann from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda,

> Maryland, and colleagues collected data on 65,525 female radiologic

> technologists who had been certified in the US between 1926 and 1982.

> 

> The researchers examined deaths from breast cancer and their relationship to

> the women's work history and practices. They also adjusted the data for

> known risk factors.

> 

> The highest risk of death from breast cancer was found among women who

> became radiologic technologists before 1940 (relative risk 2.92), and

> between 1940 and 1949 (relative risk 2.44), compared with women who started

> working as radiologic technologists in 1960 or after. After 1960 the risk

> declined.

> 

> Among women who performed fluoroscopy and multifilm procedures before 1950,

> there was a significantly increased risk of breast cancer death compared

> with women who first performed these procedures in 1960 or after, the

> researchers found.

> 

> In a statement, Dr. Hauptmann and colleagues conclude that "the increased

> risks of dying from breast cancer among radiologic technologists who first

> worked or worked 5 or more years prior to 1950 were likely due to higher

> levels of radiation exposure before 1950, since recommended radiation

> exposure limits were dramatically reduced between 1930 and the late 1950s."

> 

> J Natl Cancer Inst 2002;94:943-948.

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----

> 

> Reuters Health Information 2002. © 2002 Reuters Ltd

> 

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