X-rays might join carcinogen list By Tim Friend (December 30, 2002)

[mark.hogue@SRS.GOV]

The referenced article stated, "For every 1 million children scanned with CT, an estimated 1,500 will develop cancer two decades later." Apparently, this should have been attributed to the spokesperson for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and not stated without a very serious caveat. 


The Health Physics Society, (an international professional scientific organization dedicated to promoting the practice of radiation safety) has concluded that "estimates of risk should be limited to individuals receiving a dose of 5 rem in one year or a lifetime dose of 10 rem in addition to natural background. Below these doses, risk estimates should not be used; expressions of risk should only be qualitative emphasizing the inability to detect any increased health detriment (i.e., zero health effects is the most likely outcome)." 


The risk estimate quoted in the article surely violated this caveat and instead estimated cancer based on small doses. These kind of inaccurate statements are harmful to public health because they lead people to avoid real medical benefits based on false perception of risk.


Mark G. Hogue, CHP

mark.hogue@srs.gov

Aiken, SC



"DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed are mine and do not necessarily represent Westinghouse Savannah River Co. or the United States Department of Energy."