Issues in medical exposures

Abstract

Medical exposures account, on average, for some 14% of the background ionising radiationexposure in the UK and form the great majority of the non-natural component. In theUnited States of America, medical exposures comprised over 50% of the total in2006. This is due primarily to an increase in x-ray computed tomography (CT)and positron emission tomography (PET) procedures. This paper highlights thepotential problems in the use of CT scanning to investigate the asymptomaticindividual, where the traditional risk/benefit considerations are less clear-cutthan in conventional clinical situations. It draws on a recent COMARE reportwhich examined the use of CT for whole body, heart, lung and colon studies.The number of PET facilities is increasing rapidly in the UK and, in addition toconsiderations of radiation dose to subjects, careful planning is necessary to limit doses tostaff.In non-ionising radiation, a topic of keen interest at present is the use of increasinglypowerful sunbeds, particularly by those aged under 18. Legislation and regulation varywidely across Europe and the Scottish Parliament has recently introduced the first UKregulation. It is suggested that further research is required into the effects of currentUV systems and the reasons why tanning is thought so desirable by Caucasians.Lastly, a number of issues requiring radiobiological and epidemiological input areconsidered and actions to satisfy these identified.