Radiation

I-intro
II-xrays
III-radiation dose
IV-health effects or prenatal exposure to radiation

References:
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/prenatalphysician.htm
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0901/p488.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551690/

The potential health effect of radiation exposure to a growing fetus is highly dependent on the
radiation dose. Determining the radiation dose to the fetus necessitates knowledge of all
sources internal and external to the mother’s body. This includes the following:
1. Radiation dose to the mother's abdomen from an external source.
2. Dose obtained by inhaling or ingesting a radioactive material that enters the bloodstream
and then crosses through the placenta.
3. Dose from radioactive compounds that may irradiate the fetus if they accumulated in
maternal tissues surrounding the uterus

Gray (Gy) and rad are units that reflect the absorbed dose as well as the amount of energy
deposited in a tissue mass. Radiation doses of 0.05 Gy to 0.10 Gy are considered inconclusive
in terms of influence on the fetus (CDC, 2020). Doses above 0.1 Gy, especially doses above
0.15 Gy, are regarded as the minimum dosage at which adverse fetal consequences will occur.
Potential Health Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Radiation
Radiation doses greater than 0.50 Gy will most likely cause the expectant mother to suffer from
acute radiation syndrome.

Acute Radiation Dose greater than 0.50 Gy may cause the following
at specific fetal developmental stages:
 Incidence of failure to implant may increase slightly, but
Up to 2 weeks
surviving embryos probably will not have significant non-
Post conception
cancer health effects
 Probability of miscarriage may increase.
2 to 7 weeks  Probability of major malformations (neurological and
Post Conception motor deficiencies) increases.
 Growth restriction is possible.

 Incidence of miscarriage will increase and growth

8 to 15 weeks restriction is likely
Post Conception  IQ reduction
 Incidence of mental retardation
 Major malformations will increase
 Miscarriage incidences may increase
16 to 25 weeks
 Growth restriction, IQ reduction, and mental retardation
Post Conception
are possible
 Major malformations may increase
26 to 38 weeks  Miscarriage and neonatal death may occur, depending
Post Conception on dose

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, June 5). Radiation and pregnancy: A fact
sheet for clinicians.
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/prenatalphysician.htm
Williams, P. M., & Fletcher, S. (2010). Health Effects of Prenatal Radiation Exposure. American
Family Physician, 82(5), 488–493.
Yoon, I., & Slesinger, T. L. (2021). Radiation Exposure In Pregnancy. StatPearls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551690/