As A Radiologist, What Are The Health Risks of Radiation Exposure?
Radiologists, radiology technicians and students pursuing their education for future careers in this field may all have one glaring concern – what are the health risks of radiation exposure? While teachers and employers will undoubtedly assure students and professionals of their safety, the underlying fear may still persist. This is normal. It’s important to know there really isn’t anything to worry about, and that you put yourself at a much higher risk every time you get into a car. While freak accidents are always a possibility, the same can be said of virtually any career. The following information may be of assistance.
The Potential Risks
There are some potential risks for radiologic professionals, as there are for all other health care professionals. There is a certain level of exposure to ionizing radiation during the daily functions of the job. This is why every state has regulatory agencies that impose rules and requirements to ensure workers’ safety in this medical field. You can easily find information about your state’s rules and regulations online, and contact the appropriate agency for more information. There is no way to tell any individual radiology professional what amount of radiation they are being exposed to without knowing the details of their job, since every workplace and state is different. But rest assured that state rules and regulations are set up to ensure that no worker is exposed to an unsafe amount of ionizing radiation.
More Resources to Learn about Radiation Risks
If you would like to do some additional research about the potential radiation risks for radiologists and radiology technicians, there are several reputable online resources to peruse. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists website, Health Physics Society site, Idaho State University Health Physics website, Radiation Effects Research Foundation site and University of Michigan website are all great places to start. You can do your own research by reading the information that is available or, if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, many reputable websites such as these offer forums where you can ask your own questions and have them answered.
It is important to remember that every health care career comes with a certain amount of risk, but that the state regulatory agencies are there to ensure your safety. It is also in your employer’s best interests to make sure you and all of your fellow radiology professionals are not exposed to unsafe amounts of ionizing radiation.
