X ray without lead apron

guinnessdrinker

I had 2 chest x rays done in the space of about 5 months last year. I didnt think much at the time but i realised the first x ray they gave me a lead apron to cover my waist and the second time, for the exact same x ray they didnt give me one.

The reason I say this is because i've started to become worried about radiation effecting my testicles and effecting sperm.

Does anyone know what effect x ray radiation has in that area?

DrIndy

Cumulative radiation exposure can cause a host of cellular damage and it affects rapidly dividing cells the most such as skin, hair, gut and sperm. This results in increased cell death and why people who have high exposure to radiation (or chemotherapy) lose their hair.

In addition, radiation causes genetic damage also cumulatively and this increases the chances of lethal damage (resulting in cell death) or cancer gene mutation causing cancer. It also affects genetic transmission increasing the chance of damaged sperm or eggs causing birth damage or miscarriage.

The doses normally needed to have this effect are tens of thousands of times higher than from a chest x-ray.

HOWEVER - THAT SAID (since you specifically asked about the effects of radiation)

Chest X-Rays have the lowest of all exposure to radiation from any x-ray as it takes very little to highlight the lung fields. In addition, all x-ray machines now are focussed with metal lenses and so radiation is only directed at the area under examination with very little (if any) stray radiation going elsewhere.

if you have any concerns, you can discuss them with your GP who will be able to give further information.

Here is some information on doses and comparisons:

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/Radiation.html

What is interesting here is the amount you get from a TV set and from a brick house!

Information on chest x-rays:

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/chest_radiography.htm

ucd_guy

Nice work Indy!

To the OP, I work in a busy x-ray dept., and it's really up to the individual radiographer whether or not to give a lead apron. Some do, some don't. Usually the younger the individual in question is, the more chance they'll get lead protection.

As you might see from the links, while it ideally is good practice for the radiographer to offer everyone lead, in day to day practice it doesn't happen. This is because the dose received is so small as to be almost negligible (especially with any new-ish kind of x-ray equipment, which uses digital techonology to deliver a great x-ray with a tiny dose!)

That said, if you're ever worried you could ring up the radiology dept. where you received the x-rays and ask to speak to someone there who could help you with your concerns - probably the clinical specialist or radiation safety officer! And always request a lead shield if it's not offered and you feel you would like one!