Human populations have always been exposed to ionizing radiation, and more so in modern life due to its use in medicine, industry and the armed forces. Whilst the risks to human health from medium and high-level radiation are relatively well-understood, the risks at lower levels are less clear. Mixed messages about the safety of low […]

A team led by Professor Angela McLean from Oxford University has reviewed the evidence on health risks associated with low-level ionizing radiation to inform policy decisions and identify gaps in knowledge. Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, the study clarifies that moderate and high doses of radiation increase the risk of developing certain

(Reuters Health) – Elderly men with prostate cancer are more likely to be treated with radiation when their doctors own radiation machines – even patients who may be too old to benefit from the treatment, a U.S. study suggests. Prostate cancers may grow too slowly to cause symptoms before an elderly man dies from other

Radiologists reading digital imaging exams move their mouses much more and tap their keypads far less than computer-bound nonradiologist workers, and that’s just one of several factors contributing to the rise of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) in radiologists. The American College of Radiology’s Commission on Human Resources breaks down the problem and recommends ways rads

If, for some reason, you find yourself in a situation where you need to wash radioactive material from your body, don’t reach for the bottle of hair conditioner. Conditioner can bind radioactive particles to your hair. That warning was part of guidelines issued last Friday by Guam’s Office of Civil Defense, following threats from North

More than 8 million health care workers in the United States work in hospitals and other health care settings. Precise national data are not available on the annual number of needlestick and other percutaneous injuries among health care workers; however, estimates indicate that 600,000 to 800,000 such injuries occur annually. About half of these injuries

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is one of the hottest topics in healthcare. What are the best prevention methods? How can we reduce associated costs? More and more products are being created to combat this seemingly undefeatable foe. Although the innovations are helpful in many settings, there are some basic interventions that have been proven

At least 25 times in the past five years, nuclear weapons contractors have improperly packaged or shipped plutonium capable of being used in a nuclear weapon, conventional explosives and highly toxic chemicals, according to government documents. While the materials were not ultimately lost, the documents reveal repeated instances in which hazardous substances vital to making nuclear

Q: My new dentist gave me 22 X-rays yesterday (bitewing and full mouth) plus a panoramic. He says he does this to all patients. This seemed ridiculously unnecessary and dangerous. Could you give me info on this? A: It sounds as if your dentist’s plan was “overkill,” especially since ordering this many X-rays appears to