Maternal exposure to radiographic exams and major structural birth defects

Abstract

Background An increasing number of radiologic exams are performed in the United States, but very few studies have examined the effects of maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and birth defects. Objectives To assess the association between maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and 19 categories of birth defects using a large population-based study of birth defects. Methods: We studied 27,809 case mothers and 10,200 control mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and delivered between 1997 and 2009. Maternal exposure to radiologic exams that delivered ionizing radiation to the urinary tract, lumbar spine, abdomen, or pelvis were identified based on the mother’s report of type of radiologic exams, organ or body part scanned and the month during which the exam occurred Results Overall, 0.9% of mothers reported exposure to one of these types of radiographic exams during the periconceptional period. We observed significant associations between maternal exposure during the first trimester and isolated Dandy-Walker malformation (odds ratio = 7.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–33) and isolated d-transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio = 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–10.3). However, the result for isolated Dandy-Walker malformation was based on only two exposed cases. Conclusion These results should be interpreted cautiously because multiple statistical tests were conducted and measurements of exposure were based on maternal report. However, our results may be useful for generating hypotheses for future studies.

Residential radon and birth defects: A population‐based assessment

“…That was not consistent with reports from Jacobsen and Mellemgaard (1988), Green et al (2002), or Lim et al (2014b). On the other hand, the lack of an association with total birth defects was consistent with the study that is probably most similar to ours in design, that of residence in high-level natural radiation areas in India (Jaikrishan et al, 1999).…”

“…The literature contains many reports of central nervous system (CNS) defects, such as microcephaly (Brent 1999; Dekaban 1968; Plummer 1952), hydrocephaly (Lim et al 2014a), Dandy Walker malformation (Lim et al 2014b), and neural tube defects (Sever et al 1988) in offspring of mothers exposed to radiation during pregnancy. None of these specific CNS defects were associated with high radon regions of Texas.…”

Design and fabrication of lutetium aluminum silicate glass and nanostructured glass for radiation detection

“…X‐ray is widely applied in medical imaging, security check, nondestructive detection, structure, and composition analysis 1‐14 . In spite of numerous benefits, X‐ray also brings serious security concerns to health because excessive exposure may potentially result in the physical injuries, such as cancer, genetic disease, and infant deformity 13‐22 . The maximum irradiation dose for adults must not exceed 500 mSv every year, and the irradiation dose exceeds 3 Sv one time for people in a short time, as an unfortunately result, may even lead to death 23‐24 .…”

Consequences which mothers' irrasiation has: risks of children's congenital malformations

“…В то же время некоторые авторы не находят связи между облучением гонад и развитием генетических заболеваний среди потомства [3] и даже считают маловероятным обнаружение трансгенерационных эффектов при любой реальной эпиде-миологической ситуации [4]. Эпидемиологические исследования, рассматривающие родительское облучение как один из потенциальных факторов тератогенного риска, проведены среди потомков жертв атомной бомбардировки [5,6], детей пациентов, подвергшихся диагностическому и лечебному радиационному воздействию [7,8], потомков профессионалов, контактирующих с ионизирующим излучением [9][10][11][12]. Несмотря на большое количество исследований, радиационно-индуцированные эффекты у потомков облученных лиц остаются предметом дискуссии.…”