The Mean Active Bone Marrow Dose to the Adult Population of the United States from Diagnostic Radiology

Abstract

Based on an empirical dosimetry model, estimates have been calculated and are presented on the mean active bone marrow dose to adults from diagnostic radiography, fluoroscopy, and dental radiography, as practiced in the United States in 1970. The annual per capita mean active bone marrow dose to adults in 1970 from the above practices is estimated to have been 103 mrad: 77, 20 and 3% from radiographic, fluoroscopic and dental examinations respectively. The per capita mean active bone marrow dose for various age groups is discussed. Contributions to the dose within a given age group from different examinations indicate that in the IS-34-yr age group, lumbar and lumbosacral spine examinations contribute most to the mean active bone marrow dose; thereafter, upper GI series and barium enemas are the highest contributors. Mean active bone marrow doses for children have not been estimated because of insufficient data. However, the lower rate of use of diagnostic X-rays (except dental) in children would reduce the annual per capita mean active bone marrow dose for the entire population to a maximum of approximately 77mrad. In 1%4 the annual per capita mean active bone marrow dose to adults is estimated to have been 83mrad. It is hypothesized that the increase in adult dose in 1970 was a result of a greater use of grids and grids having a higher ratio in 1970 as compared with 1%4. A comparison of the results with surveys of radiation doses from diagnostic radiology performed in other countries and with natural radiation background is described.

Exposure of red bone marrow to ionising radiation from natural and medical sources in France

“…United States surveys in 1964 and 1970 confirm this order of magnitude, reporting an equivalent dose to red bone marrow of 0.77 mSv year −1 for children (Shleien et al 1977) (table 1). Swedish and Swiss studies of adults found similar mean equivalent doses: 0.92 mSv annually in 1974 in Sweden (Bengtsson et al 1976) and 0.63 mSv annually in Switzerland, in both 1971and 1978(Poretti 1989).…”

Bone Marrow Dose Estimates From Work-Related Medical X-Ray Examinations Given Between 1943 and 1966 for Personnel From Five U.S. Nuclear Facilities

“…Bone marrow doses from AP and lateral lumbar spine examinations found in the literature varied between 0.17 mGy and 1.01 mGy for a single exposure AP lumbar spine, and varied between 0.38 mGy and 1.57 mGy for a single exposure lateral spine examination (Antoku and Russell 1971;Antoku et al 1972;Shleien et al 1978). The arithmetic means and standard deviations were 0.5 Ϯ 0.5 mGy and 0.8 Ϯ 0.7 mGy for the AP and lateral lumbar spine examinations, respectively.…”

Dermatologic Radiotherapy and Thyroid Cancer

“…Background radiation varies considerably in different geographic areas, ranging from about 50 to 250 mrem per year in the United States to as high as 1,000 to 10,000 mrem or more in other populated areas of the world (parts of India, Brazil, Iran, and France).17 The average bone marrow dose to the US adult population from medical x-ray examinations was estimated to be 100 mrad per year in 1970. 27 The annual genetically significant dose to the US popula¬ tion from medical and dental radiologie studies and radiation therapy was approximately 20 mrem per year in 1970.28 The main contributor to the total dose from medical exposures was diagnostic x-radiation; radiation therapy for cancer contributed less than 10%.…”