Protect embryos and young children against ionizing radiation.
Increasingly global scientific research confirms that unborn and very young children more susceptible prove radioactivity and radiation than the average adult. Good protection and prevention measures for these groups should therefore normally be. ”
This is the message today was given by numerous scholars from home and abroad by the FANC (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control) and SCK-CEN symposium organized in Brussels. Documented benefits include miscarriage, growth retardation, mental retardation, leukemia or cancer. Also, birth defects, especially with injuries to the central nervous system are implemented. Chernobyl was then clear that children with exposure to radioactive iodine, a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer walk than adults , although despite all this research, many questions remain open, these findings for the FANC (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control), a clear reason to from the precautionary principle in any application of ionizing radiation to give particular attention to the protection of pregnant women and unborn and young children, whether they be in the medical or in the industrial sector, in routine conditions or incidents and accidents. The risk of exposure in pregnant women is both professional situations in which women work with ionizing radiation, as in the medical sector when medical examinations and / or radiation treatments that are used. Even young children can undergo such medical exposures. In the first instance the FANC itself to employers and occupational physicians, prescribing physicians, gynecologists, pediatricians, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and other practitioners. Any exposure that can not be justified, must be avoided. Pregnant women and new mothers have to take responsibility by their doctor or employer to inform them of their condition and may have already undergone trials, thus avoiding any unnecessary exposure to . In our country, the average annual exposure to ionizing radiation, mainly due to radiation applications in the medical sector: this represents almost 50% of the unjustified and unnecessary exposure. Industrial exposure accounts for 1% of the total (100%).
What can you do?
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant you should always report when an investigation with X-rays to undergo. According to the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC), both the prescribers if the investigations in each patient a thorough inquiry and to do this not only to find out if she is pregnant “is” but also whether there is an “opportunity “consists of an early pregnancy. Women who are pregnant may be the same reason not be employed in places where they are occupationally to ionizing radiation may be exposed.
Recently, the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) noted several cases of involuntary exposure of pregnant patients for radiological examinations performed in Belgium, where some were exposed to relatively high doses. This suggests, according to the FANC on a reduced or insufficient attention to this problem. According to the FANC, any unnecessary exposure of the embryo the first days after conception should be avoided especially when there is a family history of congenital anomalies, which may indicate an increased genetic susceptibility to radiation.
X-rays, the organ development of fruit from one day after fertilization disturbing (even prior to the absence of menstruation). The impact depends on the type of investigation, the dosage of X-rays, the stage of pregnancy and the regions studied.
Some radiological studies, the unborn child is more exposed to ionizing radiation than others. This is the case in trials where the uterus and therefore your unborn child (examination of the abdomen, pelvis, lumbar spine, hip ,…) directly or may be exposed to this with more radiation is required (CT scanners), or which require prolonged exposure (fluoroscopy). Also in certain nuclear medicine studies can the unborn child are exposed to relatively high doses.
The greatest risks are cancer (eg leukemia), congenital anomalies and an impairment of brain function. There is usually at an early pregnancy (first day) when the dose exceeds a certain value, a risk of spontaneous abortion. After the first day and during the whole period of development of organs (about the first two months of pregnancy) is the greatest risk of malformations. These malformations may manifest themselves at birth or may lead to miscarriage. From the third month of pregnancy is the biggest risk in an attack on the developing brain functions. Finally, an exposure of the fetus to ionizing radiation to cause an increased risk of cancer, both during childhood and adulthood. This risk increases with the increase in dose. Unlike previously mentioned effects, this is a consequence that can occur after an irradiation at any time of pregnancy.
Investigations involving X-rays are used - conventional radiology (eg photo-images of a wrist or breast) - mammography - studies of the gastrointestinal tract (eg esophagus RX, RX colon, …), the urinary system - examine the blood vessels (angiography, etc.) - CT scan: CT scan at of pelvic, abdominal or lower spine are relatively high doses used. - Scintografie (bone, thyroid …). - SPECT scans - PET scan studies, with no X-rays are used - Ultrasound: Here is the image obtained by using ultra-sound tone. - MR scan: here is the image obtained by means of a magnet and radio waves. Although the harmful effects of MR on the fetus in early development are unproven, are safety reasons no studies in pregnant women before age 12 weeks.
What if you are pregnant and do a survey to get? If the investigation is absolutely necessary, then the radiation dose as much as possible, and will give you a lead apron to wear over the untested region. Some radiological examinations at the end of pregnancy (for instance, to determine if a cesarean is necessary) can use of special techniques which require less radiation, even when using a scanner which basically entails a relatively high radiation.
What if you are still exposed to X-rays during pregnancy? Exposure of an embryo or a fetus to ionizing radiation does not necessarily and automatically lead to harmful consequences. The risk depends mainly on the radiation dose and the stage of pregnancy. Some adverse effects only occur above a certain radiation dose, there is no danger of such effects when the dose is below the threshold. Others may occur after very low doses, but the risk that they occur at doses that are so small that it can be considered negligible by the future mother, compared to other risks one runs in everyday life. Certain effects only occur in an irradiation at a precise time during pregnancy. You should not start to panic when an accidental radiation was exposed: it can be quickly examined whether or not this is a risk. The radiologist or nuclear medicine has the ability to be an expert in medical radiation physics to find out the dose that your unborn child during the study was received, to determine precisely. Your doctor or gynecologist will thus be able to inform you about the risk to your child.
His radiation treatments during pregnancy dangerous? In radiotherapy, the dose remains high, although they diminish rapidly in places further away from the treatment site . If your health is a major treatment during pregnancy is needed, an irradiation of the unborn child and inevitably very high. In such cases, and premature birth is not possible, chances are you are an abortion is proposed.
