Answer to Question #865 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

Our 2½-year-old son has had five chest x rays and one lower leg x ray. Should we be concerned that he has been exposed to so much radiation?

A

There is no cause for concern. The types of x rays you describe, chest and leg, deliver very little radiation exposure. First, however, I must assume that the x rays were taken for some medical purpose and, since medical x rays should be taken only when justified by some benefit, there was some benefit from them. As parents, we need to make sure our kids have x rays only when a physician determines it is necessary. We certainly have the right to ask why they think it is necessary, e.g., what they expect to find out. We have to be careful though that we don't deny our kids the benefit of having the x rays performed when they are deemed necessary. For an adult, a typical chest x ray is equivalent to a few days' worth of natural background radiation (the radiation we're exposed to in our daily lives from cosmic radiation and naturally occurring radioactive materials), so for a two- to three-year old it would be a bit less. The lower leg x ray is equivalent to, maybe, a day's worth of background but probably much less. In total, there would be no reason to be concerned about possible biological effects. Kelly Classic Certified Medical Health Physicist