Answer to Question #13600 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues — Diagnostic X Ray and CT
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
When radiation from medical procedures lodges in the body, does that person emit ionizing radiation that would be dangerous to children or others?
A
I want to reassure you that a person who has medical procedures using x rays does not emit radiation afterwards. Radiation energy that is absorbed in the patient does not make the patient emit radiation, so there is no risk to children or others who are around the patient after the exam. Radiation is only present when the x-ray-generating equipment is taking the image.
Deirdre H. Elder, MS, CHP, CMLSO
Answer posted on 20 August 2020. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.