Study in The Lancet Estimates Cancer Risks from X-Rays

Research published in the January 31 edition of The Lancet offers estimates of the incidence of cancer in industrialized countries attributable to medical x-rays. The estimates are not based on direct epidemiological studies of x-rayed populations, but instead represent extrapolations based on data from studies of A-bomb survivors. X-rays reportedly account for about 14% of all human exposure to radiation, and the researchers calculate that x-rays are responsible for causing 0.9% of all cancers in the United States. They emphasize that the medical benefits of x-rays greatly outweigh the risks. But at the same time, studies have suggested that an estimated 30% of all chest x-rays are medically unnecessary.

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