What's New?
.	HPS and CRCPD Proclaim 8-14 November 2009 as National Radiation Protection Professionals Week
.	November Newsletter
.	NRC Academic Program Nuclear Education Grants, FY2010, Now Accepting Applications
.	November ORS
.	November Journal
.	EPA's STAR Graduate and GRO Undergraduate Fellowship Funding Now Accepting Applications

Upcoming Events
.	2010 HPS Midyear Topical Meeting Radiation Risk Communication to the Public 24-27 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM
.	2010 HPS Professional Development School Radiation Risk Communication: Issues and Solutions 27-29 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM

07 November 2009

Answer to Question #174 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Exposures not directly to embryo/fetus

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I had a chest x ray and found out that I was pregnant a couple of days later. What are my risks? I am concerned since the physicians are telling me I am at risk. Please help. They make it sound scary.

X rays of the chest result in minimal, if any, exposure to the unborn baby. This is because the x-ray beam is highly collimated and only the chest region is exposed. Accordingly, health risks to the unborn child because of x-ray exposure in your case are minimal and should not be a cause of alarm or concern. Nonetheless, your doctor should be told that you did receive a chest x ray so that he/she may be fully aware of all medical tests done during your pregnancy. Kenneth L. Mossman, Ph.D. Past President, Health Physics Society

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