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Answer to Question #1830 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Power lines, magnets, computers, airport screening, cell phones The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
My concern is with my pregnancy. I am 18 weeks along. I work in a lab, calibrating equipment from RF generators to wattmeters to spectrum analyzers to TACAN equipment. I am extremely worried about the exposure of RF or radiation to my unborn child. I was unsure of the difference between the two. I have been told at my work center that it is completely safe since normally everything is terminated. But there are times it isn't. Sometimes I work with high power, up to 2.2 kW or frequency up to 26.5 GHZ @ from -30dB to 18db. Is this under the MPEs? And even if it is terminated, what percentage is still given off? How safe is all this to my unborn child?
A
The radiation that you are using is not like x rays. You are working with nonionizing radiation, which has much lower frequencies and energy than x rays. Two studies or reviews published in the 1990s indicated that there is no increased risk for birth defects with these types of radiation. By the way, when the machines are turned off, there is no residual radiation. Your risk for birth defects is the same as the general population of women without any special reproductive risks. These risks are 3% for malformations and 15% for miscarriage, but your risk of miscarriage at this stage of pregnancy is extremely small.
Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD
Answer posted on 17 April 2002. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of 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 specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
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