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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #1929 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Flying

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

I flew from Melbourne, Australia, to the Cook Islands via New Zealand on April 22 and returned via the same route on April 28. I was 19 weeks pregnant at the time. I am now worried about the effect of radiation and solar flares occurring at that time. Should I be concerned?

The amount of radiation that you received in those flights is far below the background radiation that you will receive during your pregnancy from natural radiation and the radioactive substances that are normally in your body. Your risk for birth defects was 3% and miscarriage was 15% when you began your pregnancy. Your flights did not change that risk. Furthermore, you cannot induce major birth defects of the heart and internal organs at 19 weeks of gestation. Good luck with your pregnancy and forget about the risks of flying with regard to the development of your fetus. Robert Brent, MD, PhD

Answer posted on 9 May 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.