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09 February 2012

Answer to Question #2905 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:

My 20-month-old son had to have an x ray of his lungs to rule out pneumonia. I was about three weeks pregnant at the time and did not know it. What harm, if any, did it do to my unborn child? I was standing next to my son without the lead apron on while he had the x ray.

I have good news for you concerning the radiation exposure risk to your baby. The actual exposure to your son is approximately 20 millirad, which is an extremely small exposure. You and your unborn child would be exposed to scatter radiation, which would be even a smaller exposure. While there are no reproductive risks to the embryo until you reach 20,000 millirad, we like to see the exposure below 5,000 millrad. Your exposure was far lower. So we can tell you that the exposure to radiation that you had will not increase your risk for birth defects or miscarriage which is 3% for birth defects and 15% for miscarriage. Those are the background risks which of course we have no control over.

I hope your son is better and good luck with your pregnancy.

Robert Brent, MD, PhD, DSc

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