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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #4341 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Radiation Effects — Medical and Dental Radiation

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

I had a barium enema, lower GI exam. Within a few hours of the exam, the skin on my torso began to get red and irritated. By evening it was worse and lasted a number of days. I am very worried and anxious about this. Would the radiation cause this? I am so afraid I am at much higher risk for cancer from this incident.

The symptoms you describe are not due to the radiation exposure from this exam. They appear to be an allergic reaction, and from your description of the area affected, it appears to be due to the hospital gown that you wore. I would suggest that you discuss this with your physician, since it is a highly unusual response.

As for your cancer risk, the amount of radiation that you received was approximately 700 mrem which is equivalent to about two years of background radiation exposure. I would not consider this to be a significant dose as no effects due to radiation exposure have been have demonstrated below 10,000 mrem (10 rem).

John Jacobus, MS, CHP

Answer posted on 10 March 2005. 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.